The San Francisco call., 1896-05-28

IL was Philadelphia's needing III the nrst
instance that brought Abbey Schooner ana
Grau into financial straits. A coterie OF Phila-
deiphia people admired Melba, and early In
the season offered her a ridiculously fancy
price to leave the Metropolitan troupe and
warble for the Quaker City. Melbs, who like all
the rest OF her kind was ION the dead make,
knew perhaps better than to take TINS ghtter-
Ing bait quite seriously. She carried the offer
TO Abbey and requested him to go one better
than Philadelphia. n an unwise moment
the 1mpresario consented. Then CalVe, VINO Is
as rapacious as hsrpy, burst into storm OF
indignation and wanted more OF "de moneys
and Calves price went up beyond her value.
Both these artists demanded absolutely fabu-
lous prices to sign for next season, ana num-
Der OF other stars in the troupe took advantage
OF Melba's and Calves promotion TO demand
raise OF wages.
If opera is to be possible in America the pub
lie should aid impresarios in resisting the ra-
pacious greed OF foreign singers. If Melba, for
instance, demands prices that spell ruin 10 the
management, the public should aid the i'm
presarios in conducting the season without
Melba. A little of this sort OF treatment would
bring singers TO reason. Melba, Calve, the De
Reszkes and all the rest of the crew would be
laughed al and sent to the right about II they
demanded American prices in Europe, and
there is absolutely nothing in visit to
America to warrant strike Tor double and
treble European salary. Foreign ARTISTS are
treated all too well here and they do not meet
with any particular dangers or discomforts TO
warrant them in demanding compensation
rates. Once convince them that they need not
expect TO make fortune in q season out OF the
credulity OF Americans and they Will cease
trying TO swindle the public and their impre-
ssrios. The next time Philadelphia wants
Melba 1t is to be hoped Abbey viii let Phila-
delphia have her.
The new Minister of Fine Arts (Ministre des
Beaux Arts), NJ. Rambaud, has not lost any
time in appointing q successor to Ambrose
Thomas as director of the Paris Conservatory.
First he sent for Massenet and asked him if he
approved OF some changes which the new Min
istry proposes making in the management of
the conservatory. "For my part / see no OBJ
jection," replied Massenet. "Then we may
consider you as accepting the position of AM
brolse Thomas successor said the Minister.
THAT is q great honor" replied Massenet,
automatically, ''but, Mr.. Minister, / am not
alone in the world; permit me to consult few
OF my friends. 1 ask twenty-four hours for re-
fection." NJ. Ronjon, the Director of Fine
Arts, who was present at the interview, here
interrupted by exclaiming: "No, no, Minister,
do not let him go without giving you his for
NAL acceptance"
81 only want to consult few people; 1t is
simply to get encouragement from them" and
Massenet TRANQUILITY departed, enchanted with
the cordial reception ne had met with. The
day following he had decided not to sacrifice
his independence and liberty and eommu-
nieated his decision to 81. Rambaud, at the
same time thanking him for the proffered
honor. The Minister replied that officially he
regretted the decision that Massenet had
taken, but as lover of music he congratulated
himself, "because the composer of 'Manon'
and the cid will still have time to write new
masterpieces"
Massenet, having declined the dictatorship
of the conservatory, the Minister of Fine Arts
offered the position to Theodore Dubois, who
at once accepted it. The appointment is one
that has given satisfaction to all. Dubois is
highly esteemed composer, and individually
he occupies high position among French
musicians. He is fine organist and composer
for the organ, and his first opera was produced
few months ago in Paris with enough success
to encourage him to begin work on another.
rather unusual incident happened the
other day al the Monnaie Theater, Brussels
during performance OF ''Tannhauser." The
well-known tenor Van Dyke was seriously in
disposed, but he mad been prevailed upon TO
try to sing In the course of the first act, how
ever, his sufferings became too much for him.
and, brusquely stopping in the middle of
phrase, he cried out, 81 can go on no longer"
and rushed into the wings, leaving Venus very
much embarrassed by his fight, which was
more rapid even than Wagner had intended.
pause of half an hour followed during which
the audience supplicated to have the money
given back at the door. At last, however, Van
Dyke announced his ability to try again, and
the opera was brought to an end with the as
sistance OF numerous cuts. The public warmly
applauded Van Dyke for triumphing over his
indisposition.
The Emperor Francis Joseph has conferred
the decoration of arts and sciences on Jo-
hannes Brahms. 1t is the highest recompense