Evening star., 1897-01-23
IN MUSICAL CIRCLES
Some Discussion on the High Prices Paid to
Foreign Opera Singers.
Difference Between what They Get
Here and In Paris-Interest-
Ing Local Items.

in Europe, writes as follows to The Star
in reference to the recent season of Ger
man opera given in this city by the COM
pany under the control of Mr.. Walter Dam
rosch:
Would 1t not be possible to give the
readers OF The Star the benefit of some
of the facts contained in the article in the
Musical Courier ! send you marked. This
paper has been waging war against for
eign musical monopolfsts and high opera
prices. and is meeting with great success
as the recent failure of the Damrosch COM
pany In Baltimore and Washington proves
j say Washington also, because I know
that many. many tickets were given away
at the last moment by MIR. Dannrosch'S :
manager. who. l believe, had promised a
full house. and at any cost he was advised
10 keep his word.
Your publishing this article may assist
To rescue many American dollars from the
DE ResZke combine when it appears in
Washington. and thus aid the good work
of giving the public the best music a rea-
sonable prices"
The war against the high prices paid to
foreign artists referred 10 by The Star s
correspondent was commenced by the
Musical Age. and has been assisted in a
vigorous manner by the paper referred to
above. The extracts spoken of refer par
ticuarly 10 the dispute Mr.. Damrosch is
alleged to have had with the Baltimore
the performances given in that city by his
company, and the reply made to the alleged
interview with Mr.. Damrosch by Mr.. John
w Aibaugh, jr. who claimed that the per-
formance Mr.. Damrosch gave was not
worthy to he called ''four-tlollar' opera in
any just sense. Commenting upon this, the
Courier says:
The merits of the performances are not
open to discussion so far the question
pertains to those who We're not actually
present, but 1t is generally known that Mr.:
DaTnrosch has II very falr agsresatioh OF
foreign operate artists In his company VINO
are satisfactory to the music lovers or
Hamburg Berlin. Carlsruhe, Leipsic and
other German cities and who should be so
TO the citizens of Baltimore. where opera
is never heard. They should be delighted
TO get an opportunity to hear opera II IL
comes under such auspices But the price
is too high. it is prohibitory TO the sooa
people of Baltimore.
Had Mr.. Damrosch gone to Baltimore
with an opera company and announced
popular prices he might have succeeded IN
arousing some sentiment in his favor IN
that community. but the high salary crime
of which the operate schemes are SG1lly-
makes it impossible to ask reasonable
prices The cream of the income or the
season will go to LilH Lehman. who Will
get a small fortune. and who sings al very
low rates in Germany. This same Lilli
Lehman charges S2p lesson to American
pupils, and ~ marks uess than so to
European pupils.
1t will therefore not surprise us If these
overpai1 foreign artists who can get about
Cne-fOurth to one-eighth as much in Eu-
rope as they get here. will defeat Mr. Dam
IOSChs scheme. merely because the condl-
tiou carries failure with it, Naturally, no
one blames Lehman or Gadski or any one
of these people for securing fine, fat con-
tracts out of Mr.. Damrosch. who works
like a beaver to make ends meet TO pay
them Where they get Sl,c@ here they get
about SlI0 in Germany. How then can
opera prosper We learn that the financial
EIaI,,t t-ya
How can II be? The people of that city are
not going 10 invest all their amusement
fund in musical enterprise at high
prices If the artists could be had at rea-
sonable figures al figures somewhere near
the European basis. the management could
make opera renunerative on a popular ap-
peal; but this way-never.
A table of comparative figures will show
how the case operates:
New York Paris
Jean fs"szke.-.- Spn 500
FL Rtszke-- SD 50
Meibd .-----.-..-.............- 1.tD 20o
tdINt .-..-.....-..---..-.-...-. 500 200
Plancon ....................... 40 100
Bayreuth
Lili Lehman 81 600 500
The people cf Philadelphia Baltimore
Washington, New York. Chicago and other
places do their best. but they cannot sup
port opera at such tremendous advances
1t Is not fair to expect it. The whole sys-
tenn is pernicious and constitutes a high
way robbery. and the result is failure In
nearly every instance. and that is right
for the punishment fits the crime
The second concert of the Washington
string Orchestra. on February ;. promises
to be the most interesting of the series
given thus far. The orchestra will be
heard in selections by PaderewskI. Grieg
Nevtn and others, also in original com
position by r. A. Lovy. a resident COM
poser OF the sOloists to be presented, par
tlCulaT interest attaches to the first appear
ance OF Miss Emile Russell. a niece of Sol
Su1tTh S.n rn
prano of unusual purity and sweetness
She studied In Chicago with Nine. Schoen-
ReTe. and though Miss Russell has been
here but short time. and has sung only
az a few private musicales. she has made
numbers of friends and admirers. who wish
TO induce her 10 make this city her per
manent home Another soloist at the con-
cert Ii to be Miss Eliza beth Gardner
pianist, no will make her debut In Cham
II ade's Concert-Stuck. Miss Louise Carson
Miss Grace Hopkins. Mr.. Fitzhu8h Colds
borough and Mr.. Andre Dumaine com
plete the list of soloists the program
a number for eight violoncellos, offering a
novel and charming harmonic combination
VIII also prove very attractive. The re-
hearsaIs are progressing most satisfactorily
and under the conscientious leadership of
Hr- Ernest Lent the ensemble of the or
chestra is noticeably perfecting itself.
The Sunday Night Music Club studied the
program played by the Boston Symphony
Orchestra. including compositions by BiZet
Mozart this symphony In q minor; the
overture 10 Oberon, by Weber, and the
Mephisto Waltz. by Franz Liszt a very
Characteristic piece of orchestration. Miss
Bertie Reichenbach sang the Aria from
Der Freischutz-" Mrs. like invited a
number OF friends to enjoy the music.
Mrs- j. Esputa Daily will give a musicale
at The Elsnere next Wednesday evening
when the program will be an interesting
one. the participants being Misses Nor
gan. Esputa, Davis, Wood. Wheeler, Mrs
DAILY. Mrs Wilnarth. DIR. Stitt, Mr.
Nosher, Mr.. Stodder, Master Norman Daily
ard Mr.. Cy Warman.
NJ. Herman Rakemanns last recital
OF Chamber music Will take place at the
Washington Club next Monday afternoon.
These recitals have served to intensity The
high opinion OF Mr.. Rakemann's ability as
a vio!inist, and they have introduced 9TH
ers, who have ably assisted him. While
MS programs appeal most to the cult
waited musical taste. they have been en-
joyed Icy many who are not technically
skilled. but who can appreciate the works
OF the best composers when INTERPRETED
by competent performers. The attendance
has teen good thus far and the last re-
cital should have a crowded house. Mr.
Rakemann has done much TO elevate the
musical standard of this community and
no effort has been more worthy of COM
msrdatcn than the series OF recitals now
drawing To a close.
Monsignor Sbarretu and Rev. Bonifacio,