The herald., 1897-03-28
Stray Chords

Lenten lectures and musicales are
quite a fad this year in the east.
Herr Felix Mottl has been engaged by
Frau Cosima Wagner to conduct all the
performances of "Parsifap' at Bay
reuth this year.
Mascagni is writing grand patriotic
symphony for the centenary celebration
of the birth of Leopard, which occurs
early in 1898.
John Nash has been engaged for stage
manager with the three-star opera
company which is soon to open at the
Casino. The stars are Lillian Russell,
Della Fox and Jefferson de Angels.
A good deal of Gieputing is going on
over the scheme for having a German
theater at the Paris exposition in 1900
1t seems that there is not much anxiety
in Paris to see German drama unless it
be by the famous Meiningen company,
but it is probable that if Bayreuth would
send company and it's marvellous equip"
ment for a series of Wagner operas
the Parisians would welcome the Wag
ner theater with open arms.
Mascagni's "Iride" is finished. He is
in love with the libretto and he has been
so filled with 1t that he could hardly be
induced to take any rest while compos-
ing the music. He would often jump out
of bed to jot down melody that he had
thought of. He says that If his music
pleases the public half as well as the IL
bretto pleases him, the success of the
opera will be colossal
In Rome a new prima donna has be-
come a star In a single night by her
singing of "Gilda" in "Rigoletto." She
is the finest interpreter of the part ever
heard In Italy. AS for Marconi, the
tenor, he was encored seven times In
La Donna Mobile" and each time he
sang 1t differently.
Marie Cornelie Falcon, who was once
celebrated as a singer, died in Paris on
February 25. She was born in Paris in
1914 and made her debut in opera in 1892
singing with great success the role of
Alice in Robert lie Diable." She had
previously received the first prize for
singing and vocalization at the Conser-
vatoire. She made her last appearance
in 1891, when she sang at a solemnity
in honor of Meyerbeer.
ut is an awful fate to become identified
with one song" bewails Jessie Bartlett
Davis. "Only recently woman of my
acquaintance told me that she asked
one OF her friends II the latter knew me.
DO you mean oh, Promise Me?' ask
ed her friend, and upon receiving an
affirmative reply, she continued: oh
yes; I believe have met her. But just
think of being known as oh, Promise
Me- Davis
Miss Leonora Jackson, the young
American vfolinist who made success
full debut in Berlin last October with the
Philharmonic orchestra, conducted by
her eminent teacher, DIR. Joachim, gave
on Febraruy 13. in that city, a second
orchestral concert, when she played be-
fore large audience the Mendelssohn
concerto. the adagio of the Sixth Con-
certo of Spohr, the adagio and fugue
from the G minor Sonata of Bach. for
violin alone, and the concerto of Ernst
A very pretty three-act musical idyll
called "Kermaria," and composed by
Camille Erlanger, was few days ago
given its first production at the Opera
Comique, proving a great success
"Kermaria" is lyrical fantasy in'which
the supernatural plays a prominent
part. The libretto deals with the pure
love of Yvon and Tiphaine at the end of
the last century. "Kermaria," in its
construction, violates some of the fun
damental rules of stagecraft, but is
charming nevertheless. The composer
M. Erlanger, who quite recently made
his debut. promises to achieve a high
place among the writers of light music
Paderewski was a colossal success
during his short stay in Rome Rome
went mad for the time. He played twice
in public. and each time gratis. He
went to court and played before the
queen, who adores music. The king
made him commander of the Order of
the Crown of Italy. He was offered the
honorary membership of the St. Cecilia
academy, which is the Oldest in the
world; he was banqueted. and he was
crowned with a gold laurel wreath after
he had played one of his pieces. In one
piece he was accompanied by the or
chestra. At certain point they could
not &c, one. They stopped to listen. He
is looking very pale. He made greater
sensation than even Liszt in his palmiest
days. How poor how weak, all other