The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-17
SEIDL HERE THIS WEEK
GREAT LEADERS ORCHESTRA AT
TOMLINSON HALL THURSDAY.
Victor Herbert's Band Follows Next
Week-Madame Sembrich Arrives
After Thirteen Years.

the advantage of being one of the very few
men alive to-day who studied under and
who was personal friend of the famous
Richard Wagner. Mr.. Seidl was, in a sense,
a protege of Wagner and was practically a
member of Wagners family at Bayreuth,
for a number of years. In time, Wagner be-
came to Seidl a second father. 1t was Wag-
ner who sent Seidl, then very young
man. to Leipzig to supervise the singers and
settings of the first Nibelungen production
ever given outside of Bayreuth. OF course,
Wagner easily saw the great talent that
young Seidl possessed and probably gave
him greater opportunities than his less
bright colleagues could obtain. 1t was the
famous Hans Richter then director of the
opera at Buda-Pesth, who introduced Seidl
to the famous composer The young man
was ambitious to become famous in the
priesthood, but while at the University of
Pesth, his youthful soprano voice was
heard in the college choir, and he subse-
quently became the organist of the college
and a member Of it's singing society. His
native talent made him prominent and his
abilities were soon in great demand as an
accompanist and soloist
1t was at this time that the ambition to
REIN as a bishop or cardinal was super
seeded by that which has led him from the
University of Pesth to the dictatorship of
the Metropolitan Opera Company of New
York-the greatest position that any direc-s
tor can hold in this country-and on the
ries of concert tours, including the present
one, that helped make him famous in this
country. 1t was at the age of twenty he
finally decided to devote himself to the
study of music and he entered his name at
the Conservatory of Leipzig. While there he
wrote to Hans Richter, his compatriot, ask
ing that he be permitted to study under
that famous director the art of orchestral
conducting. Richter had already heard of
the talented student of his native city and
told him to come to Buda-Pesth at once.
Seidl studied Wagner's opera and Bee
thoven's symphonies with DR.. Richter. AT
the end of that time, Wagner wrote to
Richter asking for a capable young man to
act as musical secretary, a relation that
Richter himself had once held. Seidl ac-
cepted the opportunity. That is how the
brilliant leader of to-day met the famous
opera composer.
To hear the music of his orchestra is a
debt to art that should be paid. Seidl has
made great successes as the leader of or
chestra at the greatest of operate produc-
tons at Bayreuth Vienna, Coven Garden
anu DIT the metropolitan opera AlOuS6 III
New York city. There are no other leaders
in this country capable of conducting in
the same class with him.
The two concerts at Tomlinson Hall next
Thursday matinee and night have been
looked forward to for several weeks with
great interest by music-lovers here. There
is something in the programme that will
please every one, for there is both classic
and popular music to be played by this
perb orchestra, which numbers sixty mu-
sicians Julia Rive-King is the soloist. Her
fame as pianist is not confined alone to
America
The advance sheets at the Pembroke are
being rapidly marked up. The prices are
much the lowest ever charged for a
musical event of similar interest and i'm
portance.
1t is not generally known that Mr.. Mac
Donald, of the Bostonians is a Westerner,
a native of Stubenvile, o. AS child his
voice attracted great attention, and general
interest in him was increased by his fine
physique, which gave foundation for the
BELIEF that his voice would become re-
markable one in manhood-a promise which,
it need hardly be said, has been fully real
lied. Mr.. Macdonald had the good fortune
to belong to family all the members of
which were musicians, and when he
old enough for his voice to become
thoroughly settled he was sent abroad 10
study. He spent five years of hard work
in England, Germany and Italy, studying
the leading masters in each country ana
making the most satisfactory progress. He
made his debut in Italy in IL Trovatore.'
He was successful from the commencement
OF his career, winning golden opinions in
II Barbiere di Seviglla, Ruy Bias and
Fora del Destino. Mr. Macdonald re-
turned to America in 1880 and joined the
Emma Abbot Company, singing the BARI
tone roles in all the operas In large and
voice, combined with his talent and YER
satility as an actor, have enabled him to APP
pear in such widely contrasted characters
as the Count in La Nozze di Figaro"
Captain de Marrimac in "Olivette," Peter
in Gear and Zimmerman" Pppo in La
Mascotte," Count di Luna in II Trova,,
Escamilla in Carmen" In all he has sung
in over fifty operas, covering just as di-
vergent fields as those mentioned Mr..
Macdonald was on Of the Boston Ideals
when, in 1887, he, in conjunction with
Messrs. Karl and Barnabee, launched The
Bostonians, who have made such
marked success, thus proving that artists
may also be good men of business. Mr..
Macdonald has become a great favorite as
Donalds voice is a rich, clear Weil-trained
baritone, and his acting is in Keeping with
his singing.
At the concert to be given by Victor Her
bert's famous military band at Tomlinson
Hall on the evening of Oct. 20 there will be
most entertaining programme, including
marches overtures and solo numbers On
his wonderful violoncello Victor Herbert
himself will give a Chopin nocturne and
Schuberts "Serenade." Mr.. Herbert will
be accompanied on the harp by Mr.. o.
Hagedorn. Miss Marie Donavin will sing
selections from the comic opera, THE Sere-
made" by Mr. Herbert. The 'Oberon''
overture and the Schubert symphony were
not on the original programme selected for
Indianapolis but Mr.. Herbert has agreed
to play them in accordance with the request
of Professor Rudy, the band master of this
city and other musicians, who wanted to
hear a great band play these numbers.
which have never been rendered by brass
instruments here The Herbert band which
is the old Gilmore organization, has MAIN
tanned the reputation for excellence won by
its former leader.
IF you want to build a comic opera. i"
says R. A. Barnet one of the authors of
Jack and the Beanstalk," you must first
lay the scene in some country that is sup
posed to be inhabited by a happy peasantrv
who can afford to spend most of their time
dancing on the village green drinking
imaginary wine out of gided tin goblets
and singing songs with a tra-la-Ia-la
chorus. Introduce lordly villain and
make him play the deuce with the daughter
OF the village poundkeeper until the hero
returns from abroad and, armed only with
the priceless heritage Of an untarnished
name and a tenor voice, sings him clear
off the stage This is all the plot you need
You have only to punctuate it with a job
lot of scrap music, wedge in a few imported
nuns and secure a comedian who can TINT