The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-02-07
DELLA FOX THIS WEEK
BOTH OF HER BRIGHT COMIC OPER-
As TO BE HEARD AT THE GRAND.
Resume of the Latest Gossip and
News About Famous Music and
Musicians of the World.

Comic opera has always been a potent
attraction as far as this city is concerned.
and when II is presented BY famous light
opera star and a large company of clever
people, carrying the entire production COM
plete. as far scenery and stage settings
are concerned 1t never fails 20 draw out
large audiences. Della Fox has for the past
four or five years been generally conceded
one of the foremost OF all comic opera
condolences, and tnis-her third year as
starts said TO be very successful She has
a large company, including Harry Macdon-
ough. Hugh chilveIs. Frank Blair. Charles
DUNCAN, John Dudley. and the Misses
Nelly Braggings, Trixie Friganza, Florine
Murray Nathalie Alien, katherine Gray
and frankie Wotene.
She brings two operas that have made
her famous. Tomorrow and Tuesday nights
will be presented her new opera, "Fleur-
de-Lis." The story is that of a couple of
old fellows who were born on the same
day the Count des Escarbilles and the
Marquis de Rosolio, who rad been devoted
friends since their childhood, but who are
ct war when the opera commences over an
estate left by their uncle, the Duck of 1u-
bortierre. at St Claude. France. He had
presumably left will, but as IL cannot be
found they proceed TO fight for the estate.
The count appears to have the best OF the
argument, for the marquis has been de-
serted by all his soldiers and is besieged
I'm his fortress. with only women for DEFEND
ers long-lost daughter of the marquis
tFleur-de-Lis) makes an Opportune APP
pearance. however, and after winning the
heart OF the counts son. Frederick, pro-
ceeds TO make matters extremely interest
ing for the irascible autocrat She appears
In numerous Characters mower Slfi,
doll ragged boy musician ,, sn6T1 and
everybody until the end, when she
finds the lost viii, which leaves
everything to her father, the marquis. The
music is said to be catchy, the costumes
bright and pretty and the scenery and me-
chanical effects elaborate.
Wednesday matinee and night "The Little
Trooper" in which Miss Fox made sucn
hit here two years ago. Will be presented.
The scenes are laid In France, nearly
hundred years back. In this opera MISS
Fox sings her famous song, she Is "A
Daisy. Daisy. Daisy.
Tie opera season IA New York has been
fruitful for the gSssips this year. There
have been more rumors started out on their
travels than for many seasons past There
has been trouble between the singers and
troubles between the singers and managers.
The life of the theatrical manager is hard
one but IL is a bed of ease in comparison
with the manager of musicians. and the
greater the artist the greater the trouble.
One OF the rumors was to the effect that
on account of Melba returning to Europe
as she did and the dozens OF anxieties and
uncertainties that there would be no opera
next year. Such is not the case, however.
as both of the De Reszke brothers and
Nine Eames have been engaged for next
year. 1t is possible that Nine Media
will return and possibility that Nordica
will be one of the stars. Plancon win re-
turn. and altogether the prospect Is that
New York will have the opera. New
York contemporary says:
1T Is an ill wind that blows no good 10
anybody, and We observe that Nine. Lit
Winnie now holds the place that was strug-
gled for by Nordica and Melba. This ac-
cident brings the De Reszkes into more inn
portsanee than ever. NJ Jean is the chief
Iitvinne is the chief Wagnerian soprano
and NJ. Schuetz has charge of amiability
IN the auditorium. II is not every household
that can furnish four principal artists to
an opera company, and. owing TO their dis
tinction in this particular, the De ResZke
happy family earns $. 800 night. Mr.. Grau
best singers, but he Is saving several thou
sand dollars week In salaries-and the
whole matter arose from the ambition OF
two lovely ladies 10 lie on a rock and be
kissed by Siegfriedi This osculation ca
tastrophe Is more distressing than Olga
Nethersole I'm her most arduouS moments
Louis Cotay who for twenty-five years
had been a personal servant of NJ. Jean
De Reszke. his principal duties being those
New York Hospital of pneumonia Last
season he was taken i'll while in Chicago,
and since then had never fully regained
his health. His last illness began about
seven weeks ago, and he was removed to
the hospital early last month. He was
and young daughter. The former is Nine
Litvinne's maid. Before entering NJ. De
Reszke's employ Cotay was dresser at the
Paris Opera Cou'ia.e and Italian Opera
The encore fiend would appear TO have le-
gal rights in Venezuela, which not ac-
corded him elsewhere as will be seen by
the misfortunes that have befallen an Ital-
Ian baritone named Pacini. at Caracas: Ac-
cording to the cabled accounts this singer
has been arrested on the demand OF his i'm
pressario because he refused TO give an en-
core to an aria which the public applauded.
on the pretext that he was suffering from
a slight indisposition and did not care to
sing more than he could help. lie Menestrei
saws: One could understand the conduct OF
the authorities at Caracas IL the artist had
proved refractory and had refused his as
sistance at a representation which had been
previously announced, but the question was
simply one OF encore. In theater the
public only has right 10 demand the full
Performance of the work announced. and
the repetition OF any piece Is very often
ruinous To the dramatic Interpretation OF
the opera, ana III the eye OF the tUllSu
amateurs Is an intolerable abuse. In any
case the public has no right &c force the
artists 10 give encores, and In almost al the
big theaterS in Germany rigorous rules
command the singers to refrain from yield
Ing TIC the popular demand for encOres. II
is then the height of Injustice and bar
barism TO imprison singer for refusing to
repeat a piece. Sig. Pacini has been con-
dsmned to fifteen days Imprisonment for
injury to the corporation OF the town of
Caracas which subsidies the theater.
Emil Levy the accompanist, was In a
New York piano wareroom last Monday
morning. when a young woman entered
with a music roll. her eyes full of lyric
frenzy She asked Mr.. Levy If there was
any one about who would be willing to
play an accompaniment. Mr.. Levy. ever
= gallant offered to undertake the task, and
sat down to a piano and looked at the vocal
niece. II was an ordinary waltz song and
in the key OF T. fiat. There were some
fiashy trilis runs and cheap vocal orna-
nentation. and he asked the fair creature
n she had ever studied singing.
'.Oh no sir" she replied. but | don't
need TO. 1 have such good ear. But my
voice II a funny one. L can only sing In
fats. That piece suits me; u Is written IN
fats you know" The pianist doubted first
his ears. and then her sanity
Only sing In flats, you say; what DO you
mean by thlt?" he asked. edging away.
Il rnean that can't sing in sharps or on
the white keys, only Hats. These notes. YOU
see" and then this bright specimen of mu-
sic tapped the I'VE black keys In the octave.
and Lew nearly had a 1T. He sent her 70
a teacher who could iii in--dentist fash
fon-the SharpS Of her voice.