The San Francisco call., 1896-03-05
MUSIC AND MUSICIANS.

The Paris conservatory is finding it very
hard to replace the loss OF Ambrose Thomas.
Although the grand old man had reached the
age of 81, he presided over the musical compe-
tirions almost until the end. Thomas was the
only composer who had assisted In the flesh al
the one thousandth representation of one OF his
own works. Gounod died shortly before the mil
lennium of"Faust" was celebrated 1.-THE Grand
Opera, and even then 1t was the composer of
"Mignon" who wrote suitable piece for the
apotheosis of his old friend on the occasion OF
the great jubilee of "Faust." Thomas seems
to have been fated to live to see celebrations.
He was president of the French Institute, which
in November last celebrated its centenary.
Speaking at the time, Thomas said to an inter-
viewer: II have lived too long; not that have
reason to complain of my existence. since my
life, contrasted with that of many composers,
has been pleasant. Fortune has treated me
with clemency. The most gratifying emotion
that have experienced during my long career
was the free performance of 'Mignon' on the
day following the gala, which gave an imprint
OF national character to my work." AT the
gala performance of "Mignon" by the artists OF
the Opera Comique the leading men OF France,
from the President downward, We'd with one
another in honoring the veteran composer,
and the Minister handed him the Gordon OF
the Grand Cross OF the Legion of Honor, but 1t
picdScQ 4uOmdS DcttSI tO see now tHc AlksocS
enjoyed his music. The composer OF "Mig.
non," "Hamlet," etc.. was never q rabid
disciple of the fsnew'' in music. Speaking OF
Wagner he recently said: "a great musician,
great intellect, but his subjects are puerile,
and, am not afraid to add, tedious-at least
all those that are derived from the Scandina-
Wan mythology I have never been to Bay
reuth, having had neither the opportunity nor
the wish to do so. / know that from the point
of view of mise-en.scene they have discovered
some very curious things over there; but this
manner OF staging, although very phantasIna-
goric, is not great art"
Here is chance for American composers to
60 in and astonish the Old World. Milanese
newspaper II Teatro (The Theater), has opened
competition for the best one-act opera, with
out restriction Of age, sex or nationality. The
works must be new, have never been entered
for any other competition and must not take
longer than an hour to perform The choice
OF subject and the genre of music tcomic, seri-
ous romantic. classic, etc., are left to the COM
peti tors; the scores can contain choruses or
ballets, but there must be no scenes which de-
mand very complicated amount of scenery.
The copyrights of the operas will remain the
property OF the composers. Four prizes have
already been deposited In a well-known bank;
the amounts are 5000, 1900, 1000 and 500
AioASS' AL ouoieAoAoA pIAZC "a LVOV llduSS VIII
be given to the best libretto, which must, how
ever, have been written originally in Italian.
The originator of the competition is Gagor
Steiner, who pledges himself to produce at
Vienna during the exposition which will take
place in October, 1898, the six works consid-
cred most deserving by jury. Composers de-
sireus of obtaining particulars can apply to
II Teatro, 3 Via San Refaele, Milan. 1t was q
competition of this kind, started by the pub
Usher Sonzogno, that brought "Cavalleria
Rusticana'' to light, and American composers
who are ambitious to try their skill against the
musicians of young Italy" should take the
present opportunity of being heard from.
Italy is being literally deluged with series
OF first performances of new operas. The most
important yet seen this season is 'La Boheme,"
by Puccini, which was produced at the Regio
Theater, Turin, and had an immense success,
especially In the first, third and fourth acts.
After the first act, Princess Laetitia, step
mother of Prince Louis of Savoy, called the
composer to her box to congratulate him on
his music and the splendid Interpretation
which was being given to it, The public sa-
luted Puccini with the most enthusiastic ap-