The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-01-16

without the orchestra. For band to play
without the direction OF a conductor is,
| of course, not new, although it is rare
that the conductor so openly avows 1t.
When the conductor is incompetent or
| Inexperienced the orchestra rarely takes
notice of him. DR. Richter'S joke was,
however, more probably humorous eX-
emplification of the theory laid down by
| List, and once adopted by Won Bu-
| low with his Meiningen orchestra, that
| the task of the conductor should be nm
| ished at rehearsal. 1t was a tour de
force, and we trust it will not be re-
peated by lesser men. Even last night
it was not the uncontrolled movement
but the third and fourth which went
best, the performance of each, indeed,
being practically perfect"
New York Tribune, Partisan cores
pondence: How about 'Hamlet?'' was
asked Bernhard
"Ah," said Sarah, with one of her in
describably expressive gestures, and
holding up a gray-covered manuscript,
somewhat crumpled and thumbed by
frequent reference, 4 keep Hamlet
constantly with me, and at times I be-
SOAllC csOaoiQlGiy dpSOi bCu ny LIN @''oOs
of this part, which each day makes
deeper and deeper impression upon me.
My idea is that Hamlet who, after all,
was but young student, was more like
woman than man. and the character
is especially suited for woman's i'm
perSonation. Had Hamlets nature been
less feminine he never would nave
driven himself to the verge of insanity
by subjecting himself to those analysis
which are revealed by his inspired So
liloquies. Had Hamlet been more of
man he never would have resorted to the
device of the 'mousetrap.' Had he been
less of a woman he would have run the
King through the heart with his sword
forthwith. He would have-but then
there would have been no play. Ham
let is certainly the most difficult and
most intricate part that l have ever at
tempted. 1t is safe to say that this mas
ter part of Shakespeare is the most per-
picking and perhaps also the most dis
couraging one that any true artist can
undertake, for some of its Utmost beau
ties seem intangible mean almost be-
yond the reach of impersonation. 1t
Yields, however, a magic spell of fascl-
nation, and is capable of almost as
many interpretations-any half-doZen
of which may be eXcellent-as there are
individual actors to assume it. l can
only say that 1 am studying Hamlet
conscientiously, and that / look for
ward to producing it this season in Paris
at the Renaissance. l also hope that
Hamlet may prove to be one of the
most important artistic efforts of my
dramatic career"
Nine. Bernhard said this with con-
viction, and as she did so the converse
ton was interrupted by Mile Simonne.
the charmingly graceful young daughter
of Maurice Bernhard who came caper-
ing into the room much as in the lifelike
portrait of her made by Carolus Duran,
which was such an attractive feature in
the Salon last year. Mile. Simonne has
become the perfect idol of Nine. Sarah,
and it was indeed a pretty picture to see
the two frolicking together.
San Francisco Music and Drama:
Jolly, good hearted and deservedly
popular as May Irwin is, nobody ever
suspected her of having so much more
genuine liberality than the other big
stars who are frequently heard from
as donating large sums Of money to
charitable societies. It's a fact, how
ever, that instead of following the Gus
tom of managers who lay their com
panies off the week before the holidays
in order to save money, May Irwin alb
solutely paid every member an extra
weeks salary as a Christmas gift, and
after the performance that night the
stage of the Bijou in New York was
cleared for a big Christmas jubilee. A
tree containing 60 presents had been
prepared and the entire company par
ticipated in grand banquet. This ex-
ceedingly appropriate and generous
action of Miss Irwin will touch the
heart-strings of the players of America,
and ought to be an example for the
frugal minded managers who cut a
weeks salary for their companies at
the very season of the year when it
works the greatest hardship to the
players.
In a recent communication to a Lon
don paper, Grieg takes occasion to cor
rect the current notion that he is not an
admirer of Wagner My artistic con-
victions and principles, he writes. ARE
not in any way opposed to the Wag
merriam propaganda. / have pointed out
the mistaken tactics of the Wagnerians
with regard to Schumann and Mozart.
but / myself make propaganda for Wag-
ner wherever | can without being an adj
herent of Magnetism. / am, in fact, q
believer in no kind Of 'isms' / am
neither more nor less than an admirer
of Wagner-so ardent an admirer in
deed that there can scarcely be
greater
Kathryn Kidder. who was one of the
bookings Of Messrs. Friedlander. Gott-
lob & Co, San Francisco. disbanded
her company in st. Louis on the 2Sth
ult. and sent them back to New York
with fares and salaries paid. Miss Kid
der presented a new play, Loves at
War" in St. Louis. which proved dis
appointing. and owing to the hard work
she had given it she is now seriously
i'll.
Jessie Dodds. a bright and talented
young character comedienne from the
East. has been engaged by Harry Cor
son Clarke TO play the part of Helma
the Swede girl. in What Happened to
Jones which viii be presented for the
first time on this coast by Mr. Clarke
and a select company on January 3lst
The popular character comedian. J. b.
Polk has also been engaged for the role
of the Professor
George Aiexander's revival of Much
Ado About Nothing at the London
60 Se,