Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-02-01
A MOST GORGEOUS SPECTACLE,
And Production Conceded By All to Be
the Growing Work of the Popu-
lar Composers Life.
The PIERSE-BLAMPHIN PERFORMANCE.
Budget Of News of Interest to Lovers Of the Divine Art
IN the Two Cities

question the greatest first night London has
ever seen. The great interest attaching to
the occasion was due TO the fact that
the s.. 10000 which it had cost D'Oyly
Carte to lift the curtain on "Ivauhoe" had
been made by English opera and been in
vested in the enterprise devoted solely to
English opera. The composer, Sir Arthur
Sullivan, is the foremost representative of
the national school, and that the Hbrettist,
Julian Sturgis, was an American was al
interesting commentary upon the steadily
increasing importance OF the American con-
tingent In the English world of art.
The new house is both grand and beauti-
ful, and takes high rank among the grand
opera houses of the world. The electric
lights will probably never illuminate a
more brilliant audience than that of to-
night. In the royal bo x sat the Prince of
Wales, with the Princess on his right, in
dark blue velvet and a magnificent
tiara in her hair, and on his left
the Princess Maude. In the box adjoining
were the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh
and party. In the boxes opposite were Lord
Albert Rothschild and Lord and Lady
Londesborough. All the notable names in
painting, music, drama and law were there
assembled, all the theatrical managers and
millionaires looked on critically and envi-
ously, and the list of names would embrace
hundreds that are world wide.
When the royal party entered the orches-
ira struck up God Save the Queen" and
the entire audience rose to their feet and
Joined in the singing. When Sir Arthur
appeared In the leaders seat a second out
burst and cheers followed. As the curtain
rose the pit made itself obnoxious, as usual
on first nights and for five minutes not a
note of music could be heard above their
indignant roars The singers were unnerved,
but Sir Arthur was perfectly cool and kept
them at their work. After a policeman had
cleared the gallery the opera began to be
heard.
The first scene was the hall of Rother-
wood, the home of Cedric, the Saxon. 1t
was magnifcent-an old Norman baronial
hall. The second scene was the chamber of
the castle, with love scene between IUaRhoe
and ROCend. The duet was beautiful and
caused the nrst heavy applause
In the second act grand
scene took place between Rebeccd and the
Iemplar, she standing on the battlements
and threatening to leap to death if he
touches her. In this 0ud1n and Miss Mac
intyre both scored heavily The third act
opens in q room OF the castle. IuanRoe,
wounded and a prisoner, has long aria aud
duet with Rebeccd. Then ensues the Storm
ing of the castle. The whole room falls
ponderously into ruins, revealing all the
castle on fire and crumbliag as the Saxons
surmount the ruins in front This was a
grand stage setting and was effective in
every way.
The whole performance was remarkable in
many WAYS. The elaborateness and lavish
expenditure could only be compared to the
Lyceum production which it fully eoualed.
Its smoothnesS was remarkable for a first
night performance. Oudin, Miss Palliser
and Avon Saxon, were distinctly
successful and not more SO than the English
members OF the cast. OF the music,
opinions varied. 1t is clearly the high
est and finest work Sir Arthur
Sullivan has done. Nevertheless the popu-
lar taste NAV possibly find a sameness in its
course which will fail to win for it great
popularity. Grand and sweeping, it does
not rise at any point to high emotional eff
feet: There is no single movement, no grand
aria or grand march to serve as measure of
the rest, nor is there any particularly melo-
die movement calculated to arouse enthusi-
asm. 1t is complete and finished rather
than inspirational.
-
The inadvertent omission last week of an
item giving further news regarding the con-
cert for the benefit of the PENNSYLVANIA
State Music Teachers Association, origin
ally announced in this department two
weeks ago, makes it the more pleasant to be
able this morning to give prominent place
to the following circular letter about TO be
sent out by those having that praiseworthy
enterprise in charge:
For the first time in the history of Pennsyl-
vanla, the members of the music profession are
united in an association organized to promote
the interests OF the profession, as such. The
organization is not intended to benefit any in
dividual OF clique. 1t is not in any sense
monitor of prices. II spends all moneys re-
Ceived, by fees and otherwise, upon expenses
Of its annual meetings and in the printing and
distribution Of the essays and discussions on
mGslcal subjects there heard. 1t has no sink
ing fund aud no stated source of income, ex-
cept the annual dues of members and receipts
OF Its yearly meetings.
Such an organization, doing missionary
musical WORK, is essentially dependent upon
the members OF the profession for contribu-
mons OF their best thought and newest results
IN essay, lecture and discussion, for concert
performances and for new compositions and it
is dependent for pecuniary aid, not only upon
them. Dut upon all of that large number ont
side the profession who believe in the educa-
IiOnal and benencent power of music
The association is not a mendicant but it is
as an association, essentially beneficiary. 1t
owes its existence to the dlsinterested con-
rributions of its professional members and the
musical public. 1t has had two successful
meetings in Philadelphia. The next one will
be in Pittsburg.
There is now a debt of about s4Oo and +bera
concert, TO be given on February 10 and, if
possible, to secure an additional sum to open
the way to a successful meeting in Pittsburg.
At meeting of prominent musicians it was
decided to accept the tender of a sololst from
the star Course" the famous soprano, Glenn
entlue de We're, who will sing three or four
numbers at this concert. The remainder OF the
Plttsburg musicians.
Inns VIII be the first occasion of an appeal to
the musical public to heartily support an enter
prise lndorsed by all the best of the musicians of
the state. The meetings are intended tor the
prout OF TINS public rather than for the protes-
slon , ltseI. 1he hearty support of this lnme-
uItte plah Is asked for from the press and the
pubhc, as an earnest Of a future equally hearty
MeIcome Dy Plttsburg to tie musicians of the
entlre State. What viii YOU do for il? Tickets
are az all music stores and in the bands of the
profession. Jos H. CUTTINGS.
BEyERIDGE WEBSTER,
CARL RETTER,
Z. ID. CARTER,
Programme Committee.
AD. NJ. FORESTER.
J: Z. MCCoLLUM,
Z. c. MELLoR
Finance Committee.
Z. c. MELLoR.