The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-11
Music and
Musicians.

caricature OF his father. Of the conductors
familiar TO US Manns is the only one who looks
his part, and Nikisch is even more picturesque
than Manns. In the case of the modern must
clan these things count for much. A head OF
hair is rather to be chosen than a great tech
nique and romantic eye than touch or tone"
Wildbrandt the German poet, has just read
an unpublished poem called Beethoven"
which has been received with such enthusiasm
at Berlin that reoiters all over the country are
clamoring to perform 1t. They viii only be al
lowed to do so on condition that the proceeds
OF their readings go for the benefit of the Bee
thoyen institution. The story of the poem
shows where the composer, having learned OF
the faithlessness of woman he loves, contem-
plates suicide, but finally seeks consolation in
work. 1t is in fact an incident well known in
Beethoven's life, when he heard of the mar
rage OF Amelia Sebald and, desperate with
grief, thought the hour to die had come. In
the poem, which is said to be very beautiful,
he conquers the morbid longing and writes the
'Ninth Symphony"
America has at last sent an opera direct to
the Royal Opera-house of Munich, and every
one knows that Munich, where the great Levi
reigns supreme, is second only to Bayreuth.
The accepted work was not written by an
American, but ca viendra, and it is a good be-
ginning to know that New York opera is to
get its first hearing at one of the greatest of
European opera-houses. The fortunate COM
poser is Henry Zoellner, who directs the Lie
derkranz, sort of New York orpheum. The
work is really an heroic dialogue recalling some
OF the events of the Franco-Prussian war and
is entitled "The Unexpected Attack" fit is
received with favor the Royal Opera-house of
Mulch will produce another opera by Zoell-
ner called Sedan"
ha ct nd
who died recently near Vienna, was the writer
of q mum Der of books for Johann Strauss, Suppe,
etc. The best known of the operettas for
which he wrote words and music is his ''Naval
Cadet" though "Nanon," and "The Last ofthe
| Mohicans," have also been a great deal played.
| His sense OF melody was facile, rather than
original.
Miss Adele Laeis Baldwin is the latest addi-
ton to the ranks of vocal Trilbys who transpose
| the advice given to noisy children to be seen
| but not heard. Palmer has taken Miss Bald
| win to Chicago where she is heard but not
| seen in the familiar song "Ben Bolt" Her
voice is said to appeal very strongly to the
audience.
| When Ernest Guiraud died he left an un.
finished opera called ''Fredigonde." Saint
Saens, who was his warm friend and admirer,
has consented to finish the work. and has ar
ranged to have it produced at the Grand Opera
in November. '.Fredigonde" is based on early
French history, during the Merovingian
| dynasty.
! AT the last Philharmonic concert in London
an overture, "Melpomene," by Chadwick,
well-known and respected American composer,
was produced for the first time in England.
The work was favorably received The critics
said, however, that it showed the influence of
| Wagner and the modern Germans.
| Nordau, whose fierce attack on Wagner has
| aroused so much wrath in musical circles, is
| described as a handsome, middle-aged man,
with Semitic features and decidedly melan-
choly eyes. He is q bachelor, living in Paris,
and his universal pessimism does not prevent
| him from being devoted to athletics.
"Guernica," the new Basque opera produced
| in Paris, has gone to London, where Marie
Lafargue, who created the leading role has
made great sensation. She is only % and
has been on the stage year.
| Alick Mclean, a young Scotch composer of
25, has produced one-aot opera, "Petruccio,"
| in London with marked success.