The morning call., 1894-10-25
MUSIC AND MUSICIANS.


A Parlsian critic who. under the pen name of
"a Gentleman OF the Orchestra" has a wide
reputation, thus speaks of that extraordinary
singer OF unconventional songs, Yvette Gull
bert: at seems impossible that the success OF
Yyette can have become greater. and the mys-
teri0us power that she exercises over the multi
tUde have grown to absolute fanaticism. Never
theless that was the spectacle which was pre-
sented to us at the reopening of the Paris Scala
last night. The talent OF this enigmatlcal
creature seemed TO have acquired a new inlen-
sIty. Her habitual qualities, wit, gayety,
bOundless Imagination, cruel irony, deyilish
Yerye and rare faculty Of Imagination, were all
layished on Les Demoiseles du Pensionnat,'
etc. But with her old powers. she gave US
something new and better, which she revealed
in song by Jouy, La Soularde.' 1t would De
impossible 10 describe the DEPTH the power OF
mimlcry with which Yvette Gulbert sang
those stanZas OF poignant realism. 1t gave us
cold chIlls TO near them; we were moved to the
depths OF our being. That Is not cafe-chan-
tant art, it Is r. al art. All those who like TO
experience artistic emotions should see the
diva live this realistic ballad 1t is as terrify
ing as a tale by Edgar Allan Poe"
1t is expected that the auxiliary chorus will
instill good deal OF freshness into the operatic
performances at the Metropolitan Opera-house
in n W York this season. This chorus is COM
posed Of young American singers with unworn
voices OF good quality and strength. They had
been rebearsng for several weeks before they
made their appearance, about week ago, at
the Melba matinee. They were disclosed TO
view when The curtain rose on the second act
of Rossinfs "Semiramide." They appeared as
the bandmaidens of the famous queen and 1t
was their duty 10 simulate perform nee upon
the ancient harp and to weave garlands while
they sang the choral part OF "Bel Raggio."
There was a buzz of surprise in the house when
the chorus became visible, partly because no
chorus at all was expected and partly because
OF the appearance OF the young women. Not
that they were beautiful enough To warrant
Messrs. Abbey aud Grau in depending on them
to keep the vaudeville box full, but they were
palpably young, and did not look like the col
lection Of experienced fortuue-teIlers that
usually appear in operaland. They sang
rather tmdly, but with good quality OF tone
and correct intonatiou.
DIR. Hubert Parry's oratorio. "King SAUL"
recently produced for the first time at the Bir-
mngham Festival, has won great praise from
the critics. The book is said TO be master
piece OF construction and the music to be well
worthy Of association with II. The composer
has chosen a subject previously utilized by
Handel, but the Anglo-German composer by no
means exhausted his theme, and, indeed, wrote
In manner that now seems bopelessly out eff
date. DIR. Parry's aim, on the other hand,
would seem to have been to treat the Scriptural
story from The point of view of Greek tragedy.
Stern, remOrseless fate dogs The footsteps OF
the first King OF Israel and while at first the
atmosphere is bright. the shadows quickly ap-
pear, and dee pen steadily until the final catas-
trophe at Gilboa. Hence the importance OF the
part OF the Evil Spiri, who begins bis fell work
earlier than in the Biblical narrative, counsel
ing the sparng OF the Amalekite fi0cks and
herds. and suggesting to the monarch that MS
lighter Michal is unfaithful TO her father,
having espous ed the cause OF David. Jona-
than does not appear at all, but prominence Is
given TO the loves OF David ana Michal.
The fourteenth season OF the Boston
symphony concerts has opened brilliantly.
Only those who attended the auction sale OF
seats were able to OBJ ain places at all. Con-
ductor Paur seems 10 have succeeded In over
coming most Of the antagOnism that was ex-
pressed against him last season. At the open
ing concert he exhibited none OF tnat serious
mien and severe determination OF purpose, so
observable whe ne made MS first appearance
on the music hall platform year ago. On
the contrary, he was all smiles. His appear
auce had also Improved, for during the summer
vacation he had had his long hair and untram-
meled beard closely clipped. One OF the espe-
cially enjoyable features OF the programme was
the prelude TO "Gwendoline," the composer of
which, Chabrier, died the other day In Paris.
The work made quite an impression in Boston.
Leoncavalo has written to the Commission
of French Dramatic Authors declining 70 sub
nit to their arbitration the question of whether
he borrowed the plot of 81 Pagiaccl" from Ca
tulle Mendes' play, "The Wife of TabarIn" or
not. When the Dramatic Authors read this let
ter they unanimously voted that the society
should defray the expenses of the lawsuit
which Mendes proposes TO bring against the
Italian composer. On the Other hand Leonca-
vallo has written to lie Temps, affirming that
he knew nothing of "Tabarin's Wife, when he
wrote his opera, and he adds: "Paglacci is
mine, certainly mine, entirely mine."
Buenos Ayres Will soon see the completion of
the largest opera-house in the world. 1t will
seat 5000 spectators and the stage will hold
500 persons. The house is so constructed that
boxholders can have their carriages drive up TO
their tiers, and for the occupants OF the gallery
there are elevators. The parquet seats can be
removed and the auditorium converted into
circus in three hours.
The musical festival at Birmingham England.
has proved a great success. Herr Richter had
before him chorus of 366 voices, which those
who heard ii pronounced far above the average
and so was the sale OF tickets. Among the