New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-26
MUSICAL COMMENT.
MUSIC IN JAPAN-THE NEWS FROM BAY
REUTH-SIEGFRIED WAGNER AS
CONDUCTOR-THE STATUS OF
CONVENT GARDEN.
CONVENT GARDEN.


CONVENT GARDEN.
correspondent who writes to 1.-THE Musical
Courier" from Shanghai under date OF June 7
makes a gloomy report concerning the status OF
Occidental music in Japan which the subject
of The Tribune's comment two weeks ago. IN
fortunately the letter deals with music as cult
waited in the homes of foreign residents, instead
of that practised in the schools as result OF the
experiment undertaken In 1880 by Luther Whiting
Mason, who by-the-way, died in Boston ten or
twelve days 1t will not do to hold the Japan
ese responsible for the fact that among the
American and European residents the music Is
bad. 1t Is little to the purpose though II
is not plain that the statement is TO the discredit
Of the Japanese) that the Viennese pianist who
for several years at the head of the Imperial
. Conservatory OF Toxic has been dismissed. If his
place has been taken by Japanese pianist the
evidence might be held to make for the musical
culture of the country rather than against H.
The correspondent has sympathy whatever with
native music or native instruments, which he in
sists on listening from the position set by the
European art. Naturally his condemnation Is
sweeping. The paragraph In the letter which
goes to the heart of the question of Western in
fuence is the following:
l doubt If II would he possible to play with a
worse intonation. a more cxecrable phrasing. and
ensemble less ensemble than does the crack
military band of Japan. This organization uses
| first heard that hand-cohort would be moro
fitting name-I listened for a full minute to ascer-
course of execution. Only then did perceive that
an innocent waltz Of Waldteufel was the victim
In the other few instances when our art is brought
into requsition the same relative worhessness
may be recorded
The reports from Bayreuth during tho last week.
the first week Of the festival ut which THE Ring
OF the Nibeung" is being performed. have been
the reverse Of edifying. 1t IS becoming moro and
moro difficult for the friends of Wagners art 10
discuss Bayreuth patiently. If II is not a mere
catchpenny show for the widow OF the great man
and advertising medium for his son, it is hard
TO say what 1t is. The prediction ventured In this
column at the beginning Of the last festival that
Siegfried Wagner would be permitted to rattle
around in the seat of Richter, Levy and Mottl was
not fulfilled then, but the realization was only
postponed till now. His name is on the official an
nouncement and he is to help his mother drag the
proud institution into the mire OF charla-
tanry. 1t would only be pious wish If some one
to pray that the festival might make COM
pete financial failure as.to be beyond resurrec-
ton 1t Is significant OF Nine. Wagner's manage
ment that she puts her son forward after the last
frantic effort TO convince the world that he is
musician had failed. OF course there were plenty
of time-serving sycophants to proclaim his won
derful genius composer and conductor. but all
their shouting could not keep him afoat the
artistic sea, while among the honest Wagnerites
there few who told the truth. though
more in sorrow than in anger. Perhaps the most
plainly spoken critic OF all Felix Weingartner.
who disguised the young In his pamphlet
Conducting" published few months ago. in this
style:
How soon We're Wagners premonitions realized:
how soon and sorrowfuly were we made aware of the
want of true artistic consciousness by the circum-
stance that the arbitrary distortions OF the lovelest
of our art works are not only tolerated. but often
praised. How tragically and Overwhelmingly was |
made n h. TDU a hpaT
the crazicst exploitation of unnauralism, distortion
ana ahor want b OF ss@nc s Of Hr the gnac of whch the
tempo-rubato conductors are Gulty-in perform
ance of Reethoven's eighth symphony. conducted
by the OF the great master. i got acquainted
with Mr.. Siegfriod Wagner when he was still cher
At performance of Bcriioz's Sinfonie Fanastique
which directed in Frankfort, the, young man
the symphony childish patchwork Cklndsches
machwerk2 whereupon asked him a Y2 for ne
answer II was not until Three vars ater dnat
studying music, and was amazed on attending rls
concert in Berlin last winter at the technical We
from which concluded that he had studied dill
gently and had some talent ! gladly confess, more
Sner t4 tristan ind Isolde since simply beat
6-S and ~, wherefore the c9mlostlons , monI,
rendered to the car. Also that LISTS Tasso and
the prelude Die Mcistersnger IN spite q, mn
lived the superscripion of the composer were ihaHe
to sound permit Of the conoiusi9m inas r,,s
con rbitrar distortions which he allowed himself
in the eighth symphony were rret or jncorrec,
tomno for no sooner was pace taken than IL WIS
a anK room nth an invisible hand bumpIng ones
head against all kinds Of unrecognized OBJECTS
The most gratifying feature OF the reports rum
pvreuh is that which tells of the success OF Nine
Iatnan-Kalisch as Briinnhilde. but this is dmmed
mn nv The reflection that she is without an artistic
comnanion worthy Of her in the whole company oi
singers Amate1Irism seems to be holding high car
n;val in the great playhouse on the NIL Two -''i
lean girls who were without dramatic eNpeilr"oe
when they left us few months ago-Marion Weed
md Miss Fremstadt-though the latter might per
hans be better cassed foreignec-are IN the isls'
and our old friend with the cracontihe VOICE. IN
Mad has popped mp "A Bayreuth bass. Nhen
these things a remembered and the nina Is per
,ed 20 du,ell on the statement mot entirely unob-
scmred bv doubD that Frjiulen Kutscherra has been
hailed as great dramatic soprano by rar,s, 'le u
uosition becomes strong to believe mat the surest
wav 10 hear the really great singers of the world Is
to remain in New-Iork'
Tho repors which will clear up the doubts sur
rounding the next season Of opera In London do not
come Perhaps they tardy because of compiled
lions in the matter OF the lease of Covent Garden
Sir Augustus Harriss tenancy, 1t appears, VIII eX-
pre next March-,hat IS before the beginning of the
next opera season. and before the new manager can
% ahead he must secure a new lease. Concerning
this matter The London Daily News recently
printed the following statement:
The ground lease of Covent Garden. granted by
the Duke of Bedford to the late Mr. +. Gye now
has fifty-wo years uneXplred but the Duke has re-
sumed possession Of the Floral Hail. formerly part
OF the property and the ground rent IS thereby re-
duced t. about 600. Mr. Gye mortgaged the house
70 the late Mr.. Montagu. VINO foreeosed and let ii
to Sir A. Harris short leases the last being tor
years. expiring next MaIcn at monthly ont rent
the use of the box hangings and other decorations
and music scenery. dresses. etc. 0n runmage
made about two years ago We're found nearly 1900
pairs OF boots for about sixty operas Mr. MOntagu.
or rather Mr.. Faber VINO recently inherited the prop,
cr,y r,ays the ground rent, insurance tabout E13D0
a vear). and the saares Of the custodian, music IL
brarian and permar ent stage hands. Mr.. Montagu
made no OF the fact that he was willing to sell
the whole property price. and at one time II
reported that the Duke Of Bedford was willing To
buy in order to enlarge Covent Garden Market for
hIornnr flnn r.al