The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-10
MUSICIANS In A FURRY.
POSSIBLE sUsP ENsION OF TEE
METROPOLITLN CONCERTS.

80 1850
poar to Lead the Orchestra Last Wight.
Anton scidl did not conduct tho orchestra al
the Metropolitan Opera House concert las,
night. He sent down the customary physicians
certificate. He is said to have a bad cold, and
will DO kept indoors till Tuesday. Speaker OF
the house Max Hirsch came before tho audience
and announced that Henry Schmitt, the concert
master, would conduct In Seidls place. There
was some slight delay in commencing the
concert. but when the first number began
even those who knew that q somewhat dis.
turbed condition of affairs had existed for
several weeks felt assured that the concert would
be given. They knew that tho musicians had
received q guarantee that they should get the
first money that came into the house for tho
concert after Maurice Grau's share of the 70.
ceipts had been deducted. That arrangement
had indeed been made. Samuel Bernstein had
insisted on that guarantee before the mon
played.
A week ago last night they had not received
their salaries for the preceding concert. Col
lections, 1t is said, had been difficult for some
time. and 1t was known that II. e. Johnston, the
manager of tho Sunday night concerts. was
in q serious state of health. Last night
he was not at the Metropolitan. 1t was
said by his partner. Charles Cochran, that he
was very i'll at his mothers house in Brooklyn.
~ wa " u AhouoO
yesterday morning. and 1t was said at tho hotel
that he was not likely to return there.
Mr.. Johnston had the Metropolitan for the ten
Sunday night concerts intervening between the
close of Nine. Sembrich's season there and the
opening OF the Damrosch-Ellis season. He is q
musical agent who this year engaged an unusu-
ally large number of artists for this country.
Among them were Mines. Nordica and Sutro. tho
pianisto, as well rs NM. Plancon. Ysaye, Pugno.
Gcrardy and a number Of others not so well
been guaranteed to all these artists. TO Ysaye.
for instance, 100 concerts at $3.50 each had been
only twelve times. To Pugno and Gerardy
a smaller number was assured, and they
have hay Dd not spp plSysSS fo yer rSrd f5o %SsSpsl !, NJ n. P m"nS.
ger was unable. to find engagements for him.,
and with Gerardy the situation was about the
West. and. as she has contracts with the Dam.
rosch-Ellis opera company, is in n measure in.
dependent. NJ. PlanGon has appeared fire.
The concerts at the Metropolitan. of which six
have been given. have not proved especially
There have been rumors of trouble with the ar
lists. and Ysayo had to call in a lawyer about
manager. There will probably be no other con-
Gorts under the management OF K, Z. Johnston.
ment. Ysaye was in a box. and. hearing Of the
trouble, went back to the dressing room to find
out what WAS up, He, together with pngno.
AANiAy shtA "
other Frenchmen, were engaged in a discussion
which almost drowned the noise Of the orches-
Pol Plancon. with unruiiled dignity. was await
Ing MS turn on the proSramme.
Mr.. Johnston is seriously iii. l have so far sung
the number of concerts guaranteed to me-, and
have had my, salary paid in full. I understand
been secured. and that Mr.. Johnston will retire
from the company. do not expect to return to
Europe IL these arrangements are made. But
unless everything is satisfactorily settled / shall
not remain here after my outstanding dates
NJ. Ysaye said that no had still to play at
about twenty concerts. and that he expected to
remain in this country. as ample financial back
meeting will be held to-day, and the affairs of
the firm will be SO arranged that the season can
Ysayes personal manager. lit is probable that
MI. Johnston will not be connected will, 1t in the
Ysaye to play one ) hu uDSfssi c 1S c teiPsi in this ' eou M:
try. But he will remain until spring. NJ. Pugno
has four or Ave concerts still to be given. The
artists have received assurances that enough
through"
the principal artists. by a man who had not a
single cent of capital. We were all to have re.
Europe. received a telegram two days before
I sailed saying that it was not convenient at the
time. and that the money would be deposited on
have never received q cent, except for my sep
arate appearances, But the expenses OF the
" uBC. Tic nlIc U IL bGTNunt, II OtntE OK
penscs were promised. TO us by a man who did
not have q cent Of capital"
would @f; f ss ssts1e sr ta.d ihs' Mr. shs % gGSnste OF the he a ff%
was seriously III; His physician. when seen in
Brooklyn. said that he had the grip.
The Sunday evening concerts In the Metro
politan have. continually been n vast source of
pleasure to thousands Of people. and they are
usually uniform in excellence and laid out upon
the same sort OF general plan, with a programme
which includes one or two comparatively large
numbers and some light and popular pieces for
OrChpHtra. SuDDlemenfnl nv two gOlpiStS nf dia-
tinguished merit. Last nights concert was
remarkable in brilliancy. therefore. since no less
They were Nine. Dyna Beumer. soprano; N.
R sS Pugnso, pianist; M; Jean Gerardy, @violon:
was not much, room left upon the pro-
gramme for purely orchestral music; the Cor;
and the Peer Gynt" suite by Griee, snpfhcins
for that portion OF the entertainment. But the
band was heard to very good advantage in the
ling fourth pianoforte concerto in G minor. in
which they collaborated most efficiently with
r~esult-auite the highest point OF nrtis.
sas o6e aeEars2 Is sn eer 1h9 entire won pSsrffSTT%;
and his intelligent and easy. mastery OF the
great difficulties of his e~xacting. instrument,
elegant d~iction. which is as near perfection as It.
is possible to arrive in this world. is always
cere applause, Nine. Beumer. too, is an &C.
complished artist, with q voice OF rare sweet,
R wis6 a 6 S.rIl' te nor ln5elleo sns E grasp: ..n united
feeling for the heart and soul and spirit of n |
composition. Pugno stands head and shoulders
above most artists of whatever sort they may
A. SO did he tower above all the rest of the
soloists last evening, His facility OF execution
Of music and with his ability to furnish the
best possible aesthetic expression to the work
he interprets. Upon recall Pugno played ono
Of his own compositions entitled "Serenade q
Ia Lune."
Nine. Beumer sang first a beautiful but
n 1nnat tnn lntptiv a mir Inv Anpainnr md aftnr- |
ward, what suited her quite as well, the waltz
from Gounod's "Mireiile." giving rs encore
known than ever, recently. by Nine. Sombrich's
rendering of them.