The San Francisco call., 1896-11-19

fAhHS Will pS the SOlOisIs
American prima donnas never seem to fare
so well as the foreigners in the Metropolitan
Opera-house troupe. Last year it was Emma
Eames Story who was left out, and this year
Nordica has been snubbed INTO refusing to
sing by the prefer ence which is TO be shown
for Melba in the distribution of roles. Emma
Eames' apparent defeat turned to her own
prof in The end, for while most of the singers
with u big name were in New York she took
advantage OF the dearth of famous prima
donnas on the other side to add hugely to her
reputation. Her work at Monte Carlo last
winter caused her to be the talk of Europe,
and when the Metropolitan opera troupe came
TO be organized for the coming season the
directors found that they would be damaging
their own interests to leave out so famous
woman as Emma Eames. In all probability
Nordica, too, will turn her apparent defeat to
her ultima te profit. 1t is almost settled that
she will spend part of the season in concerto
ing through this country, and that her engage
ments will include @ visit to San Francisco
Saint-Saens says he has renounced the thea
ter forever. al do not want to compose any
more operas" he writes, "because the work is
too laborious too long--in word, too fatigu-
ing for me. i can no longer pass long
months in writing music for eight hours q
day; neither my eyes nor my health can stand
1T. desire to consecrate myself exclusively
TO works which, If they 90 not demand less
tension of the mind, at least exact less physical
labor" Saint-Saens goes on to enumerate
sadly the operas which he has written and
which are awaiting impresario. The COM
poser of "Henry WIZ and Samson and De-
hlah" has several other lyric dramas which no
one seems to appreciate, and he does not see any
use in adding to their number On the other
hand, he says he is tormented for chamber
music, particularly quartets and violin solos.
This leads him to declare: GAS for the thea ter,
l have had enough Of 1t, and the ballet
'Javotte' will be the postscript OF my OF cratic
career"
There is great deal of talk in the East
about Mascagni coming to this country to give
symphony concerts and conduct his own
operas. Meanwhile Mascagni is TRANQUILITY
carrying on his work at home and shows no
signs of packing up to cross the Atlantic. The
latest news is that he is engaged in the COM
position OF symphonic poem 10 celebrat the
centenary of the illustrious poet Giacomo
Leopard, and that he will conduct the first
performance of the work himself.
News comes from Pernambuco that Carlos
Comes, the Brazilian composer who recently
died painful and lingering death, has left
anuscript opera which has never yet been
performed. The work is called "Noite do
Casteilo," and is at present deposited in the
library of the Santa Isabella Theater in Per-
nam buco. No doubt the last work of the COM
poser of ''H Guarany," "Salvator Rosa," etc.,
will soon be given hearing.
The Royal Opera OF Dresden is about to play
an unpublished opera, 'The Woman of the
Valley of Roses (Die osenthalerin), the
music of which has been written by Antoine
Ruckauf, the Viennese composer The book
describes an episode in the life of the great
painter. Albert Durer, and "the Valley of
Roses" seems to indicate a suburb OF Leipsc
which is known by that name.
The theater rarely leads to the cloister, but
In Italy it has just done so, for the papers are
full OF the announcements that an opera
singer, Signorina Emilia Rieca, has just re-
nounced her profession at the beginning OF
what promised to De successful career, and
has retired to the convent of SAINT Antonio at
Pausillppe, where she is soon to take the VOWS.
The season which has already begun at the
Lyric Theater of Milan is announced in the
European musical papers as especially
brilliant one. Miss Sibyl Sanderson, who
made her Milanese debut in .'Manon," is
spoken OF as one of the features OF the season.
The Italian papers award the highest praise
both to her singing and acting.
Eugene Ysaye, the Belgian violinist who
met with such success here, has now quite
conquered London. Five or six years ago he
played there and failed to create any impress
sion, but in conjunction with Leon Delafosse
French pianist, he has been giving a series
OF concerts at st. James Hall which have at
tracted audiences limited only by the capacity
of the building.
Adm ission TO the Paris Conservatory is not
SO easily obtained aspiring vocalists some
times fondly imagine. At the examina tions
for entry this fail 100 aspirants ted
themselves, los of them being women and
eighty-fye men. The jury, presided over by