The sun., 1894-10-21
Dvoszx,s lnERroAx orERA.
His ERorts - Dsveiop Nstieuai Musts-
The Censervstsryss arest saeeess.

His ERorts - Develop Nstieusi Musts-
Ths Csnssrvstsry's Great sueeess.
One Of the performances Of the company or
gnnized by Mrs. Jeanette NJ. Thurber several
years ago to sing opera in English sounded TO
the late George William Curtis like "the frat
warble of American independence" The warble
was American enough In origin At that time,
but Its notes were foreign In spirit and source,
and TO this extent its accomplishment vas
destined to be incomplete ss . national effcft
1t would not have been possible then 70 find an
opera which could have represented the national
element in American music and have claimed
so distinguished a composer as DR.. AntOnin
Dvorsk. Whatever results may come FROM
the attempts to establish American opera,
national in spirit and language, the fact
that DR.. Dvurak has written an opera
based on famous American poem and
embodying his ideas of native American music
will enable that effort to DO made In q manner
that will gain Il the consideration Of the whole
world Of music. Several Of DR.. Dvorak's compo-
sitions written since he came 10 this country
have demonstrated the availability of American
musical themes. His interest In the develop
ment Of American music Is astonishing In one
not an American, but easier to understand in
view Of his own life. Bohemia struggled to
make its national character felt in Its music,
and this ambition Is represented in its highest
achievement by DIR. Dvorak. 1t Is this sympathy
with the effort to find expression for the national
taste that makes him keen to the possibilities In
the development OF what Is purely native In
When Dr. Dvorak left for Europe last sum
mer he had completed some of the music for his
opera which Is to be based on LonRfellow's
"Hiawatha." At that time he had written the
sun dances and he had sought, by continued
observation Of the Indians exhibited then at
Ambrose Park, to catch the characteristics OF
their music and the rhythm and movement Of
work cannot be learned until be returns this
week from Europe. The librettist has not been
part Of the work has been placed. Its psrform-
ance will take place under circumstances which
are are already i generally srrsnged. and It Is prob.
OF Music will figure in its presentation.
When an American opera has been written by
IL will mark an advance in music that places al
most any degree of successful achievement
the women Of the operatic stage is already too
significant to need more than mention. Emma
Sanderson, and many more as famous are
credit TO the American element in the music of
the world and the fact that they have mot been
show what can be- accomplished with Amsrf.
that is directed entirely toward a national de-
Sshsess oS the Natou ars sae
tory Of America, the institution to which Ameri-
%
a musician as Antonin Dvorak. He is the head
Of it,and no one among,Mrs. Thurber s associates
interests. % His Efforts in their behalf have been
the cause OF astonishment among European
musicians.
famous a musician as DR.. Dvorak at its head,
and probably II he were at Prague instead Of In
New York there would be q Considerable pill
grimage of American students to study under
him. The same might be said Of Rafael Joseffy,
whose entire time Is given now to the pupils OF
students would rather study in Europe under q
mediocrity than remain at home under teachers
as famous abroad as they are here; Anton ,, seidl,
Lichtonberg, Henrietta Beebe fawton. Victor
Herbert. and John Cheshire are other we'll
conservatory. w % since iss5 It has educated fes %
students, and this work has been done through
With Othsp end in view than ,hs ,yss
pupils are admitted free of charge, and more
material aid than the advantages of musical
dependent on the support of interested friends,
and notably on the efforts OF its founder, and 1t
iss r.. Issys tasf M rs sns results are JUSTIFY
The Boston symphony Orchestra will play
this winter the symphony composed by George
the $500 prize awarded by the Conservatory for
the best symphony; prize of the same amount
cosSs 70 the
and His Lore" Miss Marguerite Merington re-
celved the $500 prize for an opera llbretto.
Daphne" and Arthur Bird Is now writing the
music. These are substantial encouragements
to American musicians and writer's worthy the
same prizes are offered for the concours this
than ss pupils have
conservatory this autumn, and IL has been
found necessary to hold supplementary exami-
nations some time before the lst OF December.
/, and he is hopeful of finding promising mu-
slcians among the students.