The San Francisco call., 1897-06-24

present time and is the reigning attraction of
the hour at the AIhsmbra. The mention of
this ballet recalls Sullivan's remarkable versa
uiity. His great popularity a composer has
chiefly been achieved through the medium of
the bright and humorous operettas he has
written in collaboration with W. s. Gilbert.
He has, however. demonstrated his versatility
by writing works OF such serious import as
"Ivanhoe" and his universally admired csn-
tsta, ''The Golden Legend"
The threatened litigation over the late
Johannes Brahms estate is another instance
OF how necessary il is for men OF means TO
leave regularly authenticated wills. In 1891
Brahms sent 10 his editor NJ. Simrock of Ber-
lin, Photographic will. in the form of a letter
but Smrock sent 1t back in 1896 because it
did not comply with the legal requirements
| This Will has been found among Brahms
papers, but IL has no value. A few weeks be-
lore his death the mast,r begged one of his
! friends 10 outline him VIII, explaining how
he WISHED to dispose of his properly. This
Will has also been found Tut il is unsigned.
Brahms desire was 10 make the Viennese So
ciety OF Friends OF Music his legatee. since lie
WAS bscheIOr and had no b cod re .ations
; nee his dea;h ii has come 10 light that he
lett stepmother, the second wife OF his
iather, whom he has always generously rs
sisted, but, according 10 Aust law, she has
no claim 10 his estate. As he uever renounced
his German Cit zenShip. Ham burg, his naive
| town, can claim al his property, according TO
German Law. In the meantime the Society of
Friends OF Music possesses nearly all his man
uscripts, tor Brahms on his deathbed sent
them to the society's librarian. According to
Austrian law this constitutes deed of gifl.
The society. however, announces its intention
OF fighting ior the whole inheritance.
Attention is called By the Strand Musical
Magazine TO the marvellous changes IN musical
! taste which have taken place since the acces-
sion of Queen Victoria: From 1887 10 1897
is far cry, and it seems difficult to realize the
enormous changes in the musical conditions
of London. IL the year of her Majesty's acees-
sion Beethoven had been dead only eleven
years, and great deal of mis- music was still
caviare to the general public; Cherubini and
Sponttnt were still alive; Mendelssohn was
only 2S years OF age, and the idol of the British
public; Wagner and Verdi were young men of
"a, both totally unknown to fame; Gounod was
youth of 1S, and Saint-Saens baby in arms i:
Brahms and Rubinstein were children, while
Bizet, Tschatkowsky, Dvorak, Sullivan, Grieg,
and many others who have since become cee-
brated, were yet unDorn. Meyerbeer, Auber
and Rosstni were in the zenith of their lame
Rossini's operas were the rage, and famous
singers, such as Rubini, Tamburiui, Lablache
and Grisi, were in their prime. Those were the
days of vocal acrobats. The singers were prac-
tically masters of the situation, and lorded it
over the composer. In 1887 there were no
Monday or Saturday popular concerts The
Crystal Palace did not exist, and high class
orchestral music only appealed to the limited
few"
European musical papers give detailed obit-
uaries oil the recent death in this country at
Pleasant Plains, of Max Macelzek, famous
1mpresario aud composer, who accompanied
Jenny Lind in her marvellous tour of the
United States Maretzek, who was 70 years of
age at the time OF his death, was born at Bru-
enn, in Austria. He studied in Vienna, where
he made the acquaintance of Liszt, BerIioz and
other celebrities. From Vienna he went to
London, where he became chorus master al
Covent Garden, and succeeded in having an
opera, " Hamlet" produced. In 1S47 he began
his career as an impresario at New York
where he was instrumental in introducing
many celebrate works TO this country, among
them La Juive" aud "Mignon." Msretzek
composed several symphonic works and some
chamber music, and has left volume of me-
moirs detailing his long career. During his
latter years this dean of impresarios, who was
cousin to the celebrated Maurice Strakosch,
has been highly esteemed singing master.
comic turn was given TO performance OF
FRA DlavoIo' recently at the Municipal
/
Zerlina's rooms just as the prima donna was
laying her down to sleep, terrible creaking
was heard, aud the bed, folding one, COL
lapsed, ourying Zer1ina in its depths. She
nevertheless continued to sing her prayer in a
stified voice, amid general hilarity. The
laughter became a roar of amusement when
the bandit hidden in the room, began to sing
! these words: "The poor girl" and a muff1ed
voice replied, as If from the height OF para
disc, "Oh! the poo-the poo girl" The cur
tain had to be lowered, and Zerlina's couch
arranged before the performance could pro-
eeed.
Continuing its sharp business policy of last
year. the Theater Royal OF Munich will again
profit by its proximity TO Bayreuth, and give a
grand series of performances, In the hope of
attracting some of the pilgrims on their way
home from the Wagner festival, at the
| sacred" Wagner city. These Munich per-
| formances will not be exclusively consecrated
to Wagner's works however, for a number of
Mozart's operas figure in the repertoire.
In Chicago society has been formed with