The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-06-12
m American. Tho experience has been a


| vsars AGO wrote an opera, the libretto lot
which was dramatization OF the Story Oh
Grin Van Winkle.n IL was a tunefui ana
| proiscworthy work, yet II never co'niia VIZ
ed any great success. Mr.. >. U. fia'' mas
written one or two operas, anu inc pocO
! Saltus left In manuscript ut his oe'i''i '"o
| or three opera scores which may perhaps
at some time be produced. ,,-.,,,
When Sir Arthur Sullivan aud William
| Gilbert caye us revelation OF what hgh'
rnuslc drama might be in "Pinaiore,
nurnher of American composers undertook
! ~ write light operas 90 American ibrettos.
| 60 able n musician as Dudley Buck wrote
a l;obt onera for a libretto written by
nm accomplished journalist, William a.
Crofpt IL was called 'Deseret," and
was nroduced in New York. The music
stood the test Of pretty sharp criticism, as
all Mr Bucks musical compositions do.
Vet. although tho opera was produced IN
New York for several weeks, it did not
cain such hold as 10 warrant its continu-
ance. 1t is hard 70 say why, ana the I'M
preston was general that its failure was
partly due 10 the prejudice which existed
against American musical composers. Not
until within year has an American com
poser furnished the score OF light opera
which has proved a success Mr.. Reginald
De Koven wrote the music for the light
opera robin Hood" which has been con
tinuously played now for more than a year,
and ia one Of the chief musical successes OF
the last two or three years.
Some American composers have done
well with burlesque opera, notably Mr.. Il
i. Rice. whose "Evangeline" has been on
the boards for more than fifteen years.
Yet Mr.. Rice, while he has musical talent,
has no musical education, and the melo-
dies which be improvised were necessarily
harrnonized and scored by what are called
hack musicians, whom he employed for
that purpose
Now. however, comes the announcement
that two Of the most conspicuous musi-
clans III the United States, Mr.. Dudley
Buck and Mr. Walter Damrosch, have
written or are still writing the scores for
two operas. Mr.. Buck, in fact, finished
the piano score "a year or Two ago, ana a
mart of the orchestral score. IL Is reported
among musicians that his work was shown
to Anton Seidl. who was the conductor Of
the German opera in New York city. Mr..
Seidl was greatly pleased with this work.
and had the German opera remained upon
the boards il wesbi intention TO produce
Mr.. Bucks work. Praise from Seidl IS in
deed praise from Sir Hubert. He was an
intimate friend Of Wagner, and was when
he came TO this country regarded as the
ablest conductor or director Of Wagner's
operas.
Mr. Buck has hitherto been known
mainly as composer Of church music,
and in that field he stands pre-eminently
the first Of Americans. If he has devoted
himself TO church music lis friends be-
heve it 10 be due TO his opinion that hith-
erto there has been no profitable opening
for an American composer in any other
line.
Walter Damrosch was bred in the midst
of musical surroundings. His father,
cultured man and very accomplished mu-
stefan, established, after labors which
would have appalled, most men, an orator
ical and symphony society in New York.
Out of that grew the German opera, the
magnificent Metropolitan opera house and
eight years Of operatic productions which
have been fully equal 10 the best that are
given in European cities.
The senior Damrosch was the director.
He was suddenly smitten with pneumonia
on the day Of the performance Of one Of
Wagner's great operas. There was no
leader whom he could call in to take his
place that night at the conductors stand,
so he asked Walter, then lad Of seventeen
years, TO come and sit by his bedside while
he went over the score with him. Suffer
ing acute pain, the father explained 10 the
lad the memoranda marked in the score,
and then sent him 10 the opera house that
night, a bear1iess STRIPPING 10 conduct that
great orchestra and the famous singers
and splendid chorus through one OF the
most trying Of all German operas. Tint
one act made Walter DamrOsch famous
A few days later his father died aud this
boy stood al the conductors stand in place
Of his father during the remainder Of the
season.
OF course he could not have done these
things had he not already become Inu-
stefan and been carefully trained under
the loving direction of bis father. Since
that time his progress has been very rapid
Andrew Carnegie became interested in
him and built for him a noble music hall
in New York, and there during the winter
season Walter Damrosch appears as the
conductor Of one of the finest orchestras in
the world. lie has also developed what so
few musicians have, a keen business sense,
and is on the high road TO fortune. Fame
he alre~ly has. BY reason of his marriage
TO the daughter Of Secretary James G.
Blaine, following most romantic and de-
lightful courtship, Damrosch was brought
socially into connection with many influ-
entail families.
The opera which he is writing IS scored
TO "a libretto made from Hawthorne's
Scarlet Letter" and this hbretto was
written by Hawthorne's son-in- law, George
Parsons Lathrop. If the opera proves
success it will increase Damrosch's fame,
while at bhe same time satisfying his high
est ambition, which is TO rank with some
Of the great composers.
+. J. EDWARDS.
Cuba's Worlds Fair Display.
General }. X. West, while on a recent