The San Francisco call., 1895-12-19
MUSIC AND MUSICIANS.

Some OF the English papers allude to the re-
cent Purcell bicentenary as ''The Great Purceii
Massacre" Labouchere's paper says: LON
don last week awoke to the truth that TWO
centuries ago we possessed in Henry Purcell
| musician who was greater than all MS con-
temporaries. To great many people VINO 90
not go regularly to church and consequently
are unacquanted with his anthems, he Is little
more than name. Last week, however, the
Purcell Society resolved to organize COM
memorative performance in Westminster AD-
bey, the chief seat of his labOrs. The Brltlsn
manager is an initiative animal, and other per
forInances were at orce arranged for, anu we
had last week a series of Purcel's music, last
ing from Wednesday morning till Friday nlght'
with promise of Purcell's Jehovah TINS
week as further dose" 1t seems that all
these performances did not do justice 10 the
predecessor of Handel and Bach. PurcelPs
"Dido and Eneas" was revived from oblivion
and was performed at the Royal College OF
Music, and in order to bring it up to date, Dr.
Wood was commissioned TO massacre the opera
by writing additional orchestration. Notwltn-
standing the unpleasant noise which resulted
from this ''modern treatment" the forgotteh
'Dido and Eneas" was found to family Tor
shadow the glories of Christian and Isolde"
The Westminster Abbey celebration, consisting
of anthems and other sacred music, proved to
be the best
In the current issue of La Scena illustrate
some interesting personal "reminiscences are
given by f. Giarelli of Paganini and Berhoz.
The writer went to sch ool with Pagan1nl's son.
the present Baron Achilles He says: "Berlloz
was not honored in life as he deserved, but he
had in Ncolo Paganini benefactor like
prince in fairy tale. They met in year that
was full of sad days for Berlioz. His Harold
music was not approved by the pubic, tnat
great slayer of talent. The work was belng
played, and the audience in that Partisan
theater was listening icy and unmoved, When
Paganini entered by the orchestra door. he
gesticulated furiousy, for larnygeal troubles
were rendering his voice unintelligfble, anu
his son Achilles interpreted for him. MY
father he said to Berlioz, says that your
music has filed him with enthusiasm; in all
his life he has heard nothing more beautiful
If you do not give him your hand he WILL kneel
before you to thank you for the sublime I'M
pressions.' And, falling on Berlioz's neck,
Pagsnini gasped yes; yes.
The day following the failure ofhis Harold
Berlioz was lying in bed coughing and lament
ing the malady that was paralyzing his efforts
and depriving him of the means OF su bslstence,
when boys voice exclaimed, maestro, mere
is letter from papa, he would have come
himself, but he is sick" 1t was Achilles Paga-
HILL DtTllOZ Opeueu the Icttci, Mhioh ASoN. :.
''My dear friend-Boethoven is dead, and only
Berlioz can make him live again. have
reIished your divine compositions, worthy OF
any genius. / believe it my duty to pray you
to accept in proof of my homage, the sum OF
20, 900 francs, which win be handed to you by
Baron Rothschild when you present the in
closed. And believe me always, your affection
ate friend, Nicolo Paganini." Berlioz was
seized with terrible fit of emotion. When
Achilles had retired the wife and the son OF the
maestro knelt by his bed and in prayer,
which is still extant, they lifted the name OF
the generous benefactor heayenward,
Gilbert and Sullivan are working together in
beautiful harmony over their new opera,
which win be produced at the Savoy Theater
early in the new year. Nine. Ilka Won Palmay,
Hungarian prima donna, has gone to London
to rehearse the leading female role. She is
very popular in Austria, and when she gave her
farewell concert in Buda Pesth the other day,
the people draped both her hotel and the con-
cert hall with Austrian-Hungarian and English