The San Francisco call., 1898-04-28

laws and bylaws which deprive the en- ployes of the Opera of all personal lib- erty. No artist can go outside Vienna even on the days when he is not singing without written permission from the management, and whether there is re- hearsal or not, the entire corps de ballet has to sign rollcall at Il o'clock every morning. Schroeder and Marie Renard have refused to renew their engagements, and all the lesser singers are contemplat- ing escape from the thralldom of the Vi- enna Opera. Marie Renard is an idol of the Viennese public, and it will be hard to replace her.
 The Italian papers state that since the death of his wife Verdi can no longer bear to live at his beautiful villa of Sant Agata, where he lived so happily for years with Signora Verdi He has de- cided to settle in Milan and will take up his quarters at the Milan Hotel (Albergo Milano), where he will retain the suite of apartments to which the proprietor years ago gave his name. The Milan Hotel has always been his headquarters when in the capital of Lombardy. but he has objected to remaining long in Milan, as admiring crowds followed him when ever he went out. No doubt the aged maestro hopes the familiarity will pre- vent the Mianese public from annoying him in this way.
 Mime. Schumann-Heink, the famous contralto, has written to deny the rumor that her ten years contract with the Berlin opera would prevent her from singing at the Metropolitan next season She says she will positively appear. The letter is to a private friend. Referring to the sudden taking off of Anton Seidl Mime. Heink says she thinks the gap will be hard to fill, but from information re- ceived from Maurice Grau she says Herr Mottl, Arthur Nikisch and Dr. Muck are being negotiated with, the chances being greatly in favor of pr. Muck's coming.
 At Candid, in an old monastery of Ven etian monks, a number of interesting and hitherto unknown documents have been discovered, relative to Othello, who com manded the galleys of the Venetian re- public and won several naval victories. These documents state, among other things, that Desdemona survived the famous Moor of Venice many years This Is overturning romance with A ven geance. Since Shakespeares time a number of famous musicians have told in lyric strains the fate of Desdemona. and now 1t appears she was not smothered at all. Instead of being a poor victim sing ing touching ditties. Desdemona lived to become the widow Othello."
 The Berlin papers announce that Vein gartner has been offered the conductor snip or Grau's season of German onera at the metropolitan next season. The sum named as the inducement is S15 GOO. N1kisch, according to the same authority. has been offered the conductorship of the permanent symphony orchestra at an hon. ararium or $20,0O0 year. On account of previous engagements both Weingartner i offers.
 The German opera season as the In1- perial Marie Theater of St. Petersburg has been big success. On the final night of the season the Emperor and the entire court were present, and by inn perial request Wagner was shelved for Gounod, whose Romeo and Juliet" formed the bill The De Reszke brothers and Mime. Bolska of the Imperial Opera were almost smothered in flowers at the end of the performance.
 Mile. Berthet is wearing Sibyl Sander sons mantle in Massenet roles at the Paris Grand Opera. She is Belgian, and IS one of the hardest students on the lyric stage. On the nights when she does i not sing she is in constant attendance at the opera to see if she can learn even an l expressive look or a gesture from her fellow singers.
 1 At Berlin a society of musicians has been founded whose object is to perform the unpublished works of living compos- i CTS. This society is called the Fafner brotherhood. It will be remembered that Fafner is the name of the monster who In Wagner's opera guards the Rhine gold l Maurice Grau has engaged Herman