The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-31
A NEW HOOSIER OPERA
rDuM PEDRO" by TWO ELKHART
MEN, WILL BE GIVEN THIS WEEK.
LihrettO the Work of Harry s. Chester
and Music by James +. Boyer
Music and Musicians.

place there next Friday and Saturday even
ings The opera is the joint production OF
Harry s. Chester and James f. Boyer, both
of that city. and is claimed to be of SUI
perior quality. 1t is described as ser1o-com-
ic highly romantic. and the music, by
Boyer, remarkably catchy" The Hbretto
is the work OF Mr.. Chester, and it is
claimed that wherever it has been submit
ted to authorities il has won their COM
mendation. The production also bears the
distinction of being the first opera ever
brought forth by natives of Indiana, and
this fact gives 1t additional interest. 1t is
also, as far as known, the only opera ever
written and produced in a city the size of
Elkhart. Its initial presentation will not
be the ordinary home-talent affair Messrs.
Chester and Boyer have secured their lead
ing vocal talent from Chicago and Detroit.
and have drafted excellent chorus of
fifty voices from among the Elkhart sing
ers, while Professor Jacobsohn of Chicago,
is drilling the ballet, and George Herbert,
also Of Chicago, is managing the stage.
An orchestra of twenty-five of the best
musicians in northern Indiana will render
the music. The scenery has been painted in
Chicago. and the production will be COM
plete in every way.
Harry s. Chester. who wrote the book,
Is a young attorney who has published
some excellent verse in the magazines. He
is also a musician of some ability, and this
fact has been of great assistance to him
in adapting his lines to the melody. He
has given two years to his opera while
practicing his profession. James +. Boyer,
the composer, has reputation as a musi-
clan and has Travelled around the world on
his accomplishments in that line. He is in
structor in the pianoforte department of
the Conn Conservatory of E,Ilshart and has
composed a great deal of music outside of
that embodied in his opera. He claims to
have been the yUunges. director Of grand
opera IA the world, having acted as con-
ductor tJr Abbie Darlington in her last
tour in grand opera. He VIII personally
conduct the presentation of Dom Pedro"
The production of the work of these two
young men is looked forward to with much
interest. Several managers and musical
critics have signifed their intention of be-
ing present on the first night.
Nine. Iilli Lehman has made her peace
with the royal opera houses of Germany,
and can now sing In them, privilege which
for d number of years has been denied her
1t will be remembered that when filling her
engagements in this country during the OLD
days of German opera, under Edwin c.
Stanton's dictatorship, at the Metropolitan
Opera House, she was induced by the
tempting terms which were offered her TO
break the contract which she had with the
''intendancy' of the Berlin Opera House
and overstayed her furough in New York
This resulted in her being barred from re-
appearing on the stage of any German royal
opera house. Only an artist of her rare
1.
success with such an influence against her
But the sums which she earned here prob
ably much more than offset what she might
nave received had she remained in favor
with the royal intendants Last season
when she was here Mr.. Grau tried to in
duce her to remain over for few perform
'--gces, but she declined his Offer on the
ground OF loyalty to Mr. Damrosch and be-
cause she was engaged to sing at the Royal
opera House IN Wieshaden during visit of
tne imperial family Her anxiety to keep
this engagement was doubtless due to the
TACT that It was the first olive branch held
out to her by a royal opera house 1t seems
TO have resulted in her restoration to i'm,
perial favor, for she has just concluded an
engagement &C The Berlin Opera House,
during which she sang Brunhilde in a com
plets performance or the Ring of the
Nibelung." $50
Tho information that the Misses Rose and
otillie Sutro. the renowned ensemble plan
lists, are to appear in this country this sea-
son will be welcome news to concert-goers
The artistic triumphs of these young wom-
en- in Germany, France and England, sub
| sequently repeated in New York, have
4 placed them in the very front rank of then
delightful specialty--a speciality that is Pc
culiarly attractive to cultured musical So
ciety... The Sutro sisters have been playing
recently in London, and to crowded houses
nlling st. James's Hall, Piccadilly and Civ
ms marvellous programmes to a public that
begins 10 develop evidence of being satiated
with the ordinary piano recital THE nov
city or their performances does not consist
IN an ensemble performance on two pianos
by two sisters of great musical Intelligence
temperament and technical facility but
rather in the complete merging OF double
spirit into one unit of thought and express
sion. Not only are the compositions played
IN exact unison, so far as the works re-
quire technical exactness, but the interpre-
taeion, the color, the texture of the works
are exhibited with such complete unity that
to all purposes it could be viewed as the
production of one intelligence.
1t is many years since a foreign musical
organization has visited these shores and
met with such immediate success as did the
famous Banda Rosa, & San Severe, Italy
in their opening concerts last week at the
Metropolitan Opera House New York
Without a single exception the press has
spoken in the highest praise and most fiat
ter1ng words of the wonderful ensemble
the fire, dash and brilliancy of the playing:
the almost perfect rendering of the operate
equal; the excellence of the several solo
members of the band. and most particular
~ OF the great Skill wonderful mastery of
his men and magnetic personality of Macs
tro Sorrentlno, the taleuted conductor. In
deed, one leading journal says that the
band playing may well serve as a model for
any or all of the military or concert bands
OF America " The little vfolinist, Carlotta
Stubenbrauch, created q great sensation
and captivaled the critics completely while
Nine. Won Vahsel, the soprano soloist made
a very favorable impression. The bands
tour through the country promises TO De a
series OF triumphs.
The Emperor Of Russia has authorized the
erection, at Warsaw, of a monument to
kiickdeyiez on the occasion of the one-hun-
dredth anniversary of the celebrated Polish
poet. M. Leon IdzikowsSi, a music publish
er at Biev, has opened competition, with
a prize of 300 roubles q, 900 francs) for the
best composition OF a solemn march for the
occasion OF inaugurating the monument
Only Polish composers may take part in
this competition. The march must be COM
posed for piano, solo or 1uet, and must also
be arranged for orchestra and symphony
1898 -
The Berliner Fremdenblatt speaks of a
new profession for ladies, which it recon-
mends: "One of the most curious female oc-
equations in the capital of the empire is
that of dummy musician iGeigenstatstin-
en.) The business of these young ladies is
to appear in ladies' orchestras and pretend
to play their instruments with grace and
conviction by means of a soaped bow, and
TO follow the music on the paper, beyond
which they need know nothing about it. At
this play they gain from 81 10 80 q month. y