The record-union., 1896-10-04

The Wagner cranks are not all ex-
tinct yet. One of them, Moritz Wirth,
who, few years ago, worked himself
up into terrible state Of excitement
on the question how old King Mark
should be made to appear in
Tristan has now issued a
book of 23O pages entitled The
Discovery of Rheingold through it's Cor
rect Scenic Setting AS he is not a
Cosima- -Wagnerite, this title seems at
first sight a sarcastic Sneer at the we'll
known tendency at Bayreuth to make
scenery the main element in the operate
ensemble. But Herr Wirth sets himeslf
the task of showing that not only does
Frau Wagner blunder. but Wagner
himself did not give the correct stage
directions. His mental caliber may be
inferred from the fact that he seriously
discourses on the unnaturalness of Al
berich's sneezing under the water unless
we assume a zone under the surface Of
the Rhine in which air takes the place
of the water
Bancroft, the magician, is quite a
beau in the matter Of dress. His ward
robe OutrivalS the widest stories ever
written about Berry Wall and others
Of his distinguished tribe. Clothes are
one of the young magician's weak
nesses-he regards it a virtue. During
his recent trip abroad he made exten-
sive additions to his sartorial outht
During the cool weather recently he
gave the we'll dressed men on Broad
way, New York, something to stare at
and admire. The young magician is a
handsome man, with regular features
and long, flowing blonde mustache. He
wears good clothes with advantage
to his tailor as we'll as himself. he IS
five feet, nine inches tall, is well pro-
portioned and has a graceful carriage
At the Leipsic Opera house no fewer
than sixty-four different operas were
sung last season. Among the composers
represented Is were German, with Al
operas and 160 performances; French,
with II operas and 43 performances; .
Italian, with operas and ~ perform
ances; besides Bohemian, 1 Russian,
and l Hungarian opera. The Germans
are nothing if not cosmopolitan In their
musical taste. Wagner alone had more
performances than all the Italians to-
gether, but the most popular single op-
era was Humperdinck's "Hansel and
Gretel." Among the works produced,
eight were novelties, and six more were
produced with new scenic effects.
Probably no member Of the dramatic
profession is more devoted to that deli
cate and dainty lingerie which is SO
distinctly French than Kathryn Kid
der, or Madame Sans Gene, as her
friends love to call her. Any bride
might we'll envy the dozens of sets OF
finest cambria underwear, which are
marvels of art in the way of tucking
and lace trimmings, and which are
kept carefully In lavender and replen-
ished each month by Miss kIdder' S
French maid. Miss Kidder takes most
pride, however, in her beautiful skirts
and corsets, and that fact causes little
wonder to those who have had peep
at the exquisite combinations. They
come direct from the hands OF the Pa
risian modiste and bear the stamp OF
aristocratic elegance.
The difference between musical Ger
many and America is Illustrated by
the following: Felix Mottl has arranged
at Karlsruhe a historic cycle
of operatic performances for this
month, including works by Pergolese,
Cherubini, Romani, Donizetti, Gretry,
Dalayrac Bizet, Gluck, Haydn and
Weber-all of them operas not in the
current repertory. If such an attempt
were made in New York. who-well,
who would pay the damages? Yet,
Karlsruhe is city of $4,000 inhabi-
tants. and Greater New York of 3,OOO,-
OOOAor forty times as large.
Lulu Glaser's triumph has been IN
stantaneous and complete. Though al
ways a favorite with New York audi
ences. she never had a chance to dis
play herself to better advantage than as
Pierrette in Francis Wilson's Half a
King" company at the Knickerbocker
Theater. The comedian has been COM
pelled to divide honors with Miss CHASER
and he does it gracefully AS tne
adopted daughter of the Mountebank,
she fills every requirement OF the role.
vocally and artistically, and her trans
formation to the daughter of duke
is gracefully done.
The beauty Of Anna Held, VINO mas
lust arrived in New York, is not over
estimated. Her features are large ana
regular. the eyes being most prominent
They are hazel in tint, wide and express
siye. with heavy lids and long lashes-
The singer is short and plump, and gilt
ed with much personal magnetism. She
speaks English very prettily and azores
diamonds and pearls. Her English
song. Wont You Come and Play WITT.
Me?" will be the musical success or the
season.
The story about George Ballentine,
son of the millionaire brewer, and Grace
Henderson is at present the talk OF New
York. She did not however, try to
shoot him, but herself, and the report
that he offered her 81 900 while she in
sisted on getting $1,000, is altogether
false. They had been devoted to each
other for some time and he LETT her at .
o'clock to return at q; at O'Clock he
was married to another, and anyone
who knew anything about an emo
tional actress knew just what happened.
Two prominent English players will
appear In De Koven & Smiths new Op-
era. THE Mandarin" They are George
| Uovey and Alice Barnet. Mr.. Hovey
will be one of the doubles in the op-
era Miss Barnet was formerly a MEM
ber of the London Savoy Company, and
was the original Lady Jane in Pa
tience," Katisha in THE Mikado" and
Ruth in 1.-The Pirates Of Penzance."
| Frank Bacon's second company (his
| first was organized in Sacramento).
which began three weeks engagement