The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-12-02

triumph for Emil Pnuer. the conductor.
When he succeeded Nikiseh few years ago
Bos did not take to him, the subscribers
objected to the way his hair was cut, his re-
served. unimpassioned style of welding the
baton was common ted on with general dis
favor and many people predicted mournfully
that the unsympaIhetic WAYS OF Pauer W ould
be the ruin of the Bos on Symphony Orches-
ira. Pauer is taking his present triumph mod
estly.
The marked success OF the Boston SYM
phony Orchestra has somewhat taken the
wind out of the sails of Anton Seidl. That
great man might reasonably have been ex-
pected to bestride the musical world OF New
York like huge colossus after his success in
conducting grand opera at Coyent Garden last
summer and his still greater success in ca D.
turing the tas tie of the musical pilgrims who
went to worship at the Wagueria ian temple at
Bayreuth. But with the laurels of half
musical 'Eurrup'' still fresh upon his brow
Seldl has not created the stir in New York
that his fri nds expected. The critics have
praised the work of his orchestra, but they
have reserved their superlaIives for the Bos-
ton Symphony Orchestra. The Seidl SUBJ
scriptlon concerts given in the ballroom of
the Astoria Hotel are necessarily swell II is
rum ored that full evening dress is as much de
rigueur as was wedding garment in the para
Dlc vi OIU tuOuSu no one mas pcen 1Ou0Q udT-
ing enough TO put this rule TO the test by de-
manding admission in common street attire.
The belief is current that the Sefdl subscrip-
ton concerts are modelled on those given in
the court circle OF Vienna, and many of the
gowns and jewels worn are certainly gorgeous
enough for court drawing-room.
The Paris opera is preparing to add one of
the finest chefs-d' @uvre of the French school
TO its repertory II is ''Joseph,n by Mehul.
created ninetyyears ago at the Opera Comiuue.
thus initiating what it has already done by
another work of this master, his incompAra bile
"Stratonice," played Tor the first time at the
same theater- "Stratonice' was PLAYED for
the first time at the Theater Fayart Nav 8
If9Z. Iwenty-nlne years afterward it was
moved to the opera, the dialogues were re.
placed by fine reel atives, which were written
by Daussoigne-Me nephew and adopted
son OF the composer 1t now remains to be
done for Joseph" what was formerly done for
"Stratoniee,' and this grand work is worthy
OF 1t. 1t is an admirable drama with an in
spiration so high, a style go noble and So
severe, musical language so vigorous and so
pure, and of which the Subject would be moro
suitable TO the opera than 10 the opera
cemtque. Berliez had an idea of this trans
formation and intended himself to write the
necessary recitatives. Berlioz is not here. bu I
the opera has cenfded this honorable and
djhcutt task to a talented musician, M. Bour.
gault-Ducoudray. It is fortunate in any case
That the glorious name of Mehul viii at last
appear upon bills of the opera-hous and re-
Vive the remembrance of this admirable artist
who remains one of the greatest of the great
There Is no time like the present for buying
apiano If the indications that a big piano
trust Is being formed prove true According
TO present arran gements the trust is to absorb
all the zoo concerns making instruments.
Some idea OF the magnitude OF the proposed en-
terprise can be gained from the fact that after
the death of william Steinway, an English
syndicate offered Sc, 900 900 for the steinway
plant, and was tod that the figure was not
high enough. The Chiekering plant in Bos-
ION covers two entire city blocks. The Sohmer
factory is also very large. The idea is that the
trust Will manufacture only four grades OF
pianos. Scores OF factories will be taken into
The trust only to be closed. The makers hope
by this means to do away with the eompeti-
ton OF to-day. The trust will have branch
houses In New York, Boston, Philadelphia
Baltimore, Washington, Cleveland, Cincin-
matt, Chicago, St Louis, New Orleans, Denver,
san Francisco and perhaps a few other large
cities. AS with most other trusts the piano