The San Francisco call., 1897-08-12

and from that time she was in demand.
Lately she has turned her attention to compo-
s1fon. Her first piece, Romance, " for vio-
lin and piano, has been bought and published
in Germany. 1t Is expected that she will soon
return from Europe to her home in Selbyville,
Ill, but no professional engagements have
been announced for her.
book has just been published in Venice
which would probably be read with deep in
terest by Americans II translated. 1t is by
Taddeo Wiel, former curator of the musical de-
partment of the Library of ST. Marc at Venice,
and is entitled ~ Teatri Musicali Veneziani
del Settocento" venetian Musical Theaters
of the Eighteenth Century, The work reads
like an Italian romance by Baizac or Georges
Sand, but its truth is above suspicion, for it is
all founded on documents to be found in the
archives. The operate life of Venice during
the most brilliant pc riod of its existence is all
retraced. One sees, turn by turn, the four
teen opera houses, all founded by patrician
families, most of which bore the names of
saints-the Theater San Salvatore, for in
stance (to-day renamed the GoldonD, which
was founded by the Vendramins, and the San
Giovanni (to-oay the Malibran) In these the
aters, badly lighted by smoky lamps, the
author shows us all the high society of
Venice-Princes, diplomats, grand masked
ladies, gondoliers, abbes, actors, dancers and,
above all, the terrible Council of Ten and the
state inQuisitors, who did not think it be-
meath their dignity to take personal interest
in the smallest detail of the management of
the theaters on whose stages the most bril-
liant virtuosi fourished. The book is one of
the most interesting contributions that has
ever been made TO the literature OF opera.
At Clichy-la- Garenne. near Paris, an insti-
tuition has been opened known as the "Asile
Leo Delibes." Its objects are best set forth in
part of a speech made at the opening by Paul
Strauss. president of the Public Charity Com
mission: "Among the suffering poor, always
to be found in big cities. there are some who
have recourse to suicide rather than see their
children suffer the pangs of hunger and cold.
1t is true they might desert them, but how
many mo- theirs bring themselves to an
abandonment which they look upon as little
better than murder? For a long time this
com mission has dreamed of refuge where
any family, temporarily suffering from sick
ness or want of WORK, could place its children
for three months. In three this good
workman's circumstances often change en-
tirely. We were unable to open sucn an instf-
tuition out of the public funds, when the widow
of the eminent composer Leo Delibes came to
us, offering US her house and her gardens If we
would open the refuge. On that account we
have given the ins titution that we inaugurate
to-day the twice glorious name of Leo
Delibes."
History records number of instances of
prima donnas and actresses who have taken
the veil and retired from the scenes of their
triumphs into the seclusion of converts but
it is rare to find tenor bidding farewell to
the pomps and vanltes Of this wicked world
and forever renouncing the doublet and hose
of Romeo, Raoul, ETC., for the priests frock or
the monks gown. In a recent issue of the
Gazette of Bergamo Italy, however, one reads:
"The celebrated tenor, Gambareli, intends TO
devote his life henceforth to the church, for
which in his early years be was educated. He
is the possessor of fortune, amassed by a
brilliant theatrical career in Italy and other
countries. His interrupted studies have been
resumed with ardor, and as soon as he is Or
dained priest he means to consecrats his life
to pastoral work in this, his native city,
where, as every one knows. he possesses a su-
pc RIB ville situated on hill overlooking the
town. At present the ex-tenor is officiating
as deacon at the church of Almenno San Bar
toiomeo"
The musical festival in connection with the
Stockholm exposition has furnished proof of
the remarkable development OF music in
Scandinavia and Denmark. The three coun-
tries furnishe ed an orchestra of 130 artists and
chorus OF 655 voices, chosen from the best
choral societies in the land. Among the
singers there were 456 Swedes, 10l Danes and
9S Norwegians, but this was no doubt largely
due 10 the greater proximity of the Swed ish
singers. Several of the composers con-
Quoted in person and the chamber music of
all three countries was found to be the best.
In this latter branch the Danes were repre-.
sented by Carl Nelson and Gade, the Norwe-
gians by Sinding, Alnaes, Grieg and Svendsen
and the Swedes by Berwald and Louis Nor
man. Several of these composers are almost
unknown out Of Scandinavia and their work
showed that Grieg is not the only Scandina-
Wan composer of striking and original merit.
A nook of the Pare Monceau, Paris, viii soon
be known as Musicians Corner. for a magnif-
cent monument to the memory OF Charles
Gounod is about to be erected there, and Bizet
and Am mbroise Thomas are 10 have monuments
within q stones throw of the same spot. The
Gounod, design is by the sculptor, Antonin
Mercie. and is supposed to represent both the
masters sacred and his profane music. Mar
guerite, Juliet and Mirella, Gounod's chief
operatic heroines, stand with arms entwined
by column, surmounted by bust of the
composer, who appears to liste to their song,
while an angel accompanies them on a harpsl-
chord. The Ambrose Thomas design shows
the composer seated on a high rock while
Ophelia, at its base, sings to him from the