Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-29
IN M MUSICAL CIRCLES
A Prospect of German Grand Opera in
Convention Hall.


season than was at first anticipated The
regular series of Boston Symphony Orches-
ira concerts are, of course expected and
will take place, as usual at Metzarott Hail.
1t Is quite likely that Seidl will bring his
orchestra here for a series Of concerts but
whether they will come to Metzerott or
vention Hall is not yet determined. The
latest move Is on the part Of Mr.. Walter
DamrOsch. in whose behalf MIR. Leon Mar
gulies said that 1t was Mr.. Damroschs
guelies said that it was Mr.. Damrosch's
first intention to give regular Wagner
festival. lasting at least three days, In this
city, the performance. of course taking
place at Convention Hall. This was found
impracticable, owing TO an inability to ar
range dates for the artists who are coming
over to participate In the season of Ger
man opera Mr.. Damrosch will give in New
York. He is determined. however. that
washington Shall have at least one OPP
portunity to hear these artists, who are the
greatest in their respective roles in the
world, and he has resolved to give one
right Of opera in Convention Hail. The
date will probably he the 9TH of February,
and that will bring 1t within the short ses-
sion of Congress. and also just before the
commencement of Lent. .-
1t has not yet been determined what
opera is to be presented. but it is likely
that 1t will be '"Tannhauser," in which
Max Alvery will sing the leading tenor
role and the other artists will be the best
of the company that Mr.. Damrosch will
brig over. If 'Tannhauser' Is decided
upon there is a possibility that the cele-
brated pilgrims chorus will be sung by the
Washington Choral Society. Mr.. Damrosch
also contemplates the giving of three SYM
phony concerts by his excellent orchestra,
and every lover of good music certainly
hopes that arrangements for these Will be
completed. These concerts. as well as the
operate performance, will be given at Con-
vention Hall, and the size Of that place of
entertainment is sufficiently large TO enable
the management to bring the price down to
a moderate figure. OF course. the operatic
performance will involve great deal or
expense. as it Is Mr.. Damrosch's intention
to transport his entire company from Ney
York here, and as this will be the first OPP
portunity that the people of Washington
have had for witnessing performance
of German opera by a really great company,
with all the accessories of scenery and
stage effects and accompanied by an Or
chestra in size and quality fully In keeping
with the singers, IL Is likely that the prices
will be moderately high. Whether the best
seats will be sold by subscription or not Is
still an open question. %S
A Washington gentleman who has had
considerable to do with musicians and mu-
steal people was recently at Manhattan
Beach and listened to some Of the excellent
programs which John Sousa and his mag
nificent band Is giving there. He said that
he had quite a long talk with Sousa. who
has now reached almost the highest wave
of popularity, even at that resort where the
late p. 8. Gilmore was almost worsniped;
Il found. when i came down here, said
Mr.. Sousa that there was something OF a
feeling against me. Everybody remembered
the splendid work that Gilmore and his
wonderful band bad done. and they consid-
cred IL rather presumptuous on my part to
attempt to take his place In the aHectlons
of the people. l recognized the fact that
their devotion to MI Gilmore was periectiy
natural, and I didn't seek to repress 1t in
the least. On the contrary, l rather encour-
aged 1t. 1 never spoke Of Mr.. Gilmore save
in terms of the highest respect, and could
do so conscientiously, because / believe that
he was the or, atest bandmaster that this
country has produced. i had my band play
the things that Gilmore had made most
popular here. / played Mr. Gilmore's own
ARRANGEMENTS of compositions, and played
them as we'll the band could. Pretty
soon the people fornd that wasn't en-
deavoring to wrest any of the laurels from
Mr.. Gilmores brow, but that l was en-
also discovered, l think, that i was not an
imitator simply, but that L mad Original
ideas which was endeavortng to carry OUT.
The tide turned in my favor ana To-Day 1
believe / can say without egotism, that L
am as popular at Manhattan Beach as was
the late Mr.. Gilmore. ..
That is the true policy for man TO pur-
sue" said the gentleman who was telling
the story, land ii illustrates one reason OK
John Sousas success. 1t ID remarkable TO
me-" he continued, why We never hear the
Marine Band play any OF MI. OouSa
marches Sousa is recognized today as the
best writer of marches in this country. His
marches have a dash and a swing to them
that are peculiarly their own. They are
played by the best bands in every city in
the Union, and yet since Mr.. Sousa left the
Marine Band they are never played by that
organization. which made some of these
marches popular. / believe that i express
the feelings Of a great big majority Of the
Washington people when l say that wish
Prof. Fanciulli would occasionally allow the
Marine Band to play some Of Mr.. Sousa' 5
rlarchcs.''
Mrs. Kitty Thompson Berry will be the
soprano soioist Of st. Aloysius' Church choir
next year.
Mr.. Arthur Percy Harris. the composer Of
the Three Dukes" is hard at work upon his
new opera, which he expects to have COM
pleted early in September, and lis brother,
Mr.. W. H. Harris, Is putting In good time
or the libretto for this new work. 1: Is the
intention of these gentlemen to bring this
new opera out in connection with the Three
Dukes" and another opera of theirs, en-
titled THE Baronet," which has never vet
been given IN public; and also to repeat the
Three Dukes" some time during next win
| ter. The chorus will be practically the same
as was heard in the Three Dukes last
season, but there will be some changes in
the cast.
MGR. SATOLEI APPEALED TO.