The San Francisco call., 1896-01-16

fear man feels for a woman he admires in
tensely, but has not the right to love- Here
Coquard stopped, for the musicians, headed by
Ambrose Thomas, arrived in crowds to con-
graduate him. some with tears in their eyes,
Inc composer continued in phrases that were
interrupted by the eulogies OF his friends
1870 came; went to the war; and one night
sitting in my tent, read the choruses to
Racine's Esther" Then music awoke in me,
seized me irresistibly,,so that 1 could no longer
hold back. l must put those choruses to music
so yielded and wrote them. The war over,
showed my music to Frank. "Those choruses
settle it." he said, "you must be musician"
had taken the same resolution and that's all
or rather that was the beginning of my artistic
life"
There was q time, as all Calitornians know,
when Massenet's greatest delight was to write
roles for Miss Sibyl Sanderson, and he was wont
TO declare fervently, when that lady's inter
pretetlon OF the same proved successful, that
ne owed his success, not to himself, but to the
fair singer. Then the "CavalIera Rusticana"
came into fashion, and Massenet found that all
his operas OF the "Esclairmonde'' and the
"Manon" type, works in which Miss Sanderson
had shone, were very light weights, out of
France, compared to Mascagni's passionate,
deelamatory little opera. Massenet re-
solved to keep up with the times, and write
pendant to the "Cavalleria Rusticana," so he
produced LA Navarraise," something to which
Miss Sanderson's talents were quite untitled.
Calve as Anita made the noisy little opera
famous, but Massenet, though he had grown
little tired of owing al his inspiration to Miss
Sanderson, liked American singers on general
principles and cast about for some other native
OF the New World at whose feet he might lay
his Mascagnisque laurels He has found her
in the person of Louise Nikita, Ambrose
Thomas ideal Mignon. Massenet has lately
been drilling Nikita in the part of Anita and
he Is burning at her shrine all the artistic in
cense he once burnt before Miss Sibyl Sander
son. 1t is Nikita for whom he predicts extra
ordinary success, who is the phenomenal artist
and who is possessed of the extraordinary
voice" and "the dramatic power"
Perfdious Massenet, to let his admiration
slide round with the latest fashion in opera.
Under the able guidance of their president,
Mrs. Selden S. Wright the Young Ladies'
Orchestra of San Francisco has for several
years given charity concerts, which have
always been social and financial successes.
More than $4,000 has been donated by the
young ladies. They have played for the
Maria Kip Orphanage, the Protection and
Keller Society, the Heyneman Hospital, for the
Pioneer kindergarten here and for the Oak
land one; and twice have they aided the
Children's Hospital. Not only have these
young girls given their time and ability, but
the orchestra has also spent considerable
money on each occasion. Now, so as to enable
them to continue their charitable work,
number OF our most prominent men have ten
dered the young ladies benefit concert,
which will take place in the near future. 1t
will be brilliant social and musical event,
for all viii be anxious to assist and show their
appreciation of the gifted young musicians.
Several German papers state that Mascagni
is writing his memoirs, which viii include an
account of his last triumphal tour across
Europe. These papers state that his memoirs
VIII include impressions of Berlin, Vienna,
sofia, Belgrade and Constantinople, etc. And
the strangest thing is that this news has been
spread broadcast without any one pausing to
reflect that Mascagni could not possibly write
his memoirs of Sofia, Belgrade and Constanti-
nople, because he never has been there.
theodore Dubois, who is well known in this
country as composer of organ music, has
Just produced n new opera at the Paris Opera
C0mlQue. The work has not been unfavora ~