New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-13
LONDON NOTES.
WAGNER FESTIVAL-AN ARTIST IN
IBSENITE DRAMA

"The Academy has succeeded in making
reputation by GROWING with first prize the
works Of a poet who was little known. Since
Il awarded the crown for the best literary work
n the year 20 & writer whose name cannot he
found in recent editions Of standard biographi-
csl works Ike Men and Womea Of the Time"
n say nothing Of more flexible gazetteers like
who's Who" wherein Mr.. Douglas Sladen
orders the social destinies OF the London world
c, fashion art and letters. u the exclusion Of
apublishers and other tradespeople" Mr.. Ste
rhen Philips has been a man Of erninence. A
brisk demand has set in for his poems and his
public appearance as a lecturer has been
dered neglected writer. hardly numbered
among the minor singers fumbling the chords
which once responded TO the touch Of great mas
,s-s Is now g large figure in literary London.
Justice requires ne 10 add that all who read his
las; book OF poems are constrained 10 admit
that h!s verse has excellent quality. and that
the crown was not bestowed thoughtlessly As
to- the second prize. there can be no division
O, critical opinion. for Nj. Henley is one OF
the Few Engllshrnen Of genuine literary genius
one effect Of the discovery q Mr Stephen
Phillips has been revival of public interest in
the poetic art. II booksellers are TO be believed
strong demand has set in for the works Of
minor poets Possibly the sudden prominence
acquired by an unknown man may have i'm
pressed English readers with the conviction that
unrecoenized genius may be lurking in every
corner q the bookstalls. and that those in pos
session OF leisure are under moral obligation 70
search for Il diligently. At any rate the
Ike, value Of poetry has risen, and booksellers
are rubbing their eyes with establishment
Moreover. critics are coming 10 the platform 20
educate the public on the modern art Of writ
~ rs1Tf,.
lecture on Some Living Poets" and Mr.. Ed
nund Gosse has instantaneousy indicted him
for neglacting to make complete list IN the
course q an hours talk. and thereby contriving
10 render many exquisite artists in verse con-
tsnptible. Apparently The Academy's" dis
covery % Mr. Stephen Phillips has quickened
public conscience. There is TO be extreme sensi-
tveness respecting the claims Of living poets.
whereas there has been until recently a lack Of
seaslbility respecting their necessity or utility
n the moral order Of English progress.
suspect that much Of this recent interest in
minor poetry is artificial and that the truth is
t.l1 by the Bristol man who writes TO The
Academy: Mr.. Kiplngs Barrack Room Bal
lads is worth more 10 the trade than the whole
O. the output Of other versihers." What stirs
tn hearts Of Englishmen to-day is not poetry
q IMAGINATION nor the mellifuous flow Of con-
note q the drum-beat in them. or the swirl Of
the !n1oerial seas which the nation commands
with - mighty fleets with all the subtle
cyn!csrn Of the tirnes-and in London II per-
vades the atmosphere like a winter fox and
chls enthusiasm ike biting cas-, wind-there
IS az instructive longing FOR period Of heroic
action. when Englishmen again will not be
ashamed 20 be thoroughly in earnest; and this
yearnlng IS voiced by MI. Kipling better than
By anv other English poet. Literature, the
sage. AT and public life are all suffering from
the .rervatinC influences Of lack Of enthusiasm
ana ea-nest1ess ENGLAND needs" said an
acute critic the other day. "a real crisis Ike
European war in order 20 develop the best re-
sources o. national character and 20 restore
It's faith n the realities Of Anglo-Sa1on
destiny"
The WAGNER Festival is 10 be transplan;ed
from Bayreuth 70 London this year. The o1-
pertinent % introducing two complete repre-
sentacoas % Der Ring des Nibelungeh :
less hazardous one than II appears a. INST
glance TIE public taste for Wagners music
has been steadily growing in England ou'ihs
the las, decade. The most popular nights u
grand opera az Covent Garden for several sea-
sons have been Wagner nights. concert pro-
grammes which draw the largest audiences III
London during the winter and spring are 'hose
n which Wagner numbers are conspicuous IN
al the great English cities the movement OF
public taste IN music has disclosed a trend III
the direction q Wagner There g q great pun
IL in England which Will be attracted oS INC
promise q TWO complete Ring cycles !" JUNG
a. Covent Garden: and The presence OF d Ia'ee
eoncourse % music-lovers from amen" an
Germany Is confidently anticipated. The dates
form 4
oeali,ely arranged by the following programme
pss Es..-g.. Mondays June c end June e
De Ws.1r Wednesdays. June a.q 10 20
s.ss;r1e. Thursdays. June ana ' ~
De erta-rncrurS saturdays. june j anu '''
The Grand Opera Syndicate has placed these
Performances under the charge OF MI Al'eu
schu.z-Curtlus. who has made all the preHml-
lary ARRANGEMENTS and already engaged neaf!y
al the prominent singers. Herr anton 7e'u'
vii conduct the orchestra, which Il eNi'0'eu ~
Be the strongest ole ever heard in Covent Car
dsn. New scenery will be painted J" -
and the chorus is 20 be recruited. especl&lN io'
Die G6tterdammerung," from the tIa'heu 20
ers usually heard at Bayreuth- stage man
APE, .-a ,,,s,a- ,,achinist are 10 be imported
from Germany. and the igusicai resources -
The Continent are TO be drawn UPV"
great and minor parts. -
In ..Dss pheineold" will be heard Nine
Brsma. Frau Schumann -HeinK' M. van ~ ~
Herr Lieban and Mr. Pringle. VINO are al
well known IN London: and also NJ. Anton Won
Rooy from Rotterdam Herr Nebe rom Oai'
ruhe Frsulein Won Artner from haho"Is anu
Frauleln He.ser from Stuttgart four OF 'Hes
artists will sing in Die Waikure WIN MN
Emma Games and Herr W!ttekopf. from nam,
burg NJ. Jean de Reszke Will be the nero OF
"siegfried" and Fraulein Ternina rom 'ne
Munich opera House, viii be the Brnnnhlae,
with five singers among those ALREADY na'Neu
In other narts In Die Gotterdammeruns WI"
appear NJ Jean de Reszke. M Eoouaio 'e