The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-08-09
MUSIC AND MUSICIANS.

"LAttaque du Moulin" relieved from the
! hampering changes enforced by the French
! Government. has proved a sensation In London.
| IL Sir Augustus Harris had not piled up nov
! city after novelty it would have proved the sue
! cess OF the season, but as one critic uDserVHu'
! at can afford to wait, for 1t Will be played
when we are under the turf" lola ana Bru'
neau form an artistic combination as striking
| as Gilbert and Sullivan, with the difference that
with The latter humor was the nrst cOnSluera-
ton, III the former the stern realities OF lie are
| brought forward with the hand Of master,
while all the resources OF modern art are used
In the music. The lesson which lola has taught
| IN "EAItaque du Moulin is the slntulness,
the cursedneSS OF war, and he has rammed this
home by writing book In Whlch there Is no
! villain. Crimes are committed. but only IN con-
sequence of socalIed duty, or in sheer SELF
defense. Ii Is "I.a guerre, PhOrrible guerre"
which makes men and women alike sIlfle all the
good in their natures and either prompt or
commit deeds, from which, in times of peace,
they recoi with horror. The use OF lead
ing themes by Alfred Bruneau Is so mas
terly as almost to indicate that the mantle OF
Wagner had fallen upon the French composer,
whose melodies. however, are redolent OF the
grace and Diquancy of his sunny land. Occa-
sionally he INDUCES in those dreadful harmonic
PROFESSIONS which marked the score OF sic
Reve." but with great moderation.
A famous London critic observes. apropos of
THAT monumental achievement In the way Of
lyric dramas" "EAttaque du Moulin: ut
has otter been reproach against Wagner that
he invented a system which no one had the Ca
paclty TO ADOPT but here is composer, and,
moreover, a Frenchman, who uses It with
marvellous success. The temperance In con-
stantly modified form OF the leading themes
has truly delightful effect on the ear. 1t is
like welcoming in new garb old friends who
have become endeared by long association.
This, together with the beauty and pathos OF
the story, and the efforts of such superb
artists as Mile. Delna and M. BOuvet
combine 10 force an impression that is almost
overwhelming. A performance of 'LAttaque
du Moulin Is liberal education"
Mile. Martini. who recently had great sue
cess in the role OF Seiglnde in the "Walkyre"
at Brussels, undertook the other day to sing IL
at the Grand opera House, Paris. During the
performance an accident happened that greatly
alarmed the audience. At the end OF the frSt
act Mile. Martini, whose gestures are Vele-
ment, managed TO spike her forehead on the
sword held by NJ. Dupeyron. who was playing
Siegmound. Everyone believed that the
wound was dangerous, for 1t bled profusely
Fortunately a physician. summoned IN haste,
was able to state that the epidermis only was
hurt. and after the wound had been dressed
Mile. Martini reappeared in the second act
and continued TO excite great applause through
out the opera.
Rosa Sucner, the female star engaged for the
coming season of German opera in New YORK,
has been in a measure disappointment In the
| role of Kundry at the Bayreulh Festival. On
! her first appearance it was said that her per-
Torrance lacked color, and though she had IN
denably fine moments the memories OF Frau
Materna in the past were not ehaced. Frau
| Sucher has greater personal beauty than either
| Materna or Malten. and this charm stood her
in good stead in the flower garden scene OF the
| second act. The general opinion OF her work
| was that she hid achieved a careful embodi-
| mept of the role, which will improve with repe-
| titton.
| Spiro Smetana the GRECO italian composer,
| OF whom an account was recently given in THE
| CALL, has just mad an opera, 1.-The Sold Bride
produced at the Royal opera, Berlin, where IL
| has achieved an emphatic success. mat erudlte
| and severe critic DR.. Otto Lessmann gives 1t
as his opinion that Smetana's work Is the best
comic opera In the old style when mas been
| produced since RossinPs Barber" and that 1t
would have to be considered an absolute
masterpiece II the third act were dramatically
on the level with The rest.
Niccolo SpinellPs new opera, "a Basso
| Porto" has bad phenomenal success at Co
| logne. Like Byron the fortunate composer
awoke one morning aud found hlmseH famous.
| His music is said to be full OF most unusual
beauties, some critics going so far as to assrrt
that the finale TO the second act has no equal In
all Italian opera. Spinelli was "called" more
than twenty times
1t 10 expected that Jules Massenet, the com.
| poser of "Manon," "Le Cid" "Esclarmonde."
ETC., will visit America in The near future, and
that while in New York will conduct during
the Abbey and Grau season some OF his own
operas, in which Miss Sybil Sanderson Is to APP
pear. Mascagni is also expected to conduct
some OF his works during the same season.
European critics are freely uttering hopes
that in the evening OF her career Nine. Patti
will appear on the operate stage Ia one OF
Wagner's characters. After hearing her vocal
| lie "ElZabeth's Prayer" as IL has probably
never been vocalized before, they have arrived
at the conc fusion that she Is eminently quail
| fed to shine as Wagnerian heroine.
1t has been arranged that the Oesterleln
Wagner Museum, founded at Vienna, shall be
transferred to Weimar. more suitable home
could not be named, as the poet-composer was
first recognized for his mature works III that
city, thanks TO the Intervention OF Franz Liszt.
Jean Gerardy, the wonder boy vlolinst, has
been engaged for a tour In this country next
season. Frlda Simonson, quite remarkable
pianist, will accompany Gerardy on the tour,
which is TO be under The management OF
! Marcus Mayer.
Wagnerians will be pleased to know that
| LISTS recently translated letters contain los
! references TO the Bayreuth master. besides one
letter OF three lines to him as well as bis reply
1t Is reported that an impresari0 has made an
offer to the new Earl of SALISBURY, who Is an
amateur vocalist. of an engagement for an
American tour for $500 night.
Carl Pfueger OF Boston, who is travelling In
Germany, has been singing with great success
| 10 Hamburg.
The Woman's Philharmonic orchestra OF
Boston is going to make a tour of the country
| next fall.
Emil Bach's new opera, 1.-THE Lady OF Long
| ford" has been produced at Covent Garden.