The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-09-03

was born at Lemberg. He is an example of
the endurance of the prodigy, for as early as
his fourth year he played in public. In his
fourteenth year he accepted LisZt's invitation
TO pay visit TO Weimar, where he stayed for
two years, afterwar6 appearing in Paris and
ST. Petersburg, where he made a great sensa-
ton. In 1888 he gave over a hundred recitals
in America, and since 1890 has been heard in
most European towns.
An opera-rate war is on in Italy and specta-
tors now admitted to some of the most
expensive houses at popular prices The
papers have not spared the performers in con-
sequence of the reduced rates. the follow
ing from Italy shows: sFor the revival of the
Lucia reserved seats in the orchestra were
only % cents, 20 cents for the parterre ana 10
for the amphithester.' We cannot say that
the cheap performance had artistic merit but
Miss Fornari used her thread of voice all
right, the tenor, Pratt sang Donizettps melo-
dies with expression, and the bass Allegri,
maintained the role we'll. AS Tor the con-
duetor, he kept his musicians from losing the
beat, which is as much as one can expect for
ten cents. The success of Lucia' was so great
that the management was obliged 10 give a
second performance asst night. So much the
better; one cannot give too much encourage
ment to cheap opera. You know beforehand
that whatever the performance is you'll be
sure OF your moneys worth"
Dame Martha Schwerdtlein, the mature
neighbor OF Marguerite, whom "Faust" has
rendered celebrated, is furnishing a sensation
for the German papers at the time OF the year
when authentic news languishes. Berlin
newspaper was the first to spring N the pub
lie the news that DIR. Nekisch had discovered
in church at Padua the tOmD or the knight
Sehwerdtlein, husband of the said Martha.
whose last saiutations Mephistopheles carries
10 her in Faust" Several German news
papers forgot that in German schwerdtlein
signifies little sword, and Ne kisch practical
joker, and they fell into the snare laid for
them by the Berlin editor by seriously repro
ducing the astonishi ng news. Finally, more
wideawake journal exposed the pleasantly,
and now the duped editors are pretending
that they only spoke of Schwerdtlein's tomb
to amuse their readers, and that they were all
in the secret of the joke. Some people have not
believed them. and a lively discussion is going
on in the German press on the subject.
News comes from Bayreuth that the Swedish
singer, Mile. Ellen Gulbranson, has won a
brilliant and entirely unexpected success in
the role of the Valkyrie. People who were
present at the first performance of the
''valkyrie" in 1876 say that Gulbranson is not
inferior to Nine. Materna twenty years ago.
This is no slight pr aise, for Materna, endowed
with marvellous talent for imitation, COM
pletely reflected the intentions of Richard
Wagner, who taught her the Valkyrie role to
its smallest details Materna did not sing a
note nor make movement that had not been
approved OF by the master. 1t is TO be hoped
tn at the reports OF Gulbranson's talent are not
exaggerated.
A new Museum of Costumes" will soon be
opened at Berlin. 1t is the celebrated colIec
n RaP rhaid -
given to the public, and which is considered
the most complete in the world. The coliec-
ton contains more than 800 tableaux ana
paintings as well as an immense quantity of
books and engravings bearing on historic
dress. The Berlin theaters will now have free
permission to copy the designs in the museum.
and it is expected that an era of historic ac
curacy in opera may result. At present there
is no institution which outrages all truth to,
history so much as does grand opera all over
the world.
Was st. Cecilia musician? This question is
being agitated by students history. who in
these days do not shrink from CHALLENGING
regulations that have lasted for centuries In
pretty article on the su beet, addressed tn
st. Cecilia herself, LIE Temps SAYS: It is never
recorded that you loved our terrestrial music
you who for centuries have been the patron
saint of musicians. One only reads N vonr
sounding you sang for God alone in your
heart. You may have known nothing of our
music, but the more I study the text Of your
history the more find that it sufiees TO ius
tify your eminent and traditional reputation.
"You sang in your heart" The most profound
song, the most beautiful and the most worthy
of the name, is 1t not that of the heart?
In discussing, whether ST. Cecilia was really
musician lie Temps tells the following leg
end: 1t was painting, they say, which toward
the end of the fifteenth century made Won
famous, first in Flanders and then in Italy. A
hundred and fifty years after the death of your
greatest painter a traveller was following one
Sunday evening the road to Rome, your native
city. He entered a church which bore your
name. solitary priest was chanting vespers,
and from the organ-loft soft chirpings could
be heard. The pilgrim made inquiries and
was told that the birds were fed there, as in