The San Francisco call., 1897-04-08

which he was not slave but a master. He
gave modern significance TO classical forms.
1t was Schu mann who first enthusiastically re-
cognized his genius, ard it was to Schumann
that he wrote in 1855 saying how distasteful
1t was to him TO re dragged into the war
against Wagner. Many people have judged
Brahms music unjdstly because of his sup
posed opposition to the Bayreuth master but
Hanslick says that no one was more familiar
with Wagner's scores than Brahms, and that
he often heard Brahms defend Wagner against
ostile criticism. Wegnerians, however were
never able to forget that caustic saying OF
Wagner's, Brahms is composer whose
importance lies in not wishing to create any
startling effects"
The first production OF "The Goddess of
Reason" Johann Strauss new operetta, has
created quite a sensation in Vienna, for on the
banks of the Danube all the com positions OF
the popular master pass for chefs d'oeuvre.
Without going quite so far as to believe that,
there seems no reason to doubt that Strauss
new operatta, which is running at the Theater
an der Wien, is worthy of most of the flattering
things that the Vienna press says about il.
Strauss was struck with a strange idea, though,
when he sought the motive for gay waltzes in
the most som ber period OF the French Revolu-
ton. The action passes in the year 1898,
partly in the camp a Chalons, and partly in
pensiOnndt. The music from one end to the
other of The Goddess of Reason is as full OF
melody as II Strauss was in the vigor OF his
days, instead of having passed his seventy
second birthday. There was only one shadow
on the brightness OF the fir st nights success
Strauss was prevented by illness from attend
ing the performance.
Apropos OF tomorrow nights first perform
ance OF Ambrose Thomas "Hamlet'' in this
City one may tell a story, which NJ. G. Bourbon
has been relating in the Paris Figaro: One
day, in the month of October, 1867, Ambrose
Thomas was walking slowly and pensively
down the Rue Vivienne. Editor Heugel. from
the back part of mis- store, saw him pass and
called out, En- bienl what's the news?" "Hutl
big machine that have just finished i n the
country" "Show it me- Ambrose Thomas,
whose memory was prodigious, went to the
piano in the music publishers study and for
two hours played his big machine. II was the
score Of Hamlet" that for eight months
he had petted, caressed and coaxed 1t
marked stage in his artistic life.
For the first time he was trying to escape
from the tender graces of ''Songe dune
Mutt d'ete" of Psyche" and OF "Mignon," and
was trying to get to the heights of grand
music. at Tor the Grand Opera, helm, ana
right away" said Heugel ''Oh no! mol" re-
piled Thomas. "Give me first an Ophelia, and
then we shall see." At this moment pretty
blonde girl showed her head, which looked
like pas tel painting through the half-open
door. exclaiming "Boniourr' nilsson p said
Heugel. "But Ia voilaI your Ophelia." And,
in effect it was the Swedish cantatrice who
triumphantly created the role. AS for Ham,
let, it is not generally known that the role
was first written for a tenor, but that it was
decided to give it to the Incompatible barry
tone Faure. This necessitated the rewriting
of all the score in the version which was per-
formed and published.
At Genoa, Italy, the other Gay grand con-
cert was given for the benefit of the Cretan
insurgents After many contretemps and
obstacles raised by the authorities the concert
finally took place in the Poiteama Genovese,
which was crowded. The principal attraction
was the Tzigane Rigo, who executed several
violin solos, among others piece entitled
"Viennese Follies' and a"Hunga rian Rhap-
sody." In spite of the rumors that Rigo and
the Princess de Caraman-Chimay never speak
as they pass by the Princess was in the first
row Of the audience elegantly dressed in pink.
Auguste Van Biene, the actor 'cellist, who
has been giving himself such airs in New
York, processes to have undergone terrible
privations in his early days. At one time he
was alone, friendless and penniless in London
and only feeling of ambition kept him from
despair. "One day. when was both hungry
and sad" he says. ~ heard q man singing In
the street. At the same instant owing to q
rush OF warm air from the window, smelt
the odor OF dinner cooking. Suddenly l
formed q resolution. / borrowed stool from
my landlady and, with my violoncello under
my arm, went into the street." Van Biene
played all that day, and on several succeeding
ones, for coppers on the street and his takings
averaged from 5 shillings to 20 shillings day
Isl to $4). One day he was addressed by a
gentleman who asked why he was playing on
the street. "For bread" he replied. The