The San Francisco call., 1896-04-09
MUSIC AND MUSICIANS.

| Leoncavallo's opera, "Chatterton," has re-
| ceiyed its first production at the National
Theater, Rome, where 1t was welcomed with
ovations by the public, particularly at the end
| of the second act. The composer was called
twenty-five. times in all before the curtain,
which was sufficient to show approval, even in
Italy The leading role was taken by Mme
Gabbi, the Duse of the italian operatic stage.
who is as great an actress as she is a singer.
"Chatterton" is work written in the COM
poser's first youth, when he was completely
unknown. 1t has been stated that he lately
reWr0te 1t, but this is incorrect, for Leonca-
vallo himself declares: Judging my work
alter some years, I have found nothing to
change in its Conception as far as expression
and sentiment go. The melodies written
under the first inspiration seemed to me the
best, and have left in the score the freshness
OF youth, only correcting the form here and
there and giving more color to the orchestra
tlon." The general lines of the libretto are
based on Alfred de Vigny's "Chatterton,"
which was produced at the Comedie Francaise
In 1885. 1t was Leoncavallo's desire TO dedi-
cate "Chatterton" to Queen Marguerite the
only one of the house of Savoy who really
cares for music, but the Queen declined,
though she caused her secretary to explain to
the composer that her reason for doing so was
solely to protect herself from being deluged
with food of other works dedicated to her.
On Sunday last Grace Episcopal Church choir
gave grand musical festival, which SO de-
Hghted musical member of the congregation
that he presented apurse of $400.to be divided,
In proportion to the rate of their salaries,
among the members who have sung with the
male choir since it was first started, on the Ist
OF last July. The organist and the choir
master,W. H. Holt, will have his months salary
doubled, so will Messrs. Coffin, Mcdonald and
Ward, while it is said tina other members, both
volunteer and professional, will pe remem-
bered. The donors name has been kept pro-
found secret, and now every one is busy
guessing who is musical enough to pay $400
for the improvement In the choir. This anony-
nous dilettante is not the only one in Grace
church congregation who places good round
pecunlary value on the improvement in the
music, for after the Easter early choral cele-
oratlon, which was sung by some of the ladies
IN the congregation, purse, to which Mrs.
Lloyd Tevis, Mrs. Will Crocker and other ladies
had contributed, was presented to w. Holt, the
organlst. Ii other churches would hold out
promise Of rewarding musical effort in an
equally practical way, it is probable that there
would be startling Improvements in church
music during the next six months.
lazy composer has succeeded in perfor
ing the miracle of causing Belgian opera to
As rule the musical prophets in King Leo
pold's dominions are without honor till they
have received recognition abroad, but Mile.
Eva Dell Acqua, W ho is spoken of as "the Bel
gian Chaminade," has written an opera, "La
Bachelette," which the public recently re-
ce1ved with open arms at the Theater des
Galeries-Saint-H ubert, Brussels. Mile. Dell
Aequa was born in Brussels, of Italian parents,
and poetical correspondent saws "her spark
m he al al
OF the logs of the Senne with the vivacity of
the Neapolitan sum-" The lady is already well
known IN France and Belgium composer
OF songs. Now that nearly every week brings
some fresh woman writer OF music to the front,
II seems time to introduce lew word into the
language which is more brief and expressive
than "lady composer"
Nine. Mascagni generally shows her wifely
devotion by fainting when her husband pro-
duces new opera. The Trovatore, which
gives further details of the complete
success OF 'zanetto" at Pesaro, says: AT the
end OF the performance eight curtain-calls
were given to the author. two OF which he
shared with his Interpreters, Collamarini and
Pizzagaili, and six OF which were for himself
alone. Ladies waved their handkerchiefs and
men their hats, and the recalls would probably
have gone on much longer If a iainting fit of
Nine. Mascagni's. caused by emotion had not
ueclueo. Inc puDllc. 10 trouDle the maestro no
longer" "Zanetto'' tthe passer-by) will prob
ably be produced in London this season, with
Calve in the title role. In this workthe boy
lover, Zanetto-a part allotted to lady,
mezzo-soprano-pays court on Florentlne
balcony. at the period OF the Renaissance to
the courtesan, Sylvia, who first encourages
him and then, telling the astonished lad her
true history, sends him about his business
with white rose in his breast.
1t is finally settled that young Achille Ri
varde, the youngest of the violinists who WIS.,
tied America this season, is to play here at the
end of this month. Rivarde was to have come
with the Seidl orchestra, but as that organiza-
ton has deferred its visit local orchestra will
be engaged, and the other soloists will be Aime
Lachaume and William Keith, the California
barytone. Rivarde is half Spanish and half
French by parentage. He was born on the
ocean between Havre and New York, SO that
America is in sense his country by adoption,