The record-union., 1897-12-05

privately produced at Rome recently
as simple drama, without the music,
With such success that a number OF
Italian theatrical managers have since
applied for the right of performing the
work in this form. The composer, in
this case, being his own librettist, can
hardly be otherwise than gratified at
this practical testimony of his ability
as q dramatiSt, although it is hardly
compliment TO his music, as the Lon
don Musical Times" justly remarks.
Verdi as a humorist is considered in
the Paris "Gaulois'' by NJ de Nevers,
who makes known to the world that the
great Italians parliamentary work con-
sisted in saying ditto to his friend
Cayour. This was not laborious, and
the major part of his time as a legisla-
tor appears to have been spent in set
ting to music the interjected remarks
of his colleagues. Several of these
precious autographs, says the writer,
ARE jealously preserved in the archives
of Montecitorio." 1t appears. further,
as evidence of Verdi's humor, that for
years he corresponded with an old
friend, Count Arrivabene. in the char
acter of his own dog. Some years ago
a little illustrated quarto appeared, en-
titled Letters from a Cat. Published
by Her Mistress; but in the Verdi
Arrivabene case we have letters from
two dogs, the Count carrying on the
correspondence in the name of his own
animal. The writers are said not only
to have expressed themselves from
canine point of view, but TO have in
vented a special anguage-linguaggi
bizarramente canino.
4
Modesty, thy name is singer! A
Miss Hetty Alva wrote to a London
critic the other day: "On my arrival
here from Italy 1 learned that in your
notice en- the DoniZetti Centenary Fes-
tival you never mentioned my name,
but you did Nine. Melba. Now this
was unjust to me, considering l and
Nine. Melba were the only two vocal
artists invited and my success was, to
say the least, equal to Nine. Melba's."
The wicked critic humbly printed this
letter in his column.
There is a general agreement among
the London critics that the new comedy
which has just been produced in the
Criterion Theater must be reckoned
among the best works of this indust-
rious playwright. 1t seems to be writ
ten in a somewhat lighter vein than
that generally adopted by him. The
liars are a number of fashionable folk
who conspire to save a silly but not
sinful woman of their acquaintance
from the consequences of her own i'm
prudence. Their aim is to hoodwink
the husband by putting an innocent
construction upon an incident of an ex-
trernely suspicious nature, and their
misrepresentation have the excuse of
being made with kindly motives. Mr..
Charles Wyndham appears in his now
familiar character of a general peace
maker and adroit social diplomatist,
and aods one more to a long list Of
triumphs.
When Verdi was invited, some time
ago. to unveil the Donizetti monument
at Bergamo, he declined on the ground
OF his old age and his aversion to ap-
pearing in public. There was nothing
ungracious in this refusal; some years
ago he refused even to sanction jubi-
lee in honor of his own fifty years ac-
tivity as a composer, though his ad-
mirers tried hard to persuade him. A
German, Siegmund Meyer, has in press
at Vienna a. book of Verdi reminis-
cences, in which a good deal is said of
Nerdl's love of solitude, and his aver
sion to social intercourse. Whenever he
is at Milan or Genoa (Where he spends
the winter) he receives daily invitations
from the leading families, but always
declines them. Among his friends in
Milan are Bolto, the composer; Giacosa,
the poet, and Ricordi, the publisher.
To these alone he gives up some Of his
time. The greater part of the year. he
spends in the country at his villa near
Busseto. Here he superintends the
raising of crops and of horses and cat
tie. He is very fond Of dogs. and one
Of his pets is buried in the garden, and
has a small monument with the words.
'Ad TN vero AMIGO" Ito a true friend).
The recent gold craze recalls the fact
that ,Lotta-Miss Charlotte Crabtree-
the richest actress in America. began
her career as an itinerant performer
among the rough miners of California,
says an Eastern paper. Well. yes,
that's correct, if il is added that the
start of Lotta was among the miners
Of kearny and Washington streets. San
Francisco. Lotta was a great favorite
IN California, and her name is held here
in hRl esteem. but she made her start
in a San Francisco melodeon. all the
sama But it did not smrch the little
California girl particle
The Kaiser's second play. "Salve."
has had one continuous performance
at Wies baden. 1t was a curtain raiser
for Weber's "Preciosa." and formed
part of the festival performance given
in honor of the King and Queen of It
ally. II symbolizes the alliance be-
tween Italy and Germany, the princi-