The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-04-08
MUSIC And THE DRAMA.
A New California SOngstress to
the Fore.
Notes of the Stage-Personals and An
ecdotes-Wagner and King Ludwig
of NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. and Isolde''-A
Royal Letter.


Wagner would have never been able to
have Bayreuth Festival, or, perhaps,
even to finish the score of the "Nibelung
Tetralogy," the composition of which he
had interrupted in order to write ''Tris-
tan" for immediate production. But
Tristan" too, had to wait seven years,
and might have waited seventeen had not
the young King of Bavaria made it his
first duty to call Wagner to Munich. In
letter TO the novelist, Frau Willie, dated
May 2, 1864. Wagner wrote about the
King "He loves me with the depth and
ardor of first love; he knows everything
about myself and understands me like
my own soul. He wants me to be with
him always. to work, to rest, to produce
my works; he will give me everything
l need; I am to finish my 'Nibelungen,'
and he will have them performed as |
wish. His letters to me no one
can read without establishment and de-
light. List remarked that his receptiv
ity, as revealed in them, was on the same
lofty plane as my productivity. Believe
me, it is miracles" These royal letters
TO Wagner have just been published for
the first time in Vienna paper, and they
certainly reveal a most extraordinary
affection and enthusiasm on the Kings
part, as the following extracts will show:
BE assured that l shall do all that lies in
my power to compensate you for your
sufferings in the past: the petty cares of
everyday life shall be driven away for
ever, and l shall insure you the longed-
for rest in order that you may unfold the
mighty plnionS of your genius in the pure
ether of your glorious art. Unconsci-
ously you We're the only source of my
Joys, from the earliest days of my youth,
p Ntrh AalaI tn h.aae iI-a
no other, my best teacher and educator. 1
shall repay you for all this to the best of
my ability. | scarcely dared to hope to
be able to do it so soon. 50 Above
all, let me express my sincerest, most
cordial thanks for your love and your
kindness in reading to me your superb
works. Everything you create
is so closely related to my feelings, speaks
so directly to my heart, that it is posi-
lively heavenly pleasure to me. %
1 constantly sighed for the time when I
should be permitted to compensate you,
in part at least, for the trials and sorrows
which were your constant lot; now, to
my delight, the moment has come, now the
purple mantle clothes me; now that l
have the power l shall use it to make
your life a pleasant one. You
are TO me the dearest one on earth; no
others can love you as l do. 81 My
only desire is to be with you in Sieg-
tried's forest to enjoy the song of the
birds; try to forget the rude world,
smitten with night ana blindness"
San Franciscans are soon to have, says
the Examiner, the pleasure of listening to
one of the sweetest contralto voices ever
heard upon the concert stage in Calitor-
MIA, and music lovers are looking for
ward eagerly to the evening of the 18th of
April, the time set for the debut of the
talented young star OF whom so many
kindly words are being spoken. Miss
Anna X. Selkirk, the artist referred to,
is the daughter of w. \. Selkirk, the
well-known journalist, now of Petaluma.
She was born at Placerville, FL Dorado
County, in 1874. While she was yet a
child her tones were so clear, tender and
resonant that they attracted much notice
and evoked great admiration; and when,
in 1889, Madame Sanderini heard her
sing, i'll san Francisco, that artist was so
much pleased that she undertook the
work of training the promising Califor-
MAN herself. Nor has the madame had
reason to regret her favor, for Miss Sell
kirk has more than fulfilled early prom
Use, and competent critics speak OF her
voice with much of praise. 1t has been
described as rich, full, true contralto, of
great volume and compass, and of very
rare quality in its lower notes.
squire Abingdon" who died recently
in New Orleans, is said to have given
500, 900 to Langtry for the pleasure of
blackening one of her eyes, and much
larger sum TO cancel her American en-
gagement, and the Squire was Scotch
man at that. There was another Scotch
man that did much the same in his day
with Nell Gwynne, and his name was
Charles Stuart, at that time engaged as
King of England. Besides mansion in
Pail Mall and country box at Burford
House, Nell pulled the royal leg to the
extent of $50, 900 in a very short time, not
indeed to hoard it, but in order that she
might blaze diamond-laden at Whitehall,
and lose as much as 81 400 in one night at
basset. Yet such a large expenditure be-
came too heavy drain for the patience
OF even easy-going Charles, so the modest
sum of $4,000 per annum was settled on
the whilom server of strong drinks at
Nine. Ross. This lowly sum. however,
proved altogether too small for the lady's
wants, and, unable at one time TO meet
her large debts, Nell became outlawed,
on his deathbed one of the last thoughts
OF the royal lover was of her, for, turning
to his brother James, be said: LET not
poor Nelly tarve."-DunlOp's Stage
News.
Miss Carrie S. Rudolph was born in
Sacramento. She is the daughter of the
late DR.. Rudolph, a pioneer citizen of
this place. Miss Rudolph lived in Sacra-
mento sixteen years. She is now not vet
"A. She has developed as versatile
exceeding high merit. She is now max
ing her second seasons tour in that ca
pacity. She gives in costume a three
hours entertainment, and. it is said of
her, that she never has weary audience.
Her reception throughout the East has
been more than warm, and the press no.
tices of this Sacramento girl are very flat
tering. She is handsome woman of fine
stage presence, a vivacious manner. mu-
steal voice, and is singularly free from
straining for effect. The Boston Globe.
New y ork Herald, New York World
and Boston AdUertiSer critics, all reck-
oned as hard to please, give her un-
stinted praise, and pronounce her head
and shoulders above the usual in the line
OF characters and readings she presents.
DunlOp'S Stage NeWs says: '"May
Brookyn's finished and dainty art is
shown not only in her exquisite acting in
the difficult role of Mrs. Erlynne in
Lady Windermere's Fam but also i'm
the beautiful gowns she has designed for
the part The prettiest is used in Acts |.
and II. 1t is a modernizatiun of the
Charles 1. style that artists delight to
paint. The gracefully trained petticoat
fs of ueach-colored satin, yelled in net
richly embroidered in gold, crystal and
colored pearls. This superb wrought
decoration covers the entire hem of the
Gown. and is carried up the skirt. The
body, cut very low and square, has sleeves
and Charles l. valence collar of the satin.
richly embroidered, directly upon its own
material and finished with a fringe of
cold and pearls. The heavily embroid-
cred belt is fastened with handsome
buckle OF brilllants"
Clever Fanny Rice seems to be creating
quite Juror throughout the entire South
with Offenbach's little operetta, THE
Broom Seller" 1.-THE New Jolly Sur
11risai, and "Nancy" Her success has