The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-22
MORE LIKE A
KINDERGARTEN.
SCHEEL THINKS A CONSERVATORY
Is IMPOSSIBLE IN SAN
FRANCISCO.
WE HAVE NO GRAND OPERA
THE PHILHARMONIC REHEARSE FOR
THE FIRST TINE IN THE
NEW SCHOOL.

Scheel's new conservatory has received
its musical baptism, or in other words it's
walls have resounded for the first time
with the strains of violins and bass viols,
clarionets, trombones and all the other in
struments that make up an orchestra. The
people in the neighborhood of Ills Suffer
street know now by oral demonstration
that they have conservatory in their very
midst and they rejoice accordingly.
1t was the Philharmonic Society that
christened the place. Scheel asked the or
chestra to assemble there on Wednesday
night for the weekly practice, and the de-
light of the members at all they saw was
boundless. After mounting the long flight
of steps that leads to 1118 Suffer street
they were ushered into wide hall, painted
white and carpeted with crimson. A flight
of stairs to match was found to lead to
number Of classrooms and to the reception
parlor. But the Philharmonic Society had
not come to be received, as the formal
opening is not yet, SO they followed
their leader into the concert hall which
was the part of the building that made
them say they felt as much at home as if
they had practiced there all their lives
1t consists of two large rooms thrown
into one, and as the hall is carpeted with
striped mating that adds greatly to its APP
pearance of length and is adorned with
mirrors that make it seem very wide some
of the members began to think at once
what delightful chamber concerts could
! be given there. Everything was in readi-
ness to rehearse for them, too. The drums
and bass viols were arranged in their
places, the music was on the stands and a
large. picture of Beethoven that COM
manded view of the whole proceedings
seemed to smile encouragingly upon the
scene. Without more ado the members
took their seats, seized their instruments
and after preliminary tuning plunged
i with ardor into the rehearsal. And thus
it was that the oldest orchestral organiza-
ton in San Francisco gave its musical
baptism to the infant conservatory.
Yesterday morning Scheel was found in
his sanctum at lib Suffer street filling
large sheets of foolscap paper with his
ideas of music in San Francisco. "a con-
servatory," he said, laying down his pen
reluctantly, "well, the fact is I am not
going to open a conservatory"
and what is this?" was asked.
"Well l have not quite decided" re-
piled the director thoughtfully. perhaps
| shall call it musical institute or
scientific school of music. 1t would be alb
surd to call it conservatory, because that
means a place where something is pre-
served. Now, as there is no music in San
z
what does not eXist?"
Having propounded this telling question,
the conductor went on to explain that he
was not abiding to "Ta-ra-ra -boom-de-ay"
and other gems of vaudeville, but to ster-
ling classic music.
milan, Leipsic, Paris and the other
great Conservatives are built to preserve
the popular love of classical music-they
are not built to create it, for it exists there
already. What causes it to exist? There
is only one thing-splendid performances
of grand opera. The washerwoman will
go to the gallery OF the opera-house on a
cheap night, and the next morning you
may hear her singing an air by Mozart or
Gounod at her washtub. Yes, it is grand
opera that makes good music popular
with all classes. Grand opera well sung,
remember, for if it is howled and shrieked
out, as if bears and lions were taking the
parts, it will never cultivate popular love
for the classics" And the conductor, put
ting his hands to his ears, intima ted that
that was the only attitude in which he had
been able to hear some recent performances
of grand opera here.
The singing was menagerie," he said.
When asked whether he considered CLASH
cal music could be popularized by means
OF symphony concerts, Scheel shook his
head and intimated that as far as the gem
eral public is concerned, that is beginning
at the wrong end. "People who are indif-
ferent about classical music will not 90 to
symphony concerts, but they can be won
to appreciate the classics gradually by
means of good opera. When San Fran
cisco has regular operate performances of
the best kind, then there will be time
enough to talk of conservatory" and
having annunciated this scathing PROPOSE
ton, the conductor further intimated that
in order to take one step toward this end,
he was going to organize operate classes
for the study of choruses especially.
"And is it true that you will conduct
operas for Gottlieb and Friedlander at the
Stockwell Theater in April?" was asked.
AT this question the conductor fairly
bounded in his chair, then he looked APP
pealingly at the pictures of Rubinstein
and Hans Won Bulow, hanging on the walls
as If asking them for sympathy, and, Civ
ing groan, replied: do you think can
them into opera singers in month P'
After it had been soothingly explained
that the proposed opera at Stockwe1l's had
no connection with his opera class Scheel
said: Eyes, a season at StockwelPs with
good artists has been talked of but moth
ing is settled yet" Then, giving a sigh of
relief, he added: II thought at first / was
expected to manufacture an opera COM
pany out of raw material in month. You
do everything on the rush Here"
Then Herr Scheel took up his pen, and
dipping it in the ink, added few more
opinions upon music in San Francisco. as
it is and as it ought to be, to the pages of
manuscript, all of which he is going to
have published in his prospectus. The
Herr conductor is hurrying on with the
work. as he intends to open his school on
or about the ist of April.
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