The record-union., 1897-01-10

turns on the wonderful light effects
Sunlight falls over the garden, Deepen
ing to the gold of late afternoon, then
the rose of sunset and the bue of twi-
light. and finally moonlight floods the
scene.
That's the way we work it, but of
course slowly. Any break or false move
in the management of these lights would
spoil the effect. but gradually done it
looks wonderfully pretty from the
| 'front.'
| Marguerite's cottage has gone up to
the right of the stage, and in the center
there is flower bed of electric bios
SONS.
II work this myself says Mephisto-
pheles, and so it proves. When he waves
his hand over the flowers each one
bursts into glow of colored light pro-
ducing bed of flashing rose and purple
and pink and green in the middle of the
| dim stage.
/ Here is the trick flower which falls
to pieces at Siebel's touch,'' he explains,
showing me blossom with crimson pet
| ais fastened to a wire stem on which
there is a spring which, when touched,
sends the leaves f1uttering to the stage.
| In less than ten minutes the garden
scene is ready, yet it is the most elab-
crate of the opera. Marguerite's spin
ming wheel is in place, her daisies at her
belt; the virgins shrine is fastened by
her window, and the curtain raises once
more. In little while she is singing
the jewel song, twining the ropes of
pearls about her hair and throat, and
whether sitting at her wheel or kneeling
before the casket, or dancing about the
stage with the handglass, her wonder
full voice goes up to the roof of the house
in clear, delicate cadences, like a limpid
shower of pearls.
The audience is thoroughly reused
There are white faces in the hundreds
that are turned upon the stage while
three of the greatest voices in the world
unite in a glorious wave of harmony.
No programmes flutter now. There is a
silence almost deathly over the house,
against which the music sounds with
redoubed strengthand sweetness. There
is an ovation when the act is finished.
Looking from the back of the stage over
the house the scene is an inspiriting
house, waving their handkerchiefs and
gloves. From the boxes they lean to
throw their flowers on the stage. and
men shout like mad for the recall of
the singers. New York was opera mad
just then.
Four times Melba and the De Reszkes
come before the foothghts, and as they
go in again comes the thunder of ap-
plause that make them smile at each
other. Melba's face is white. but she
holds out her hand again to Faust.
We'll, once more, Jean," she saws.
and they go out for the fifth time.
Once more the house is reused to en-
| thusasm by the trio between Faust.
Marguerite and Mephistopheles. The
plaudits seem to shake the very walls.
| The curtain falls on the vision of Mar
guerite being carried up to Heaven by
the angels. Some one helps Melba from
her bed of straw, and before the curtain
those three go again and again. while
| the people shout their names and yell
American 'bravos" that seem to pierce
| the roof. Some stage hands scramble
for the roses that Melba has let fall
upon the stage, and as they come in
once more and the cheering contiues 1
see her turn again with outstretched
hand to the De Reszkes-white and
tired, but smiling.
well, once more then, Edouard!"
she says.
| The Forum: Brahms must be con-
| sidered as the most celebrated of all
living composers, as the most intel
lectually prominent in the direct line
Of descent from Beethoven, with whom
the similarity of artistic conception
the resultant Of an intense absorption
and concentration-is often most strik-
ing. His position in every department
of music-wtith the exception of the
opera, which he never attempted--is in
I deed supreme; mis- talent for combina-
| ton, as his variations testify is extra
ordinary If his polyphonic works are
at times unSympathetic, they yet re-
main an inexhaustible mine Of wealth
Viewed in his totality we see in him
musician who, combining the highest
order of intelligence with an iron will,
has created special style. This style
sweeping us not infrequenAly into wild
and sterile regions with misty, icy
&. peaks, never touching the prosaic or
commonplace, has yet its mission to
fulfill IN lighting parchance the future
part of some disciple to whom will be
revealed the radiant nights of Parnas-
sus, And Brahms Is still actively at
work among us.
! Count Tolstoi is fond of music, but
refuses to attend any entertainment for
which an admission fee Is demanded
A member Of the Bohemian Quartet Of
| Vienna relates that last season he at
tended one Of their concerts at Moscow
remaining, however, in the artist-room
as special guest. He afterward in
Vlted the club to play ait his house and
sent his own sleigh for them They
/ W're treated to a splendid dinner, with
the BEST OF wines, while the Count and
Els TWO handsome daughters contented
! themselves with a few vegetarian
| dishes. After the club had played
quartets by Haydn, Schubert and Bee
thoVen, the Count, who speaks German
SLOWLY but correctly, gave them some
OF his opinions on music and other
things. love music passionately."
he said. 1t is erronaously said that be-
cause | wrote the 'Kreutzer Sonata I
lid not admire that piece Nothing
could be more unjust to me than
| doubling my great love of music Bee
/ thoven, old Haydn, and Schubert are
my favorites Every thing written since
! BeethoVen, in Russia as well as else
where, is a mere hin compared to that
! ChimboraZo." Before the musicians de-
parted he gave each Of them an am
ateur photograph with his autograph.
! He has never allowed professional
photographer TO take his picture.