The San Francisco call., 1897-04-29

Miss Della Rogers OF Denver, Colo.
Italy was snapped up by Sorzogno TO sing the
prima donna roles in Carmen" ana 'Wer-
ther" in Turin. Massenet has coached her in
"Werther." One feature of her appearances is
the magnifcence of her gowns. In the ac-
companying picture she is represented as
Daliia in Saint-Saens' "Ssmson ct DalIla."
In England dramatic or operatic works
founded on Biblical subjects cannot be put on
the stage. In order to overcome this custom
managers have sometimes changed the titles
and the names of the personages in works
that have obtained great success elsewhere.
For instance, Rossinis "Moses" was given IN
London under the name of Peter the
Hermit" and Verdi's "Nebuch adnezzar'' was
called Minus" 1t seems that Grau wanted
TO mount Saint-Saens' Samson ct Dalila" at
Covent Garden this season and sent TO the
composer TO know If he might change the
names OF the Characters and vary the Incl
dents in order to obliteratc their resem blance
TO the Bible story. For instance, he wished to
make ligh thing strike the Philistine temple
instead OF letting Samson pull 1t down.
SaintSaens received the request at Las
Palmas, in the Canary Isles where he is win
tering, and Immediately telegraphed back
THE changes demanded for Samson are i'm
possible; SO Samson ct Da.iia" will con-
tinue 10 be performed on the concert platform
as an oratorio in England, but it will not
figure on the bills OF Covent Garden.
German papers printing very kindly
notices of Miss Marion Bear of this City, who
is alb DAD studying music. OF a concert she
gave in Berlin on March 10 last Dresden
musical journal says:
Miss Marion Bears concert, which was an
nounced in these columns some time ago,
took place in Berlin March 10, 1897, with
most gratifying and successful results. Miss
Bears appearance was signal for an out
burst of applause which the Ssal Bechstein has
not heard for some time. Her programme WAS
well chosen and throughout she gave great
pleasure by her artistic and refined render
'ngs. Her rapid progress under Professor
Jedliczka will be the means of assuring her q
front rank among pianists. On the programme
was the trying and difficult minor Scherzo
of Chopin, which had q dash and brillancy
about it that gave her full opportunity of dis
playing her admirable technic. The four pre-
ludes in c, and nat ma ior and one in f
sharp minor by Chopin were played with grace
and poetry. Beethoven's 4 fiat senate, or. 27,
was rendered in most praiseworthy manner
The remaining numbers on the programme,
Tschaikowsky variations, op. 10; Schumann's
Bride Won Lied'' and Liszt's Rnapsodie and
13, were all given with dash and spirit Miss
Bears performance met with enthusiss tic ap-
plause, and after repeated recalls she re-
sponded with one of the dainty Chopin pre-
ludes.
Castelmary's death on the stage of the Metro
politan Opera-house is an old story, but Emma
Calves account of the tragedy, written to q
friend in Paris. has now been published in the
French papers and her comments are worth
reading. Calve says: "Castelmary was labori-
ously playing Iris stan when he was overcome
with choking sensation and fell on his knees
The public thought it was comic effect and
applauded the last moments of the dying artist.
No sooner was the curtain lowered than he ex-
pired. He was too old, 100 worn out to continue
playing, but he died on the field of honor like
a valiant so dier. Poor Castelmaryl They
left him all night in his dressing-room, and
at the dawn of day they changed his stage cos
tune for his street dress that he had worn
TO come to the theater and his remains were
taken to An undertaker's. On his person was
found 10000 francs, all his savings, and o
will.
GOD was good to take him thus. without
pain, at the very moment when old age was
preparing much suffering for him. His PRIDE
his honesty were proverbial at the theater;
we all talk of them with tears"
In Londona quaint complaint has been rails ed
by the gentlemen OF the orchestra. particularly
the drums, who being placed at the wings of
tents o. opera-glasses and other trifes dropped
down from the boxes. One of the drummers
was recently bombarded, first with packet of
candy, which he forthwith distributed among
his immediate neighbors, and shortly after
ward by packet of tobacco tightly screwed up
in piece OF tinfoil. AS this dropped on his
drum at the down-beat of bar and when he
was about to thwack the instrument with his
drumstick, it caused premature effe ct which
astonlshed the drummer and ELECTED q frown
from the conductor.
Competitions TO discover mute ingloriou 8
opera composers do not always su cceed as well
as the one inaugurated by Sonzogno which
brought 10 light the "Cavalleria Rusticana' -
The Prince Regent of Bavaria recently opened
competition Cor an opera, and the prize was
won by a professor at the Munich Conserva-
tory named Ludwig Thuille. The successful
opera, which is called "Theuerdank," describes
In three acts an episode in the life OF the En-
peror Maxim lian of Austria. II was recently
given magnificent production under the
auspices of the Prince Regent and scarcely
achieved a success of esteem. The composer
was called before the curtain, and his friends
offered him a few wreaths, but the demonstra-
tion was interrupted by very persistent Kissing