The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-04
,aris has been bereft of its musical critics for

Paris has been bereft of its musical critics for
a few days, all of them having gone to Nice to
be present at Eugene Oneguine, which mas
just been presented for the first time in French
at the Theater of Nice. 1t is one OF the most
popular scores ever penned by Tschaikowsky,
the famous Russian composer, who died pre-
maturely in '93. "Oneguine," which is al
ready in the repertory of all the Russian opera
houses, was the favorite opera of the late
Alexander III, who often caused it to be pre-
scented for his personal pleasure at his resi-
dence of Gatschina. In spite of the designa-
ton which Tschaikowsky gave it the work is
not a lyric drama in the sense generally under
stood by that term in modern works, where the
music follows and illustrates the action with
out care for any particular vocal form. "one
guine" contains arias, cavatinas, duets and
quartets, and consequently resurrects
the old-tashioned form OF opera. From
the small number of characters and the
simplicity of the action the drama is plainly q
domestic one. When Massenet made Charlotte
cut slices of bread and butter in his ever
ther," he astonished the frequenters OF the
opera-comique, but Tschaikowsky was in adj
vance of him, for in .'Oneguine" the nurse is
discovered putting up berries, though they are
not eaten on the stage, like Charlotte's bread
and butter. Nine. Larina only just tasted her
preserves, and did not take the trouble
to tell the audience whether they were sweet
enough. But "Oneguine" has other qualities,
more serious. Indeed, it contains some beauti-
full pages of scenic and dramatic music. The
popular song of the Russian peasant, the ball,
the duel and the beautiful duet Of the finale
were particularly well received by the cosmo-
politan audience present at the first French
performance of Tschaikowsky's favorite opera.
Mascagni's lyric drama, "Ratclif," is still
drawing full houses at La Scala, Milan, and
the reports OF the foreign newspapers show that
their correspondents have considered it as
great a success as was announced by the
Milanese journals in the first flush of en-
thusiasm. La Scena explains this triumph,
after repeated failures, in fashion that may
have good deal of truth in it. When Mas
cagni first worked at "Ratcliff and "La Caval-
leria Rusticana" he was poor, obscure and free
to follow the bent of his own genius. Some
friends persuaded him to send the latter work
in for musical competition opened by the
Editor Sonzogno. 1t was accepted and pro-
duced-and the next day Rome talked of it.
Sonzogno, quick to see the business advantage
OF his young protege's success, had Mascagni
advertised in every possible way, and within
year the world talked of .La Cavalleria," and
Mascagni was quoted, copied and feted wher-
ever he went. "One thing remained" said the
young musicians admiring compatriots, che
must write his masterpiece" and urged on by
Fritz and failed. 81 Rantzau" met the same
fate, and then, Disguised with writing
masterpiece to order, Mascagni went back to
"Ratcliff," the inspiration conceived in the
days of poverty and obscurity.
They have been hesitating in France over
whether or not it was necessary to send music
with the regiments setting out to fight in
Madagascar and have compromised matters by
sending brass bands to see the Gallo Tommy
Atkins off at the railway stations. CORE
spondent writing about this says: "When
Charles Monselet, witty writer, little known
to the present generation, was challenged to
duel with an adversary whom he did not
hate-a thing that happens sixty times out of
hundred-he declared that he was willing to
fight ON one condition. what condition.?
asked the seconds. THAT there may be wild
music to excite the savage instincts of the
combatants,' answered Monseet. Every one
laughed, but Monselet gave a lesson in those
words to duelists which was more eloquent
than Dumas recent discourse on the same
subject. The moment one has recourse 10
something barbarous like war or dueling,
some instrument is necessary to arouse the
savage instincts of humanity. Music in such
case is as much part OF the fete as the
wedding N arch is at marriage"
Rauel Gunsbourg, the impresario in ordinary
to the Prince of Monte Carlo, when recently
asked by a composer to produce a work played
with success on another stage replied scorn-
fully, 81 do not conduct what others conduct;
create" The last work that this indefatig-
able conductor at the worlds biggest gambling
house has created is "La Jacquerie,'' a postum
nous opera by Edouard Lalo, and the
production has proved it to be an opera of
modern and elevated tendencies and OF sim
cere inspiration. In the first act, which is
palpably the work of the composer of "The
King of Vs. the barytone song was particu-
larly applauded. The delightful recitative of
meeting, sung by Robert, the tenor, and the
scene of the Angelus, were also admired. The
performance of "La Jacquerie" at Monte Carlo
left very little to be desired, and the success of
the opera is said to have been so great that it
will probably be heard in other countries be-
fore long. Arthur Coquard was much ap-
plauded for the clever way in which he had
completed Lalo's unfinished work, an inter-
mezzo OF his composition being one of the
gems OF the opera.
Sir Arthur Sullivan recently told an inter-
viewer this story of q visit to San Francisco: 81
had arrived one morning and was strolling
abou. the hotel waiting in rather undecided
way for something to turn up. Quite by acct
dent met a lady whom had known in Lon
don, and as she was about to step into her car
rage to take drive, she invited me to accom-
pany her to the promenade, where an excellent
band was to be heard every day. accepted
her invitation and we had a delightful drive,
finally drawing up near the bandstand. Imag-
inc my surprise-nay, must add, my deep
emotion-when the bandmaster, as if by en-
chantment, struck up THE Lost Chord, which
was played admirably from beginning to end.
1t was pure accident, of course, for my visit to
California was not known to any one at the
time, but need not say how much / was
touched to hear those strains, which carried
me back SO many thousands of miles to home"
Bizets newly discovered opera, sDon Pro-
copio," will probably soon be heard in Paris,