The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-07-26
MEYERBEER's CENTENARY
Tho Composer OF "The Prophet" Tn
MuruenOts." and Robert tho Devil"

MEYERBEEHsS CENTENARY
Tho Composer OF 1.-THE Prophet,"" The
MuEuenots." and Robert tho Devil"
LONDON July 15-In the vortex OF spectacu.
lar functions, military displays. court festivi.
ties and public receptions that have filled
every available minute OF tho ten days stay OF
the German Emperor in London, little account
has AS ret been taken Of tho centenary OF ouN
OF the mos. popular Of modern composers,
Meyerbeor. Not so in France, The apjmosity,
so loudly and foolishly EXPRESSED on other oc.
casiops against the hated Germans seems 70
slumber in this case, for preparattops are al.
ready on foot to celebrate the date OF Mey. r.
beers birth by gala representations on tho
two most important lyric stages OF the capita].
Unfortuna tely, the dato tths Sd OF Sertember)
is not favorable. for at that time of the rear
Paris Is empty OF its representative public
and given up to rrovincials and foreigners,
equally apprecia,ive. no doubt. but yet not tho
essentially Partisan element which delights 10
honor the composer
The explanation OF the love O, tho French for
Meyerbeer lics in the fact that with the ono
exception OF the "Etoile du Nord." first acted
in Berlin under the title OF "A Camp In Sile-
sia" all his opera;ic work was conceived. exc
cu,sd and nar,orned IN tho orat instnnca In
Paris whence it wen, forth to the world carry
Ing with II the name and fame OF the author.
For thirty years Moyerbeer lived almos, excu.
sivey In rance; there MS glory reached Its
apoGee. Just as Gounod's Faust" and Bizet's
N"tn o" ts'ei,eu 'ne.u 'onseet"'on no ,n"o
terpieces abroad. SO Tho Pardon OF Ploer-
NAV oorno1 tho annlarsa ~ Fronchmen and
lnau' cur 'ue "p''"ose VI rieh'ninen' "nu
France wasemnhatcsllv Mavorbecr,s art,st,c
fotho,l,nd a,thorgh bo navar ca,sod N boys
,a.neliauu A.'hou.n no neve. ceaseu ~ nHSe
the special CHARACTERISTICS OF his race and ma
tionali,y: the purely honorary ti,ls OF General
director of Music in Prussia could not hive
made him immortal; the six operas whch ho
wrote in France. which successfully revealed
tho highest dramatic and lyrical qualities
obvious "reminiscences of the Italian school,
Wv sA ..'... 70
sesses admirable scenic effects: the entire act
h,.a.in ~ .he ~ mh 40 u %n 90 ~"
olesslne OF tue oaHsers IN Inc hueueno .,
the military nic,nresin ,bs :. Star Of the North %
md Tho sbad 10, son,. in.DinoraS ~ '"' avian
n" Meyerseer, whom ! had t the privilege. o,
knowing pers ,nally. was singular mixture OF
ness; he looked sarcastic and was the most
keenly; he was deenly attached to, his dangh-
tiers and in an elual aesrss 70 his brother.
Beer which they have retained. feeling il ali
winch Is he Characters e O; he Jewish race.
The or ties were undou b, eddy hard upon him:
novel ia, hion Of ,unders:au ding operatic stag
ing He held It that great prominence was 10
TO IN esd and 70
| 10 the eye as We'll as tothc ear. n consequence
same opera BY SuppIementinr the Orchestra
wYh military bands on The stage.
redoubtab!e q rival a, Rossini. then at the
ay sSFy tho on dor RI
T hss snn o at
showed no, particular enthusiasm TOR the
works OF the younger composer. Notwth-
the cruel sings d an artists lie. and with his
n Hene eHe Irony %a and
casms cut him 10 tho 1uick when The roet &C.
MIN Of Go 1sns s9s in WI,ns h
which he has been submitted. Toward the md
Of his lie he became more philosophical
GulGen1ly NJ the recollection Of his past ,sor-
rows rows; Ho was then slightly bent. wore blue
streets with an umbrella tucked nnie- his
arm: At times his expression was almost Vol
| tair IAN Notwithstanding u tirRo Of nolan
choly: he wa. ever sciupulou-Iy polite with
all The snge,s unter his direction, and con-
the or hestra Of The Paris Opera. who re,
belled so !rsniy asain.t the curt. dictatorlal
was sincere, cordial. and courteous. lenving
| 10th among artists and people OF the world
| frank regrets as u man amt a companion.
He died In 1864 his widow survived him
some years. residing in Berlin with the daugh-
ter, who had married the famous painter
Iuchter. herself nm almost iuconsola widow.
Pari'. which had possessed him in his life, who
had delighted to 10 him honor. had 10 give i'm
up after death to the country and family who
Claimed lis mortal Iemains 10 lay them on
German soil besi 10 those who bore the name
! OF Bee However every POSSIBLE homage was
| paid t" his memory, and the long cort ige which
Conducted the hearss to the railway station
wns fn lowed BY an unprece iented crowd.
| Several touching Incidents marked tho prog
ross Of the interminaGle procession. Paris
was in one Of those rare periodical
| phases OF overwrought and nervous emo.
ton which sometimes sweep away lei