The San Francisco call., 1896-07-30

Ano"n nrnh OF NoYello, Ever & Co. OF London,
died at Genoa on July II. The deceased, who
was born in 1910, was the son of Vincent
| Novello, who established the important
English publishing-house in the year 1911
| when in his thirtieth year. The son
Joseph Alfred, at the age of 10,
entered into his fathers labors and main
tanned the policy of the firm, which
was mainly characterized by the project of
issuing high-class music at cheap rates with a
| Judgment and artistic 1iperality which have
had permanent influence on the progress of
music. Vincent Novelties early works had
| been limited to the Roman Catholic ritual and
until the innovation made by Alfred the only
| printed editions of Handers oratorios cost S22
each, and this while oratorio was the form
of music most in use. "The Messiah can
now be bought thanks to the Novelties, for 25
cents. Through long years of usefulness
watching the complete development in cheap
publication, and busy with various labors of
science and philanthropy, as well as with
| music as an art Alfred Novello lived, and was
loved and respected. In 1856 he retired from
business and left England to establish him.
self in Italy.
John Sebastian Bach is going to have a suf-
ficiently original monument at Berlin. Will
liam ii has conceived the idea of ornament
ing the Avenue des VICTORIES in Thiergarten
with thirty-two groups of statuary, each one
representing sovereign, supported by two of
the most illustr1ous men of his reign. Now
William II has ordered that the statue of Fred
erick H. the royal composer and flutist, shall
have general on one side and the grand
"cantor" of Leipsic on the other. 1t is evident
to-day that the poor musician is much mora
illustrous than the Prussian general and that
Frederick III cannot complain of hay-
ing him at his side. But what is ]. S.
Bach going TO do in this position?
He was not Prussian subject, he
owed nothing to Prussia, and his short IN
terview with Frederick was quite accidental
J. S. Bach was certainly contemporaneous with
Frederick II, but what was there in common
between him and the King of Prussia, and by
what right can he be placed as an illustration
of the reign of Frederick II? The Menestrel
awaits reply.
Portugal is preparing to celebrate one of its
glorious anniversaries. It will be in honor
OF the fourth century of the discovery of
India by Vasce de CANA. or, at least, OF the
route thither by the Cape of Good Hope
In 1897 the great navigator was oraered
to take charge of this expedition by
King EmmanueI of Portugal, and il is this
important date which the Portuguese intend
to celebrate next year. For this purpose a
grand central commission is being formed at
Lisbon to invite, on the part of artists and
composers, works of national and other kind
among others a commemoration hymn, a
triumphal march, historic drama upon
patriotic subject finally q grand
opera or lyric drama on a national subject,
etc. Besides these there will be organized
concerts of ancient Portuguese music and rep
resentations of the ancient national theater
Probably among the modern operas Meyer
beers 'L'Africaine' will be produced as it
would be difficult 10 find anything more suit
able for commemorating the glory OF the he
roic discoverer of the Indies.
From private letter we gather that Mrs. Car
michael Carr, the well-known pianist who has
done so much to foster the love of good music
in San Francisco. is greatly enjoying her vaca-
tion in England. She has been to many very
interesting entertainments, but the one she
speaks of ss having enjoyed the most was given
by William Nichols, the tenor singer, at Stat
ford House, the residence of the Duke
of Sutherland, which was lent for the
occasion. Among much high-class music, two
songs by Miss Carmichael, Mrs. Carr's sister
were rendered, accompanied by the composer
who also accompanied the other numbers
The Prince of Wales and his family were pres
ent and Mrs. Carr expresses herself as much
astonished at the extreme beauty of the Prin-
cess, beside whom her daughters look abso-
lutely plain, although they are really not so.
Mrs. Carr purposes returning early in septem-
ber when the popular concerts will be re-
sumed.
Cablegram from Bayreuth: "July 90
Rheingold mediocre; Walkyrie tremendous
Attendance and enthusiasm enormous The
Bay reuth festival began July 10 under the
direction of Hans Richter, who twenty years
ago led the orchestra at the first production of
the tetralogy. Twenty years ago Bay
reuth was unknown, except as a sleepy
place, which gave a title to a Margrave
who possessed castle there. Richard Wag-
ner built himself q home in this little
town and called it "Wahnfried," (" and in 1879
the foundation of the Festival playhouse was
laid, thanks 10 the assistance of the late King
Ludwig II, without whom Wagner might have
remained mute inglorious Milton. On An
gust 13, 1876, the first performance of the
tetralogy began, before gathering of imperial
princes, artists, musicians and the Abbe Liszt
King Ludwig, in solitary state, attend nded
the first dress rehearsal, but the effect was so
depressing that on the three following days
invited guests were present. A large proper
ton of the visitors this year are foreigners,
| among whom the Americans and the French
are conspicuous. The first cycle ended July
22 with the Gotterdammerung; the second
cycle began July 26, the third will begin Au-
gust 2, the fourth on August 8, and the last on
August 16.
rather good joke is going the round of the
foreign papers: M. Carl Goldmark, the author
of "Merlin" and ola Refine de Saba" one of
the best known German composers, has also
written several symphonic works, among
them 'suite" Tor orchestra, which
has inspired him with q peculiar af-
fection, SO much so that he takes
1t with him wherever he goes. 1t is stated that
recently he arrived at Saltzbourg for the Mozart
fetes with Conductor Hellmesberger, who
undertook to inscribe their names in the
register of the hotel. For his friend he wrote
"Carl Goldmark and his suite" and until the
departure of the travellers the host waited in
vain for the "suite," for whom he had reserved
rooms.
The Government of Madrid has issued de.
cree that all theatrical performances must be
terminated by 1890 henceforth, and that the
abuse Of prolonging them till o'clock in the
morning will no longer be tolerated.
This order has been provoked by a grave
scandal which took place at the Theater Giro
de Colon, on the occasion of the first per-
formance of q new OPERA "The Great Fair"
The public having energetically protested
against this very mediocre work, the profes-
Icfnr al ,rlo srar al ,lo