The morning call., 1894-01-11
MUSIC AND MUSICIANS.

"The Musical Art Society" is an organization
just founded in New York for the purpose OF
producing choral music by solo singers. Frank
Damrosch is the chief mover In the undertake
ing and his motives are summed up in the re-
mark. "What is the use OF talking about the
beauties OF Pedestrians masses, of the charm
found i'll the madrigals of Arlando di Lassens,
If people can never hear those works?" Dam
rOsch's wish was TO form chorus OF fifty solo
artists, capable of producing compositions like
Pedestrians, that are, from their difficulty, out
OF the reach of an amateur organization.
Prominent people have responded warmly TO
the idea. and large fund having already been
guaranteed the chorus is now being organized.
at first it was proposed to make the concerts
entirely society events. but Damrosch had
higher ideal, he wished The Musical Art Society
to become a public educator, and Insisted on
part OF the hall being reserved for students and
persons OF limited means. The first concert
will take place in Carnegie Hall, March 8,
when Pedestrians "Stabat Mater will form the
leading attraction.
Revivals rather than new productions are
the order OF the day just now in musical cir.
cles in London. SO far the critics seem to
have been unanimous in saying "amen" 10 the
verdict pronounced when the compositions
were originally passed judgment upon. Schu-
mann's only opera "Genoveva," for instance,
ciZed with scatnng severity. IL has just been
performed for the first time on any English
stage by pupils Of The Royal College Of Music,
at Diury Lane Theater. Professor Villiers
Stanford welded the baton, and the perform
ance was excellent in every respect. The YER
dict OF the oyercrowded audience, however
was that the work merited the condemnation
it formerly received, Schumann's incapacty for
dramatic music or for the drama generally be-
Ing apparent throughout Tue composition. HE
was" says one critic, 'his own librettist, and
has treated a romantic and effective story in
most ineffective manner, and has welded it to
music which, almost constantly beautiful hind
ers rather than assists the action OF the play"
Madame Calve, who has just set all New York
talking of her wonderfully original and thrill
ing Interpretation Of Carmen, has named, in
recent interview, the font of Inspiration which
gave her the courage TO break away from tradi-
tion. "When made my debut" she said, a. was
bound down by custom and rule. My Marguerite
in Faust, for instance, was just like every other
prima donna's Marguerite. There was no orig.
inaity Of conception in any role 1 performed.
After singing couple of years went 10 Italy
and In Naples saw EenOra Duse, the great
Italian tragedenne. Her Interpretation of
Margaret Gautier was revelation TO me, and
since then have dared to be original" Orig
inality with Calve, however, has meant constant
hard work.
AT the Albert Hall Han dePs "Jephtha" has
just been reVy ed for the first time in its entire
ty etore a London audience for twenty years.
IsOl ated numbers, such as Deeper ana deeper
still" WAIT her. angels" and the stupendous
chorus When his loud voice." are frequently
performed. however. The magnificent music
was warmly received. but Sir Arthur Sulivan's
additional accompaniment did not meet with
I'm of hp a fhau ara oid
to be decidedly obtrusive
The Viennese Society of Amateurs VIII give
no Beethoven prize for 1893. The jury charged
to pronounce upon the merits OF the original
works entered for competition have reported
that while they appreciate the merits of certain
competitions submit to them from an artistic
point OF view The works fail 10 reach the stan
dard required 10 merit the prize.
Dvorak's "From the New World" will be pro-
duced next month at the Crystal Palace, Lon
don. A critic in making this announcement
adds: at is mistake to suppose that the work
is collection of negro minstrel ditties."
While in New York Nine. Calve is not writing
many letters TO her friends in Paris. She talks
into the photograph and sends the rolls home,
so that In Paris they actually hear her voice
from across the sea.
In London. where the people are fiocking In
their thousands to hear Paderewski. they have
still found courage 10 nickname the great vir-
tuoSO "Badwhisky"