New-York tribune., 1898-09-18

'H''
Seyentv-six representations of grand opera in
Italian French and German; sixteen concerts
hv the philharmonic Society; ten concerts by
the Boston symphony Orchestra; six orchestral
concerts specially designed To entertain ana ed
ify the young; long series of mixed social ana
artistic functions at the Waldorf Astoria which
will initiate the Court concerts OF Europe dor
we. too would like to have fashion look patron
Hnolv on art) eight concerts hy the kneiScl
Quartet Of Boston (chambcr musicians OF the
bluest blood; score Of entertainments III
which those indiSpOscd or unable to indulge In
operate loaveS during the week may find en-
joyment in popular fragments on sunday nights;
opercttas without ccasing; concerts by R"seh-
thai Saucr and Blanche Marchcsi perhaps also
Cecile Chamnadc and Padcrcwski- such are
some Of the things promised to the lovers OF
music in New-York by the season soon to open.
There are many more and some Of these will
be duplicated in the borough lying on the other
side Of the East River which has suffered no
loss Of autonomy, far as It's entertainments
go, by reason Of lis political union with the
Borough Of Manhattan.
The enumeration is almost too awc-inspirlng
to be wholly delightful in contemplation. What
are we TO do with so much music: Can we
bring proper appreciation to such multitude of
offerings? VIII not some of the sweetness be
wasted on the desert air. The mere list does
not tell the whole story, moreover. Al the opcr-
attic cstabl shment in upper Broadway there VIII
be notable revivals of WagncrS Nlbcung
dramas, which n decade ago were doing work
Of education among the younger lovers of the
lyric drama the extent Of which cannot even
Yet be estimated. And TO them who have SO
richly had Is 10 be even more richly given. for
this time "RhcngOld." "Dc Walkiire,' "Sicg-
fried" and Die G0tterddmmcrung" are To be
offered without impairment Of their integrity
The element of novelty VIII not enter Into the
experiment In the degree that il did in the re-
cent London season for Ncw-i Orli has lived In
closer intimacy with Wagncr's muse than the
British metropolis, but it will be an interesting
test at once of audience and art-WOrk. and
many chapters will be added To controversy
which we were prone 10 believe had been CLOSED
some years ago. When reflect that our
gilded cage has never housed SO numerous
Il company Of the worlds best s0ngbirdS as it
will house this winter, and that neither Lon
don, Paris, Berlin, Vienna, ST. Petersburg, Ma
drid nor Bayrcuth ever saw 50 famous an az
eregation of lyric artists, may we not stop and
marvel at the managerial enterprise which
makes such offerings and the popular spirit
which invites them? How fortunate that times
and manners have changed since the day when
society was n licrcely divided on operate as on
political questions when rival sopranos fell at
tooth and nail in the face of the audience, and
were applauGcd by their respective factions
when families were divided and when, as an
epigrammatist of the period wrote,
to Faustinas charming voice.
Wise Pembrokes asses bray'd.
Then the rivalry was confined TO two women
Faustina and Cuzzoni:. what would have hap
pcncd had IIindel had a Mclba. Calve, Eames
Sembrich and Nordica in his company at the
same timef
And there are to be stars outside the opera,
stars who. though mute, will invite more wordy
discussion than those who are To make vocal
the walls of the Metropolitan. There will be- a
battle of conductors. Iaur. for five years Sos
tonan, will lead the local Philharmonic forces
and Gericke, one OF Paur's predecessors in the
Hub, will direct the charge Of Mr.. Higglnson's