New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-19
BRINGING OUT AN OPERA.
TRIALS AND TRIUMPHS OF YOUNG
FRENCH COMPOSER.

| Sterne better in France" What, to Wit?
| Surely. not the introduction Of new musical
composers to the public. If one is to believe
the veracious tale of the latest OF the tunefui
| throng, the composers lot is not happy one;
unless he have infinite tact and patience beyond
| that OF most sons of Adam. In the latter case,
| he will have his melodies whistled by Gavroche'
and perhaps win the red ribbon Of the Legion.
| Here, for example is young Monsieur Vasseur,
| Leon Vasseur, whose comic opera, La Pretan-
taine," Is having great run, and whose
| "Tmbale d'Argent' Is still sounding merriiy
| and profitably. He unbosoms himself to the
| confidential interviewer and tells him all the
woes through which he has made his way 10
! the stars. He began In orthodox fashion, as
| did Audran and many others of that ik studying
music at the Ecoe Niedermayer, at Marseiles;
sacred music that he might play the church
| organ. and perhaps compose mass But ne
strayed away into more frivolous vein. and
| wrote dance music and operetta scores. How
ever, he 80 far persevered in his original plan
as, when he left Marscilles. to enter the Church
| of Versailles as organist; it was not lucrative
post but IL kept him from starving. His first
| attempts at publicity, like those of most COM
| posers. were very painful. With manuscript in
| pocket, he went from manager to manager out
| they all replied I'VE are very sorry, my young
| man, but you are unknown you have no name;
come and see us later on" The "Timbale
d'Argent' was his first work. and 1t was the
success 1t obtained which determined him to
confne himself to operetta The story OF Its
| production Is worth telling.
One day he went to NJ Noriac. who was then
| manager OF the Bouffes-Parisiens to submit to
| him a piece In act. Leave IL win me,
| he said. land I will look at 1t when have
| time. Come back in three weeks. He re-
| turned at that date, and found Noriac smoking
| a cigarette in front Of his theatre. At first he
| did not recognize NJ. Vasseur, but on hearing
| his name he exclaimed: "Ah yes; 1t was you
who came to me a short while ago. Alas!
| can't see my way clear to bring 1t out. I'm
| fortunately It is in one act only" To this the
| composer timidly rejoined That is true. But
| supposing gave you a thousand francs to pay
| part OF the expenses" "A thousand francs!"
| cried Noriac; come with me into my room"'
As soon as they were seated Norac began
| Il think we can come to understanding.
but you must compose another piece. you see
The one you have shown me is not at all to
my liking. Here Is another libretto. How long
will II take you to put It to music? Four or five
days? Take IT home with you, and come back
in that time"
to be performed, and he would have pawned
everything he possessed 10 soc It on the stage.
He set 10 work and completed II In the given
time It was entitled La Chambre jaime"
He returned TO Noriac. who received him most
cordially
Now. then my young man. sit down at the
piano and play 1t TO me-" He did 80. wherein
Noriac said Capital. Gay and racy. Just the
thing we want What do you think Jaclne?'
That was the name OF the librcttist. Noriac
presented them 70 each other. and continued:
IT has only one drawback-it ought TO be in
three acts instead Of one. But have an Idea:
lie, us turn It into three. and then we shall be
sure ~ success
Tho idea was adopted. but before leaving
Norac drew the composer aside and said You
offered me one thousand FOR one act. For three
acts YOU will have To- give me three thousand.
Tina, IS understood IL II not? Now go home.
both Of YOU and set to work" The task was
completed in a fortnight. the title OF the op
eretta was changed into the "Timbalc dArgent."
and in "A few days everybody was humming 1t.
on the morrow ~ the first performance NJ.
Vasscur went to Versailles. Il must confess.
he says that approached the church with
a kind Of msgiving. What would the cure
say? | asked myself. and avoided going into
the vesiry much as possible. A week
passed I had just finished the mass when
the bcadle came to tell me that the cure de-
sired 10 speak To me repaired TO the YES
try certain Of being warmly rebuked. All. II
Is YOU Monsieur 10 Compositeur' he exclaimed
on seeing me This is how you compose OPP
ercttas without informing your cure. 1t IL not
kind Of you. All the town is talking OF your
''rimbale." Not later than yesterday heard
the boys and girls singing IT on the boulevards.
| hope the next time you produce piece you
will give me the "primeur' Of II. That is all
| wish to say to you l promised TO do so, and
have kept my word. even asked him to give
me advice and he assenied. II Is now several
years ago that ! left the Church of Versailles;
It was my brother who replaced me as organist.
| am bound. however. to play four times year
AT grand ceremonies.
His next production was the 'Droit du Sci
gneur" one morning he heard a loud knock at
the door and the next second in came tall.
powerful man. who introduced himself. Il am
Monsieur Dcbruycre. director OF the Theatre
n.aumarcbais and | have come to demand a
niece from YOU" NJ Nasseur was about to
saw that this theatre was not suited to operetta
when he Interrupted him. saying, Il foresaw
that you would make objection; but no matter.
you the Timbale dor accept your conditions
beforehand. no matter what they may be-
To this the composer replied: well, If that
is the case here Ia what demand-3OO0 francs
ftcr tie delivery of the first act, 1900 after the
second and the same sum after the third. In
addition. the scenery must be painted by
artists Of my choice new dresses must De
made and the orchestra must be organized In
4 suitable manner" Success was making the
young man autocratic with Il vengeance. But
NJ Debruyer- agreed to the terms and VI.
Vaaseur forthwith wrote the ''Drot du Sell
gneur" which was played first OF all at the
Beaumarchais AM afterward at the Gaiete.
II. next composed the Petite Refine The Ii
bretto was from the pen of Norlac his manager
at the Boufcs whose favoritc at that moment
was Nine Peschard. With manuscript In
hand Noriac and he went to the directors OF
the Opera Com!que. NM. de Leuven and Du
iocle They began discussing it quietly; it
pleased everybody and they were III the act OF
distributing the parts when Du Loce said
There IL one role for which there Is nobody