The San Francisco call., 1898-04-28

The whole tour was one long triumph. One reason for the official character given by the Australians. to Albani'S tour was no doubt the warm esteem. and friendship in which she is held by Queen Vivtoria. She has many times sung "by command at court, but, more than that, she has been received in an informal and entirely friendly way by the Queen-an honor never bestowed by Victoria on any woman, however exalted her rank, unless her. name is spotlessly above reproach. Albani has been for nearly a quarter of a century one of the most popular prima donnas in London, and her Australian tri- umph is only the continuation of her Lon- don career.
 Albert Carre, director of the Opera Co., mique, has announced that Paris is two centuries behind the age in the matter of stage mechanism. The only French the ater that possesses revolving scenes is the Varieties. The system is simple It con- ssts of a vast round floor which occupies the entire depth of the stage, and on which two scenes can be set, back to back so to speak, with all their lighting, scenery and accessories. Scene 1 turns when it is no longer needed and gives place to scene II. which has been set for the second act before the performance be- gan. While act II is being played the scenery of act is replaced by the seen cry of act III, which by another rota- ton comes to the front as soon as act II is ended. These successive changes can, of course, be continued indefinitely, and their effect Is to reduce the entr'a actes to a minimum. Even the revolving scene of the Varieties is rudimentary compared to the mechanism of some of the German theaters. At Munich, stage mechanism fc tCh nf O1n n fact, the idea of a revolving scene at all is due to King Louis II of Bavaria, who evolved 1t years ago in making eXperi- ments in models for stage settings for Wagners operas. At the Munich Deut- sches Theater, which is built of iron and cost nearly a million and a quarter dollars, the whole stage mechanism is performed by electricity. An electric dynamo works the machinery and one man, seated be- fore an indicator can, by pressing but ton, perform the work of a whole army of scene-shifters. In this way there are scarcely any waits between the acts, and the audience is sent home betimes. The only local theater-goers who would com plain if San Francisco caught up with the age are the gentlemen who go out ito see a man. between the acts. The leading London theaters have had revolving scenes for years.
 In Europe-and, unfortunately, also in America-an impression seems to prevail that Robin Hood is the highest oper- attic flight expected of the American com poser, and that Ma Angeline" is a very fair sample of native talent for song writ ing. Legrand Rowland promises to wipe away the mistaken impression that the United States possesses no serious com posers, and he is accomplishing the feat J~x +oe irdn
 The Paris Figaro says of some excerpts from his opera, ''Nita, which were re- gently performed under his own direction at Monte Carlo: "The extreme youth of | the composer certainly counted in the spontaneity of the enthusiastic reception awarded him, but his music shows a very abundant and facile temperament. He possesses melodic and harmonic inven- ton, and he especially appeals to his hearers by the great variety of his or chestral coloring. This interesting debut consecrated by unanimous applause, gives
 reason to hope that Legrand Rowland may take place among our best operatie
 composers" The latter remark shows that Rowland has enough talent fol France to stand ready to adopt him. Ii
 France adopted McDowell and a few other gifted Americans they would prob. ably receive the recognition they deserve at home.
 The European papers give long para. graphs to the wonderful success obtained at Venice by new oratorio, 'The Trans. figuration," written by young priest | composer, Dom Peros. The enthusiasm of the Venetians has taken such extra ordinary proportions that other Italian towns are clamoring to hear ''The Trans. figuration." and the foreign musical cen.