The San Francisco call., 1896-06-25

that opera was possible without Patti. For
several years there was little profit in the
opera seasons, but the impresario was edu-
eating the public, and in these later years he
very much more than made back what he had
previously lost.
Considering that his earliest memories were
associated with the operatic stage, it was not
surprising that Augustus Harris should have
turned his attention to the production of
opera in London. In a recent interview he
said: 'My first remembrance of opera dates
back to the time when, as boy of six, I saw
Martha given at Covent Garden-the new
theater had just been built after the fire.
After that was frequently behind the scenes
there, and when went to Paris used to meet
all the great artists and composers either at
Faure's, PATHS or Carvalho's, where passed
my Sundays. At Hanover, too, where | lived
for time, for the purpose of completing my
education, had the entree to the opera
house; so you may imagine that from my
earliest years I have taken deep interest in
matters operatic."
Sir Augustus Harris was knighted for his
civic services, not for what he had done for
music. The Elms his home near London is q
beautiful place, containing many priceless
treasures pertaining TO the operatic world.
Apropos of Saint-Saens' jubilee concert in
Paris, ILLUSTRATION gives the following ac-
count of the French masters early passion for
music: "His infancy offers many similarites
with the first years of Mozart. At % months
of age he was brought home to Paris from the
country, and all the impression he received
from the city seemed to be those of sound
and music. The ticking of the clocks, the
noise of the door-bells, the various peddler's
cries, rendered him mute with astonishment,
and he spent his time in running from one
room to another, to compare the different
sounds. The first time that he heard a piano,
the delighted child put one finger, then an
other on the keys and finally began to form
chords He wanted to know the relation be-
tween the black and white notes. and his
friends promised to satisfy his curiosity when
he could read. At the age of two and half
he was fluent reader, and at three years of
age he could write down music, which he was
already beginning to compose. few of his
earliest musical efforts have been preserved,
notably some waltzes, written at five years of
age He was very fond of improvisation, and
it was especially by religious themes that he
felt himself inspired. The child, however,
was not only remarkable for his musical or
eanization he showed an equal aptitude
for the sciences, natural history and mechsn-
ics."
Giuseppe Verdi is setting an example of
noble charity as well as of gratitude 10 the
Artl Us VINO nave sung III HIS OptIdS, anu nave
so helped to make him famous. The magnif-
cent home for old and INDECENT artists which
he is building in Milan, and which will absorb
large portion of his fortune, will be one of
the finest charitable institutions in city
which is remarkable for possessing some of
the most splendid charitable institutions in
the world. In Milan the biggest hospital is a
perfectly ordered city in itself. There is
scarcely any class OF indulgence which does not
o1,- 49,
stretch out a helping hand. But strange to
say the singers who congregate there in such
numbers have hitherto been overlooked in the
charitable arrangements of the city.
Miss Margaret Reid, a clever young Ameri-
can singer, has made great hit this season at
Covent Garden Theater, London, as member
of Sir Augustus Harris company. She will be
remembered as the dainty little prima donna
OF the Bostonians. For the last two years she
has been studying in Paris. III London her
greatest success has been as Media in 'I
Pagliacci.' Miss Reid expects to sing in grand
opera at the Metropolitan Opera-h ouse next
winter if Abbey & Grau go on with their
present plans.
The younger Coquelin, who played here
with his father q few years ago at the Grand
Opera-house, has yearnings to become a
lyric artist 1t is said that he seriously con-
templates abandoning the comedy stage for
opera, and to this intent he has been studying
singing very seriously OF late. He is shortly to
make his debut as a singer at grand musical
festival to be held in Amiens, France, to cele-
brate the twenty-ffth anniversary of the
foundation of the Amiens Harmony Society,
Thea Dorre left the Tavary Opera Company
suddenly just before the disastrous New York
season. She had been billed to appear in New
York, but the internal strife in the company,
which centered round Guile, had good deal
to do with her sudden determination to leave.
She went Immediately to London under con-
tract with the impzesario Vert There is a