The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-03-06

opera at covens garden for several sea-
sons have been Wagner nights Concert
programmes which draw the largest audi
ences in London during the winter ana
bers are conspicuous. In all the great
English cities the movement OF pubic
taste in music has disclosed trend in the
public In England, which will be attracted
by the promise OF two complete Ring
cycles In June at Covent garden. and the
lovers from America and Germany is con-
fidently anticipated The dates for the
two series OF performances are now defin-
sg srranEf 6a. BY RAe hs Monanys
DAYS. June e and .: asieEfried." Thurs
ung." Saturdays. June II and July z
What is the future OF comic opera in
this country" Its prospects are very
bright" says Reginald De Koven. In
order TO explain this. ] must go back some
ten years or SO. At that time American
composers were practically unknown. Sui
Ivan was the rage. with q generous touch
OF Strauss. Genee. PlanQuette. Millocker
al commercial pursuit In Chicago. saw
Gilbert and Suilivan's Tho Sorcerer. and
became imbued with the idea that could
compose. So first wrote the book and
then the music OF a comic opera. which I
submitted to Colonel McCauli. who liked
It very much. but who declined to PRO
Sorcerer' How do write the music OF
song? In different ways at different times.
Sometimes ! write the music TO Mr..
Smiths words: at other times / write the
music and he makes the words fit the
rhythm. Then again he viii submit three
IT four sets OF words and / VIII pick
words memorize them until they ring in
my ears. Then the melody suggests Itself.
OF course. We always discuss the atmos-
phere first. and thus get in close touch
rs-fs1 n1fr fnSt 4 =
a chorus of country yokeis coming home
from work the natural sequence is a song
TO III the moment, both for words and
melody.
said that Nine. Melba and Signor Cam
panari received nearly twenty-three hun
dred dollars for their services al a musi-
Gale on Tuesday night. and Ysaye got con-
siderably more than is usually paid 70
him. The cost of the artists alone could
not have been less than $500. and 1t Is
the best artists are to be had None OF
them likes singing i'm private houses. and
Ysaye was so much irritated because Ice
one a' OF the Waldorf seidl Concerts that
he tried TO get the difference between his
terms for appearing in public and private.
All the singers demand more, and last
spring. in London-whers the fees for
drawing-room appearances are as large as
they are here-Melba received for appear
Ing at w. W. Astor's, s2.eeo What she wae
paid for her appearance on Tuesday night
was probably the largest sum ever given
in this city for a private appearance.
Nine. Sembrieh received s.. go at one of
the club performances in December, and
that was the highest figure until Tuesday.
Signor Campanari, not more than four
years ago. used to sing at the Grand
opera house over on Eighth avenue. where
the highest prices were % cents seat.
and In those days. although he was as fine
an artist then as he Is now. his services
at heightened musicales, as well as at the
METROPOLITAN. were not In demand. But
he is popular now as singers who did not
make their reputation In this country,
and is particularly in demand this winter
for private musicaies.