The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-08-05

which presents solendid dramatic opportuni-
ties for both singers and orchestra. The scene
is laid in Venice in the time of the Doges,
and the first curtain rises on the piazza of ST.
Marc during carniva! time. The best known
music in the .'Gioconda' is the ''Ballet of the
Hours, but the air that always fingers longest
in the ear Is the Rosary motive. which is
one OF the finest contralto arias in modern
OPERA Mr.. Hinrichs is thoroughly modern in
his tastes and shines especially i'll the inter-
pretauon OF modern lyric drama.
The revival of Mozarts operas, with effects
as given in the time OF the composer, seems to
be becoming fad in Europe, and on all hands
success has crowned the experiment At Co.
vent Garden Opera-house 1.-The Marriage CT
Figaro" has been performed with the recitdtiuo
seeco accompanied, as in the time of Mozart
by the cembato, that is to say, the harpsichord.
1t is true that an an tique harpischord was no:
used. but N instrument made for the occasion
which reproduced perfectly the quality OF
sound of ancient harpsichords, while possess
ing a greater sorority. This modern harpsi-
chord was heard in every corner of the big
auditorium Of Covent Garden, and on all hands
the revival of the old way of giving the reci-
tative was pronounced a success. II this Gus
tom becomes lasting fashion there is some
hope that the twentieth century may
singers capable of rendering Mozart's music
Will Tue TeuulTeu ucllCdcy. luc NOlOtS VI LII
de steele singers have been ruined for Mozarts
music by the effort of believing to be heard
above the din OF a modern orchestra.
Sensational reports have been for some time
in circulation that the popular Greek composer
Spiro Samara had mysteriously disappeared.
1t was believed that he had enlisted 1ncognito
in the Greek army and had persisted in one OF
the battles with Turks. European musical
papers lamented his fate and published touch
ing obituary notices, but it seems that they
were little too premature, for reporter OF
the Messagero Egiziano (the Egyptian Messen-
ger) has discovered the composer of "Le Mar
tire" and "FlCra Mirabilis'' living in perfect
health and comfort in Alexandria. He said
he had never had the least intention OF leav-
ing his peaceful retreat to take part in the
Greco-Turklsh war. This ends pretty little
story and quiets the minds OF Samaras anx-
ious friends. He is not the first musician who
has had a chance of reading his own obituary,
for Remenyi once disappeared and bobbed up
serenely after some months, when every one be-
lieved tn at the violinist had been gathered to
his fathers.
The Parliament of the Duchy OF Gotha has
carried proposition, emanating from the So
cialistlc party, to the effect that the
Opera House of Gotha, which is subsidized by
the Government of the little country snail
henceforth give seven annual Sunday perform
ances, for which the price of admission shall
not be higher than 40 pfennigs 90 cents). ii
the Socialists get a majority in other Parlia-
ments of Germany the same measure will be
carried throughout the country. After all this
win only be an act of jus tice, for, according
to the prevailing system, the poor are ex-
Guided by prohibitive prices from the state
theaters, which they help indirectly to main
tain, since the subsidy comes from the pockets
Of the taxpayers.
During the sixty years of Queen Victoria's
reign she has gratifieo nineteen musicians
with the title of knight. Eight OF them are
still living. This does not seem a very gener-
Gus distribution of titles TO the musical pro-
fession. considering that she has given away
titles and decorations with productivity that
would have astonished her predecessors; but
it is good showing Notwithstanding, espe-
cially when one reflects that not half dozen
of the knights were well known outside the
United Kingdom. Among this number were
three foreigners-the Germans, julius Bene-
dict and Charles Halle, and the Italian,
Michael Costa. The surviving knight musi-'
clans are all English
Two hundred and fifty artists are taking
part in the Bayreuth festival this year, with-
out counting managers, stagehands, etc. The
troupe Is made up in the following manner:
4 conductors, one chorus-master, 8 pianists
for rehearsals, ETC., 20 male soloists. 10 fe-
male soloists, 70 chorus-sirgers and 124 men
in the orchestra. This large band of per-
formers has been recruited from all parts of
Europe, and even from New York and Boston,
Charles Lamoureux has announced that his
| reason for giving up his orchestral concerts
in Paris is that he intends to devote his en-
ergies 10 lyric theater. In letter to lie
TEMPS the eminent conductor saws. ssTha
theater will be no more Wagnerian than it
will be Rossinian, it will be ct the servi &c OF
art without distinction OF school,"
/ When Mascagni accepted the dictatorship of
the Musical Lyceum at Pesaro there was a
good deal of regret expressed among his ad-
mlrers, for fear that henceforth he would be
too much occupied with his academic duties
| TO lind time for composing and directing
| The regret was premature however, for Mas
| cagnfs academic duties sit very lightly upon