Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-08
THE MUSIC WORLD.
how hascasni's New Opera, Friend
Fritz, Was Received at Rome.
CONCERT SEASON IN ALLEGHENY
To Open With an Engagement Of Mr.. Walter
Damrosch's Orchestra
CURRENT COMMENT FOR ART LOVERS

So "Cavalleria Rusticana" was not an
accident, after all. All accounts agree that
Mascagni's second opera, "L'Amico Fritz, u
produced at Rome October 81, was received
with the utmost delight by the remarkably
representative audience, which included
many connoisseurs from other lands. Until
the sober Judgment of the critics has been
heard, we must depend upon the cabled re-
ports, from which the following is COM
piled:
1t may be said ut once the opera was re-
| ceived with the utmost enthusiasm. Many
numbers were encored, the audience cheer
| ing with excitement. A1ower song by Suzet
| in the first act was a charming piece Of
melody, one of the best in the opera, and set
| the keynote of success. A lovely violin air
| with variations met with immediate favor
and was given again In response to deter
| mined encore. The arrangement was ad-
| m1rable for its tenderness OF concep-
tion and sympathetic execution, and
| will make one of the chief instrum email
| features of the opera. The remainder of the
| first act passed Off smoothly 1t is iull of
| fine work peculiarly appropriate to comedy
OF the most refined character, combining
delicacy with dignity. The scenic effect at
| the close of the act, where the village is
visible from the windows of F'ftz's dining
| room by the light of the setting sun, was in
| harmony with the music. Mascagni was
| again called out by the delighted audience
| as the curtain dropped, and received an
1ta lian ovation.
The opening Of the second act discloses
the exterior of an Alsatian farm house and
terrace in front adorned with cherry trees
and shrubbery. 1t is morning, ushered in
by an oboe solo of penetrating sweetness.
To this succeeds a chorus of young women,
joyful Alsatian melody. Suzel enters and
sings one of the principal airs of her role,
which, however, was not regarded equal to
her frs. song and was received rather coldly
by comparison. The chorus follows with a
piquant love song. Fritz comes on the scene,
the two lovers sing duet which was
listened to with rapt attention until
Sue, reached the last phrase of the bird
song with which it closes, when the audience,
unable to restrain its admiration, broke in
upon it with tunulJuous applause. The
silence maintained during the duet and the
outburst at the end are the highest praise
that can be accorded to this noble number,
which is worthy to rank with the works of
the masters Of music. David, the Rabbi,
and other friends arrive and this was the
signal for very marked orchestral move
ment following Mascagni's peculiar style
and summarizing the entire tone and senti-
timent of the opera. 1t is an allegro viUoce,
which is maintained until the beginning of
the fourth scene, and stirred the house to
the livliest enthusiasm. To this succeeded
a duet between SuzeL and DdUid. wherein
Isaac. The number, which is somewhat re-
ligious in character, was serious in tone and
did not meet with ready appreciation.
The bird act, of which the scene was the
onic introduction, in which was reproduced
the violin variations heard early in the
opera. The effect of the clever piece of
reminiscence was tremendous. The audience
was taken by surprise, and its manifesto
tions of delight were boundless. The third
act sealed the success of the opera, which
eliminates in a superbl love scene, the whole
OF which was eagerly redemanded and re-
peated. The duet song by Suzel and Fritz at
this point is probably the finest in the
opera.
As the curtain descended on the last act |
there was prolonged storm of applause,
heightened by the repeated recalls and ap- |
pearances of the composer. The theatrical !
success of the opera is assured. In dramatic |
effects it is inferior to "Cavalleria Rusti- |
cana" but the musical work is more fin
ished. In Fritz while the execution was
somewhat defective, the score revealed
musical genius of the first order.
Critics agree that the work is full OF true
fdyHic melody, but is deficient in Alsatian
general opinion of musicians Is that the |
music Is original and the orchestra perfect. |
The whole opera breathes the spirit which
anlmates "Cavalleria Rusticana."
x*s
Concerts at Cyclorama Hall.
The Allegheny Musical Association has,
during the past week, completed arrange
its first two concerts of the coming season,
its third. They will be given January and
6 in the Cycorama Hall, which will seat
about 900 people. These will be the most
important concerts yet given by the asso-
citation by reason of the appearance in them
for the first time here of the New York
Symphony Orchestra under Mr.. Walter
The first evening will be taken up by the
orchestra and two. soloists, tenor and
second evening, Benedicts cantata "St
Cecilia" is to be repeated from the very first
programme of this choral society: it will be
followed by a brief miscellaneous pro-
gramme. A guarantee fund of over So 900 is
behind the local organization in this ex-
pensive enterprise, and all efforts are max
ing to assure success commensurate with the
musical Importance OF the occasion.
AS the reader will remember the New
FORK Symphony Orchestra is just starting
on new epoch, one of assured permanency
with guarantee OF $4,000 a year from Mr.. |
and other men OF wealth willing to |
emulate Mr.. Higginson's generosity to the |
Boston band. Rehearsals of the new body
(which includes such men as Brodsky, the
famous Leipzig violinist, and Heckking the
former 'cellist of the Boston Symphony Or
began week ago and it will have
is first public hearing in New York on Fri
day of this week.
There will be three other concerts given
by the Allegheny chorus this season, at one
If which Smart'S "Bride of Dunkerron" will |
30 per ormed. Conductor w. A. Lafferty
low leads about 120 singers, q gradual in
crease having been made in membership. |
There are now about 800 associate, or sus.
aiming. members, and the list is expected to |
)e largely augmented. now that the orches- |
ral engagement is made sure.
Musical Allegheny is looking up.
~
An Important Musical Publication.
With the November number has begun the
lew Boston Musical Herald OF which Mr., |
ieorge II. Wilson. well known to readers of
his department., is editor and publisher
With him, as associate editors, are five of the |
cry best musical critics and litterateurs of |
be country: Messrs. Louis C. Elson. Philip
Iale and Benjamin Cutter, of Boston; ]
Iessrs. Henry E. Krehbiel and william j. ]
of New York. With such an i
ditorial list and being independent of any I
rade or business interest, this venture oc- {
upieS an unique and most desirable posi- 6
ions among the class journals. The ex- {
ellence OF the first number amply warrants
he claims of Mr.. Wilson'S salutatory, 6
rom which the following paragraphs are {
lken:
II hope to make the new journal useful and "
ecessary to the thousands of the cultivated {
l music in this country who for the most | 4
art, st present, draw on the daily and | i
'eekly papers and the occasional magazine
rticle for their stimulus. The high critical
uality Of the musical departments Of the d
w newspapers n the country whose re- e
levers are competent, is not appreciated d
y their readers: the daily critique is but '
le matter of a moment and is forgotten J
hen the paper itself is dropped This =
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