The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-05

before Frau Cosima Wagner pointed out the
ways of Wagnerian tradition to Nordica. The
American prima donna has also appeared as
Isolde in Tristan and Isolde" and her acting
and singing have made profound impression.
What with the great favor shown to Nordica
and the success of Frances Saville, the Ameri-
can prima donnas are having things much
more their own way in New York this winter
than was anticipated at the opening of the
opera season.
1t seems little late in the day for an opera
by Joseph Haydn to dawn upon the world as
novelty, but his hitherto unknown work, "The
Apothecary'' (Lo speziale), is being heard from.
II received its first performance recently at the
opera in Dresden, and now the same company
has played it at the Carl Theater in Vienna. The
Italian Ebretto is said to be wanting in
originality Qike s.The Barber of Seville" and
so many other old operas eomiques it treats of
an old tutor and the disguised lovers of his
pupiI, but the methods of "Papa" Haydn are so
fresh and charming that "The Apothecary"
has obtained veritabe success in Vienna.
Mascagni is actually competing with the
"desk yirtuosos," as in Germany they call con-
ducors like Hans Richter, Felix Motif and
others, who carry their batons abroad. After
having conducted at Budapest the hundredth
performance of 'Cavalleria Rusticana," and
formed the programme, the young composer
has now under taken a general tour of Austria.
He is going to conduct in person "Cavalleria
Rusticana" at Prague, Brunn, Olmutz, Pres
bourg and several other large towns. After
ward he will go to Berlin to direct the first
German performance of "Ratcliff."
The dictatorship of the Benedetto Marcello
Conservatory at Venice is going begging.
First it was offered to Arrigo Boito, who re-
fused, then the Brazilian composer, Carlos
Comes, was given chance, but he had to de-
cline. as he had just accepted the directorship
OF the Conservatory of Para, Brazil. Puccini
was next approached, but he has also declined,
and now the directors feel that there is a hoo
doc over their efforts, and they are almost
afraid to approach another composer.
"1f great singers are particularly we'll paid
in America" says lie Menestrel ait seems that
the position OF simple musician in an orches-
ira is not to be desp1sed, to judge from the sal
aries received by the artists of the Boston sym.
phony orchestra. The conductor receives So
600 francs for season of seven months the
concert-master 10000 francs, the second vio-
Inns 5000 francs each and the rest accordingly.
These sums are enough to set our Partisan ar.
fists thinking"
Arthur Foote, organist of the First Unitarian
Church, Boston. has engaged Miss Anna Miller
Wood of this City as the solo contralto of his
choir. Miss Miller has been studying for some
time in London with Henschel Her perma-
nent engagement in the East will create regret
among her many friends of Temple Emanuel
and Central NJ. f. Church, where she sang for
several years.
Goldmark's opera, having Dickens ssThe
Cricket on the Hearth" for libretto, is to be
produced in Vienna at the end of January
The composer allows no one to see the score,
and is keeping his method of treatment of the
subject secret.