The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-27
L%EONCAVALLO'S OPINIONS.
THE COMPOSER TELLS OF HIS PLANS
AND HIS GRIEVANCES.
he says Puccini stole his idea or tho Opera. OF
"Boherne r-Ho IL Going 20 Write an Opera
on "Triiby "A Complaint Abeut verdi's
Treatment or ItnIy,s YounE Composers.

~ RNyH = ACCtuh BtohS HAtH huNA ~ ~ OtNN>
"Behe,ne r-Ho IL GoinG TO write an Opera
on ''Triiby "A Complaint Abeut verdi's
Treatment OF ltaiy's YounE Composers.
Leoncavallo has recently been in Vienna,
whore his latest opera, "Bohemo," Is to receive
Its first production outside Of Italy. Director
Mailer went TO Venice from Vienna TO hear the
first performance at " La Fenico," but he did not
secure the work for the Imperial Opera House
until several weeks had passed. Pollini OF Ham,
burg announced after the first production Of the
work that 1t would be sung at his theatre next
season. Although the acceptance OF the opera
for Vienna was somewha less prompt, tho pcr-
formance will take place there. Puccini's "Bo-
home has been accepted for tho Royal Opera
House in Berlin, and the German opcratic stage
threatens to DO filled with girls ,ttcs and other
natives Of tho Latin Quarter next season.
Leoncavallo told a Vienna reporter some Of
his ideas on music and musicians. He spoke
with great franknoss OF Puccini. He said no
had described his plans for an operatta on tho
subject Of Henri Murger's la vie do Boheme,,,'
only to find that tho composer. who had once boon
his friend, had not only appropriated his ideas,
but also permitted the performance Of tho rival
"Boheme" at Venice just before Leoncavallo's
opera was sung in order to attract attention
from the newer work. But Leoncavallo talked
about persons a great deal more interesting
anon ho ttaiah ElNhi, hhl h6 dllliOunCGu his
plan Of writing an opera based on ''Trilby." He
has never seen any dramatic version Of the
novel, nor does he expect to. as no prefers to
follow his own ideas about the selection of tho
dramatic elements Of the romance. He knows
ne = v story Y only I through a French trans ,ltS n
modern lnsina after Ike plan Of la sonn %e
er or not she Shall deiiberateiyp sing false after
Srengqtts power begins to fail in the concert
discuss. He says that the idea OF putting Tritbu
into an opera haunted him from the time he
first read the book, and he concluded discus
poetry and music in this .Trilby.,"
Leoncavallo will write his own ~libretto.. Paul
version, OF the story to Mascagni, who was not
inclined elm to take it as the basis Of an opera,
young, Italy Of music are not cordial. Loon.
ca.y1nllo told OF some experiences with Verdi.
com nHS sees ..b us E Se do snGnFh know Ssid d, the sI, SSonaEg
every, one of us longs for a word of praise from
e ens Gd foT m"ndi IT., It was mot long agG that at Mas
steps Of the Hotel Milan at Milan. 4 90 INV
tonight, as my "RatclifeSS is to be sung Tor h
f first time. ! would be indeed happy If you
"" "And a1 VePdi 1 had mort for bR im uniy the unsraciou,
answer, No, I can't do that. Somebody would
ask me Tomorrow what 1 thought Of Il and /
But he did attend the performance and sat
IN the back of a box as hidden as God In the
cause | am connected with Sonsogno, while
hicordi IL his publisher. For the opening of
IN three parts for chorus and orchestra While
the last rehearsal was going on with the orches-
ira and some hundred singers. word was brought
the rehearsal"
" II Verdi wants to come in here, I an
swered. open every door to him.
I'VE offered him a fautcuil In the first row.
but he placed himself behind a pillar. He
s siG0d not ah fatif fr S E long ID tims, S an dn apparently a, = KIT It
concert said to his companions, who suggested
that he had better take a short rest: What do
want to b Bury s"@ me '1 nowr we Mel t assd finis Re th pSss
for a word from the old man behind the pillar.
dhey wanted to give him an ovation. Verdi came
out out into into the MIDI middle OF the aisle, almost to the
who Knew him, verdi is going soiu : to 't say something M hins
But he said to my friend only, Which one
did you say was Leoncavallof
The one with the light overcoat, standing by
Indeed, indeed, said Verdi, as he cast at me
tur s q his sh Back nfh" s wake Msat on through 19 me- and
Another story that Leoncavallo told about
Verdi was not Concerned with his treatment Of
Victor Hugo 70 see "Rigolettto." as Hugo always
d,Amuse" for the libretto. Verdi finally got
him into a box at the opera. and Hugo sat there
without saving a word. Verdi, who sat near
him was unable finally, 70 control his impatience
what he thought Of 1t. The composer awaited
Hugo''s answer in suspense. But his only
criticism OF the famous quartet was:
Give me a means by which four people will
be enabled to speak at once and l viii write YOU
something more beautiful than your quartet"
LconcayallO said that his admiration for
Schubert was great, and as evidence OF his rev.
erence declared that when nc heard a poem set
TO music by Il composer usually. he felt that he
could DO something like 1t or better. perhaps;
but with Schubert one has always the impress.
sion that the words must be forever sung to the
music Schubert composed for them.
Wagner was not a man, but a revolution
Leoncavallo said. Nobody can contemplate
denying n principle without thinking OF him.
But it cannot DO denied that one way does not
do for all. II l want to put a modern man into
music, such a one as would walk on the Ring
strasse. ! cannot take classical music or The
Ride Of the Valkyrics' for the purpose. Hum
pesrdtnck unrolls the severest Wagnerien floods
OF tone over a tender fairy story, and ] always
have tho impression OF seeing a dove in an iron
harness; But, he has an original talent and a
very apt one"
These were Leoncavallo's opinions of some of
his predecessors and contemporaries.