The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-06-07
MUSIC AND MUSICIANS.

lhomas, who suspected nothing was informed
mat visitor was in the drawIng-roOm. what
was MS stupefaction on entering, TO hnd The
apartment filled with about hundred people.
before he had time TO recover from his surprise,
Massenet advanced and made congratulatory
Speech which was greatly applauded. Am
broise lhomas, moved to tears, replied In the
happlest terms MOdestIy effaclng himself, he
said that the distinction OF which he was the
OBJECT was not addressed so much to him per-
sOnaily as 10 French art, of which he Is the vet
eran' Alter these words Ambrose THOMAS
embraced his pupil Massenet, and then espying
III the crowd of professors Leon Achard, who
created the role of Wilhelm Meister in Mig
non" he went and thanked him warmly.
Thomas thsn shook hands with all the pro-
lessons. and the touching scene was terminated
Dv long exchange of expressions OF good will.
In the evening the Partisan public also gave
tumultuous expression of It's good will toward
the veteran composer.
Two nights after the Millennium" of mig
non" gala performance. composed OF fragments
from Ambrose Thomas operas, took place at
me opera Comique, all the rank and fashion OF
Paris being present. including Monsieur and
Macame Carnot, surrounded BY nearly all the
ministers, large number of Senators and
deputies, magistrates, members OF the lnstl-
tute, etc. At the end Of the first part OF the
programme, Thomas was sent for 10 the Presi-
Dental box. and the state, in the person of its
highest officer, conferred on the compos er OF
"Mlgnon" tbe'gTade of 'grand.croix" in the
order OF the Legion Of Honor, the highest dig
niiy IN the power OF the republic TO bestow.
when Thomas appeared wearing the Gordon
ne was greeted with inIerminable applause, in
Whlch the surviving librettst, Jules Barber,
ana the creator of MignOn. Nine. CALI
Marie, also had a share. The excerpts per
formed on this memorable occasion were from
Raymond" ''SOnge dune mutt d'ete," Mig
non," Psyche" and "Hamlet." Previous to
the performance the Minister of Public InstTuc-
ton, surrounded by the artists OF the Opera
Comlque and many high state functionares,
presented Thomas with a gold medal in the
greenroom of the theater.
YVette Guilbert, the French "chauson-
etteuse," is creating a sensation among the
SOBER BrltisheTs. AT the Empire, where she
has sung herself into the good graces of her
audiences, they did not know al first how TO
take her, for the staid Yvette, in her plain
white gown and her long black gloves, was not
the sort of thing expected of a French comic
singer. 1T Is possible says d great London
critic, ITO admire the method of the singer, her
expressive enunciatiOn. and the wonderful
manner in which she uses her voice, without
approving of her songs which l take the
liberty OF thinking would not receive the
sanction OF the Lord Chamberlain, if the keeper
OF the public conscience had anything to say IN
the matter" The Partisan paper, lie Temps
gravely publishes an account OF how the de-
mure AVette asked permission to sing for the
Lord Chamberlain, and how that funetionary,
understanding the French Of Racine and Cor
nellie and not the MOnImartre slang, was
charmed by Yvette's simplicity OF manner and
Invited her 10 tea with his wife and daughters
Independence Beige says: 1T is not Yvette
that shocks England, but England that shocks
Yyette.'
Sir Augustus Harris has opened his present
season of grand opera in London with Puccl-
mis- "Manon Lescaut," and all intelligent anna
teurs in England are taking a deep interest In
the composer, who has had the audaciiy TO fol-
low Auber and Massenet in setting a tragic
story to music. Puccin is his own llbrettlst,
but it can scarcely be said that the vocal score
is altogether skillfnl In construction. There
are times when the spectator who is
unfamiliar with the Able Prevos's story
can scarcely deeipber the course of the
narrative, but the last scene, which
in this work is made to take place in a desert
near New Orleans, is far more pathetic than
that of Masseners opera. and sensitive opera
goers provide themselves with several extra
handkerchiefs. The music shows that the
composer is eclectic. taking ideas from Gounod
and Massenet and 10 formal freedom from
Wagner he is thoroughly italian in idiosyn-
Grassy, his melodies and their treatment beng
essentially of the younger Italian school,
which is bearing such rich fruit
There was a pleasant little function In the
greenrOom Of old DruTy Lane Theater on a re-
cent Friday afternoon when Impresario Sir
Augustus Harris was testimonialized for his
services In Te.estabshing opera In England
Many segments Of dramatic and musical circles
attended. The background to the chairman
(sir Edward Lawson) was principally composed
OF three new and beautiful pianos, Sir Augustus
having desired that the money subscribed for
the testimonial should be spent on these as
prizes for the Royal Academy OF Music,
the Royal College OF Music and the
Guidhall School OF Music. The chair
man led of with high tribute OF praise
TO the octogenarian promoter OF the testi-
mOnials Henry Russell, who looked a hale and
hearty grand old man OF music. In due course
Sir Edward pointed out that. although Sir
Augustus had requested the subscriptions to be
put to other use than his own. 1t was felt that
something should be given him, so he handed
him noble album con- aiming list OF his (SIr
Augustus DruriOlanus) achievements in
scTibed in letters OF gold.
The present season OF Popular Concerts In
Brussels has just terminated. and the public
seized the occasion as a good opportunity for
giving an ovation 10 the conductor, Joseph
Dupont. After the first part OF the programme
Dupont was offered palms and wreaths, orna-
mented with ribbons bearing the names of 800
subscribers, while all the audience rising ap-
plauded Vociierously. This manifestation was
intended as public reply TO certain hostile at
tempts aimed at the director and the popular
concerts. The public wished TO manifest its
attachment to such an excellent musical insti-
tuition as the Popular Concerts" and its graft
tude to the MAI who personifies them.
The coming national saengerfest, which will
be brgun in the MaGlson-sq Garden on the
evening Of Saturday, the 23d inst, and con-
tinue until Monday evening June 20, will be
the greatest affair of the kind ever held In New
YORK. For months preparations have been
going on 10 insure its success, not only in the
German-Americap singing societies OF the city.
but in all the cities included in the Northeast
ern Saengerbuud. The managers, in fact say
that 1t Will surpaSs in interest, size and brill
fancy even those held beyond the blue noun
tains of the Rhine"
Concerts to right OF US. concerts TO left OF
us" is the despairing cry of London musical
critics Just now. Among other successful en-
tertainmenls successful plaDoforte recital
has been given by M Sapelnikoff. assisted by
his former preceptress, Nine Sophie Member
The Bach Choir has given one Of its most sue
cesSful concerts az the Queens Hall, where a
striking impression was made by new violin
lst, Achile Rlvarde. in Bach's ''Chaconne."
There VIII be Bach festival at the Queens