The San Francisco call., 1897-04-15

ton Howe. Chorus delegates viii attend from
Oakland, Alameda, San Jose, Sacramento and
towns along the north coast. The Southern
Pacific has granite special convention rates TO
all who wish to attend the festival
The festival will take place in Metropolitan
Temple on the 9th and 2Sth inst, 1.-The Mes
siah'' being the opening bill.
The following gentlemen form the board:
w. Greer Harrison, president; W. c. Statfeld,
secretary; W. H. Crocker, treasurer; James
Hamilton Howe, conductor; and William Won
Meyerinck, manager.
The practice of presenting infant prodigies
TO the public leads to abuses where parents
are unfeeling, and sad case comes from Chi
csgo. Little three-and-a -half-year-old Milada
Cerny is to give two pianoforte recitals this
week and William Sherwood's name has been
used as authority for the statement that the
baby's touch was perfect and that her playing
was that of an artist. Sherwood Indignantly
disclalms any such statement He says that
he considers the child exceedingly musical,
but that in his opinion she is being driven iu-
sane by being forced to practice. corre-
spondent says: eff ever there was case re-
qniring Immediate interference on the part OF
the humane society for the protection OF chill
dren, surely the contemplated outrageous
spectacle OF a three-and-a h alf-y ear-old baby
giving two panoiorte recitals is one. heard
this little child about four months ago, and l
then told her father that it was nothing less
than shameful to force her to play the piano.
1t was evident tn at she had been taught, and
not only taught, but worried into rracticing.
She was playing small Bach air, and of
course struck several wrong notes, which had
the effect OF making Mr.. Cerny impa lent, and
he spoke almost roughly TO the child. That
she Is gifted sically is undoubted but what
she accompishes is the result of tuition and
practice, and l should say, severe practice.
She appeared to have her eyes affec ted and to
be very delicate little baby, requiring the
tenderest care. hear now that she is almost
blind and that she cannot eat or sleep, and
talks necessarily OF the piano"
1t is now definitely settled that France is TO
have its own 'Bayreuth" this summer "Le
Bayreuth Francais' is the name which Wag-
nerians love to apply to the old Roman thea
ter of Orange, which has such marvellous
acoustic properties that modern drama and
opera can be given there in the open air be-
fore thousands OF spectators as success sfully as
in any OF the big opera-houses. The official
commission charged with organizing national
representations at Orange, has decided that
the fetes shall take place in August
next AS the Roman amphitheater is
considered classic ground it is thought
appropriate to give classic works, and
the programme will consist of lies
Erynnies," translated by Leconte de Lisle,
with music by Massenet, and Gluck's AN
tigone" and "Gdipe Roi" 1t is almost set
tied that festivals will be periodically given
at orange every two years. The commission
has advised that the ancient theater OF Orange
be added TO the state-endowed institutions of
France. If the acoustics of the amphitheater
prove to be all that they are repres ted
Orange will be dangerous rival to Raw
reuth. In addition to the fertility and his
toric interest of the country round and abopt
Ayignou there Will be fascination ior tho
general public in witnessing grand opera in
the very arena where the ancient Romans saw
gladiatorial combats
1t is said that Lii Lehman has fornd
treasure. In New York she stopped AZ the
Netherland, and at table was servad bv
Hungarian waiter, who, as soon as he con,d
asked her about her conservatory in Berlin
ohe teaches only the favored ones-young
peopie oi talent ana OF vo1ce-so she smiled at
the eagerness OF her attendant and asked him
II he could sing. He was SO bold and Confident
In MS Affirmative that Lehman toid Ernst
Oasnehhusen about II, and the waiter was told
10 call and have his voice tried. He did and
snort time ago sang for Nine. Lehman and
her nus band, Paul Kaliseh, at the hotel.
'uoge OF ner astonishment when the fellow
pouieo iorlh the toreador's soig wi h voice
rs rlch as Oil, as sweet as honey He has a
oarytone OF range and power, and goes to
Deihn TO nave 1t cultivated next season.
Catenhusen has him in hand now. and per-
maps some day this treasure troye NAV be
heard in grand opera
ivan Caryil is making an opera out of "Mme
sans Gene," and Miss Florence ST. John is 10
sins the title role. He Is the composer of "The
ehop Iirr and ''The Gay Parisieune," etc.
ne Is very rapid writer and IS said to have
eoin posed THE Circus Girl" produced under
1eorge Edwardes' management, in eight
weeks. Unlike some other English compos-
ers-sir Arthur Sullivan, for instance-Caryli
nnds 1t quite impossible to get through any
serious work on the Continent. He likes to be
at home, in a room that he knows and amid
familiar surroundings. Flats he has tried and
iound wanting. One DAY, when he was Lying