The San Francisco call., 1896-05-28

for distinction in art or science at the disposi-
ton of the Emperor of Austria and it is very
rarely accorded to any one. Brahms is the
first musician who has ever obtained it. Times
have greatly changed. Beethoven, who had
numerous relations with the court, and was
the personal friend of the Archduke Rudolph,
was never decorated by the Emperor of Aus
tria As for Schubert, considered during his
lifetime as the Schaunard of music, the idea
OF asking decoration for him never even sug-
gested itself to his admirers Musicians who
have not some official position as gapellmeis-
ter at court rarely get any sort of Austrian
decoration. Brahms, who has inhabited Vien-
ma Tor thirty years, and who has been univer-
sally known for quarter of century, has
only just obtained this high distinction; Gold
mark and Bruell, who for the last twenty years
have been producing successful operas in Ger
many and Austria, and have published many
other interesting compositions, are not deco
rated at all. Antoine Bruckner has obtained,
at the age of 90, an insignificant decoration as
professor OF music at the University of Vienna
At the DAILY Theater, in London, new Japa-
nese operetta entitled "Geisha" has Just been
produced with enormous success. The story
is woven round the adventures of an English
lady OF high family, who is globe trotting, and
falls, with all the friends who accompany
her, into the hands of the manager of a Japa-
nese teahouse, where there are five or six
Geishas, or singing girls. The English girl is
engaged to an officer in the navy, who has
neglected her TO fall in love with a Geisha and
she disguises herself as singing girl to keep
an eye on her fance. A number of comieal
adventures arise from this situation but in
the end everything comes out happily for the
globe trotters. The words of ''The Geisha" are
by Owen Hall and Harry Greenbank and the
music is by Sidney Jones. Several of the num-
pers are nightly encored again and again, par
tlcularly the ballad of "The Loving Red Fish,"
The staging is said to be magnificent particu-
larly the scene of the chrysanthemum feast.
The trial for perjury against Carl Zeller, the
well-known composer, has taken an unfortu-
nate turn. The tribunal of Vienna has Or
dered him to be accused and given public
audience before the Court of Assizes to-day
and tomorrow. Zeller, however, is still so
seriously i'll that there is little hope of his
being able to appear in court. The affair has
produced great sensation in Vienna, both in
musical ana official circles, for the unfortunate
composer is councillor 10 the Minister of Pub
lie Instruction of Austria. 1t is the Public
Prosecutor who accuses Zeller of perjury re-
garding will, under which he inherited
sum of money that was not very considerable.
Many people believe in his innocence, and
there is strong feeling in favor of deferring
the trial till his health is re-established.
The opera "Helle," which was being per-
formed at the Paris Grand Opera-house the
other day when the chandelier fell with such
disastrous effects, is q new work by Alphonse
Duvernoy, written on libretto by Camille de
Leole and Charles Nuitter. 1t had received a
most expensive mounting, both with regard
to costumes and scenery, and had made q
marked hit with the public. Helle is supposed
to be sbeautiful priestess of Diana, who
charms Ganthin, Duke OF Athens Mme Rose
Caron created the title-role and her work in
the part has added considerably to her repu-
tation.
Jean de Reszkei is singing in London for Sir
Augustus Harris, Mile. Calve goes to Paris for
q few performances at the Opera Comique and
Nine. Melba will also give some representations
of Christine Nilsson's old part of Ophelia in
Hamlet" at the Grand opera-house. Plsneon
is "ayailable."
Owing to a serious attack of rheumatism,
Moritz Rosenthal has been compelled to aban-
don a series of historical pianoforte recitals,
which he was to have given in London this
season. He is engaged for an American tour
next autumn, and it is stated that large
amount is guaranteed him beforehand.
Special performances of "Don Giovanni are
to be given at Munich during the tourist sea-
son. There Will be a new revolving stage,
which will enable the scene to be changed
within half a minute. These performances
will not interfere with the projected cycle of
Wagner music dramas.
The popular theater at Berlin, for many years
known as KrolP s, has been secured by the in
tendent of the Hoftheater, and operate per-
formances will be given there during the
period when the court theater is closed.
The Italian papers announce that Marie Van
Zandt. the charming American singer, who
created ''Lakme'' at the Opera Comique, has
been engaged by Sonzogno, for an autumn sea-
son of opera, at the Lyric Theater at Milan.