The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-21

combined could not have made him play when
they had got him there. But now, of his own
accord, Joseffy has emerged from his retreat,
has played in Chicago and announces his de-
termination of playing elsewhere. And after
all, they were wrong in saying it was disap-
pointed love, a collapse of all his faculties or
any other extravagant cause that had driven
Joseffy into retreat. He simply retired to de-
vote himself to eleven hours a day study.
The prize of Rome is scholarship given by
the Paris Conservatory to the student who
stands highest in composition. 1t entities him
to free education in Italy during certain
number of years, and while in Rome he is ex-
pected to send home a composition showing
the result Of his foreign study. This prize has
been won by a number of famous composers,
many of whom have had their day and are
dead Weckerlin, the librarian of the Paris
Conservatory, has just made the interesting
find of an opera bouffe written by Bizet Ludo-
vic Halevy, an old friend of Bizet, has given
the following information about the work: at
was written when Bizet was only Is or 10 years
old. His friends heard all about it and at
tached more importance to the work than
Bizet did himself. Curiously it indicates a
great taste for Italian music. Bizet, before GO
ing to Rome, was strongly opposed to the style
of operas he had heard performed at the Ital-
ian theater in Paris. During his sojourn in
Italy, however, he heard the Italian masters
interpreted with the brio that the artists of
that country give them, and, falling for time
under the spell of his surroundings, he took
an old Italian libretto entitled Don Procopio'
and wrote for it the score in question, which
he sent to the conservatory instead of mass
or some sacred work-a substitution which
earned him some reproaches. Don Procopio'
contains charming passages, and Bizet even
took themes from it and placed them in works
of his which have since become popular"
The production of Miss Augusta Holmes
opera, sThe Black Mountain has caused
the French papers to remember that there are
a number of other rising women composers in
Paris. The following account is given of Mile.
Chaminade, who began to compose when she
was only years old: 1.-The pieces that the in
FAINT phenomenon wrote were not perhaps very
remarkable, but still they had enough in them
to attract the attention of Bizet, who inter-
viewed the child at considerable length and
pronounced her to be very gifted. and you
must take care he said, mot to destroy her in
dividuality' Mile. Chaminade's teachers were
very severe, however, and the quick
witted child sometimes suspected them of over
acting on account OF their belief that girl
could not master the intricacies of the strong
minded part of music. One teacher in partic-
ular criticized all her efforts to write fugue SO
severely that she played him a trick by copy
ing one of Bach's less-known fugues and hand
ing it in as her own composition. The pro-
lessor glanced gravely through it and re-
marked, you have much Imagination, made
moisele, but you will never make writer of
fugue.' After that she lost faith in her
teachers"
Miss Chaminade has written number of sue
cessful pianoforte works, as well as dramatic
symphony, SThe Amazons," given successfully
at Liege and Rheims. The ballet music has
also been applauded in France.
The effect of art on international policy is
only just beginning to be felt, but who can pre-
dict what widespread political influence it
may not attain TO in the twentieth century
Everything seems possible when we see France
and Germany hobnobbing-not over the uni
versal brotherhood of mankind, but over a
mutual love for one another's painters and
composers LIE Figaro says: "People are be-
ginning to understand that art must be cosmo-
politan. And of all the means which can con-
tribute to unite peoples and excite between
them sentiments of mutual sympathy the most
powerful are those which art and science put
at our disposal. few insignificant people
may still be willing to hiss 'Lohengrin' and Die
Walkyrie' because they are the works of Ger
man, but let us applaud these magnificent
works just as the Germans have applauded our
Faust"
Endless stories have been circulated as to
the cause of Miss Sibyl sanderson's retirement
from the Abbey, Schoeffel and Grau Com
pany-she was jealous of Eames and Melba,
had quarreled with Antonio Terry, Mr.. Abbey
had broken his contract with her, etc., but the
real fact of the matter seems to have been
that Miss Sanderson was suffering from
physical collapse. In spite of her beauty,
clever acting and artistic phrasing Miss San
derson's lack of voice prevented her from
obtaining anything like popular success in
America, although certain critics have given
her good deal of praise. This failure to win
the public no doubt had its effect upon her
health, though scarcely to the extent that has
been represented. Abbey was anxious to re-
tain her till the close of the season.
In writing of the operate schools which
young composers of the present day would do
well to take as their models Paul Montigny
says in LIE Figaro: Theatrical music is taking
turbulent voyage at this moment Win it.
like La Gascogne, ever get into port? OF what
saint can 1t evoke the aid? Those of France
are too light, those of Germany too heavy.
those of Italy too deceitful To call upon one