The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-01-07

William Evans. was O noted and highly re-
spected Calvinistic Methodist minister ana
her parents were both musical, especially her
father, Jacob Davies who at the eof twelve
conducted choir OF 200 voices Nine Davies
made her own debut at years of age, and at
IL she made such hit as an accompanlst tnat
she was thencefortn engaged for nearly all the
principal concerts in Wales.
dozen years ago Marie Van Zandt, then in
the height OF her fame and so much spo1led
that the public gave her anything she wanted,
undertook to sing the role Of Rosina at the
Opera Comique and could not finish the
famous cavatina, some people said because OF
a sudden indisposition, others insinuated for
very different reason. She was carried off
the stage by her comrades, and the following
morning Paris had shattered lis idol OF the
night before. The public would not hear the
little Americans name pronounced. The n; xt
year Cafvalho, director OF the Opera Comique,
remembering the fine receipts which the
singer had once brought him in, tried to bring
her back 10 grace, but The Partisan press was
aggressive, the public nercely indignant
Carvalho knew the changeableness OF human
thought. He waited twelve years, aud this
time he has brought Van Zandt back in
triumph. If the talented artist was really not
Fl 10 be named, by reclamation president OF
ali the temperance societies in the world, how
can she possibly have preserved through SO
many years the infantine freshness and purity
of her voice? You only have to go the Opera
Comique to be assured that she has done so.
Her present success has in it something OF the
nature OF reparation.-Le Monde Illustre.
Plunkett Green, the well-known vocalist,
has just told q good story about himself and
Borw lex, the pianist shortly after one OF
the recitals given by Mr.. Berwick ana my
SELF" said the singer. Il received letter from
q lady, the secretary OF q charity, who asked
me if would come ana play at an entertain
ment some of the pianoforte pieces you rem
der so magnifeently.' l replied that l was
sorry was engaged on the date she named,
and that l was afraid the public might not
take so favorable view OF my playing as she
thought. Some time later met Mr.. Berwick
and tod him the story. He burst into laugh
ter and said: .Why, the lady wrote to me and
asked me to sing some of the songs OF which
was so splendid an exponent Mr.. Berwick
replied that he would have been most de-
lighted to obiige her but for the fact that he
had been singing so much Of late that his voice
required a compile te rest"
kilograms from Vienna state that Girardi,
the star OF the Au der Wien and the Carl
Theater, has had to be taken to an insane
nave preyed on the distinguished artists mind
and have given him the hal.ucination that he
is the object of relentless persec ution. Re-
Gently, after q short reconciliation with his
wife, Helene Odilon, an actress OF noIe, Gil
rardi left his home and went in great agitation
to a friends house to demand shelter and pro-
lection Having obtained it, he a. once insti-
tuted suit for divorce from his wife. 1t Is
hoped that rest and medical skill will give
back to the theater the most perfect portrayer
of Viennese character and to Johann Strauss
his most genial Interpreter.
Every one interested in Masseners operas
knows that the "Herodiade," just like the
works of so many other French composers,
received its first representation on any stage
at the Monnaie Theater, in Brussels. Each
year. in December, when the anniversary of
the first performance of his work occurs,
Massenet, wherever he may be, sends to the
directors OF the Monnaie the following letter !:
My Dear Friends To-day, it is years
since. ii erodiade" was first produced by you, at
the Mounaie. present to you my most grateful
RENE mbrance and my most affectionate senti-
ments. L. MASsENET.
Last month, Massenet, true to his custom,
sent the regulation letter, which ran: alt is
fifteen years since, etc.
Fifteen years is o long time to be annually
grateful.
The prize of Rome at the Paris Conserva-
tory has been awarded to Alfred Bachelet, for
his operate setting of an Irish legend which
was written in dramatic form by Leon
Durocher. The libretto. which is mythical,
deals with the adventures of Tiona, the
shepherdess; Flathal, the wicked fairy of the
forests; Patrick, the hunter; Turl, the dwarf,
and Tregar, the enchantress. The plot deals
with the eternal conflict between pure and
sensual love, and around the little opera Alfred
Bachelet has written such charming music
that he is marked as rising composer.
The wandering minstrel of living compo sers
is certainly. saint-Saens who never seems able
to abide in any one place for many weeks at
time. He has just left the Pyrenees for Bar
celona, where he will conduct a grand repre-
sentation of his Samson ct DELLA" After
leaving Spain he will wander about the Ca
nary Islands till May, when he proposes to
return TO Paris for a few days.
1t is a growing fad in Europe to give recitals
dedicated to one certain style of song. Thus
there have been rectals of the "Sonps of
Spain, /" Russian Folk Song recitals, recitals
of Patriotic Songs etc. The latest idea is
the Campaign Song" recital, at which the
campaign songs OF different countries are
sung.
The MozartGluck Society, of which Mas
senet, Saint-Saens and many other distin-
gulsned composers are members, is doing ex-
cellent work in Paris by giving the public an