The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-13

singers and inStrumentaliStS are most anx
ious to appear here. The services of many
artists, of greater or less celebrity were
offered the local directors, but the engage
ments were made with extreme care The
result is that for this festival, and those
at Cincinnati, Louisville and the New Eng
land cities, the artists engaged are prac-
tically the same, for the very good reason
that they are the best that can be obtained.
Most of them who will sing here are new
to Indianapolis audiences, an additional
reason for their engagement. Particular
care was exercised in selecting artists for
Benoit's great work, 'Lucifer,' which will
be given the first night of the festival, for
1t requires five thoroughly capable soloists,
in addition to the final chorus of 400 adult
voices and the children's chorus.
THE LIST OF ARTISTS.
The artists engaged are as follows:
Ysaye famous Belgian violinist.
Sopranos-Mme. Johanna GadSk, OF the
Damrosch- Ellis Grand Opera Company, and
Miss Emma Juch.
Contralto-Mme. Josephine S. Jacoby.
Baritones-Mr. David Bispham, of the
Damrosch- Ellis Company, and Mr.. Paul
Haase.
Tenor--Mr. George Hamlin.
Basso-Mr. Carl e. Duff.
Ysaye was engaged as a special attraction
for the last concert of the series. The d.
rectors received many requests that he be
secured, for he is such a high-priced artist
that he could not be engaged to appear in
Indianapolis, except at festival. People
who are well informed in musical affairs
need not be told about Ysaye, for his play
ing has been the sensation of two conti-
nents. That he is the greatest living violin
list is conceded by the critics, and his work
is characterized by that, personal magnet
ism which arouses his hearers to the wild
est enthusiasm. Ysaye was born in 1858 at
Lege-therefore, is Belgian. He is tour
ing in America, South America and Aus
tralia, preparatory to settling down in San
Francisco for five years contract to open
a conservatory, should he accept. In his
conservatory at Brussels he gives private
lessons to the more advanced pupils, the
lower grade scholars taking from the
"eleves,'' as they are called (his more fin
ished pupils.)
Ysaye possesses two magnificent ''Strads,"
which he keeps in silk American flags. He
was pupil of Vieuxtemps and Wieniawski.
He was absolutely wrapped up in the for
mer. His life interest seemed to be centered
in his orchestra of seventy-tiye chosen men.
Nearly all of these were or are his pupils,
rehearSing often always under his leader
ship. To this orchestra he is so devoted that
all else is second in Importance to it. Regu-
lar concerts of the highest class of music
are given every little while which are
crOWQ6Q TO the QOOrS. InSS6 COICSTIS are
known as THE Concerts Ysaye."
During his present tour OF America Ysaye
has drawn enormous audiences, at the great
Metropolitan Opera House in, New York,
the Auditorium in Chicago. and other cities.
He gets $1,000 a night for his services.
NINE. GADSKPS HISTORY.
Nine Johanna Gadski, who to-day MAIN
tains an enviable reputation in the fore
most rank of younger German dramatic
singers, was born st Auklam, in Pomerania,
June 15 1872. She was educated at Stettin,
where she studied with Frau Schroeder
Chalonpkir. She made her first appearance
on the stage at Kroll's, Berlin, in May, 1891,
as Pamina in 1.-The Magic Flute" She also
sang there in July of the same year in v.
Holstein's new opera, Der Haideschacht."
In 1892 May she was again at Krolls,
when Otto I4essmann thus spoke of her as
Anna ("Hans Hefling"): "She delights by
her youthful, fresh, yet fully ripened voice,
her temperamental delivery, her lively and
characteristic acting" She appeared in
%srrv WTe te of Pana vrs
C"Don Giovanni'D the Baroness C'Wild-
schutz') Anna. In 1898 february she
again appeared at Krolls Theater in Der
Wilde Jaeger" Early in 1894 she joined the
opera company at Bremen. She sang Marie
in Die Verkaufte Braut" Feb. 2, Bedura
April is under the leadership of the COM
poser. In May. 1894, she was announced to
appear as Elizabeth (''Tannhauser'D at
Bayreuth and also as one of the solo flower
maidens in "Parsifal,' but she was taken
sick and was obliged to give up the en-
gagement.
rosch German Opera Company. Her first
appearance in New York was March j, 1888,
as Elsa. Her first appearance in Boston
was April 2. 1895, in the same part. The
season of 1886 she was again most i'm
portant member of Mr.. Damrosch's COM
pany. At Boston Feb. 10, 1896, she created
Of PrUnnR in Mr. Dam
rosch' g. Scarlet Letter" She was with MIR.
Damrosch for the third season, 1867. Her
Senta IN. The Flying Dutchman was de-
plicity, girlish, romantic sentlmenI, ana
suddenly aroused womanly devotion. Equal
" memorable for its sweetness of affection
sang Pamina. This year she is dlvlolng the
nrirla donna roles in the Damrosch- Ellis
Company with Mime. Nordica-
MISS JUCH A FAvORITE.
Miss Emma Juch needs no introduction to
the musical people of indianapolis. for she
has sung here several times in opera and at
two festivals. She retired from the concert
ulatform when she was married three years
ago. but has resumed her work this year,
with great success. Mr.. Van der Stucken
heard her sing recently in New York, and
telegraphed the directors to engage her for
the soprano role in ''Lueifer'' and for arias
IN a miscellaneous concert, as she was sing
ing better than ever before. Miss Juch is
undoubtedly the most capable and versatile,
woman for festival work in America. She
SINGS dramatic and lyric roles equally well,
and is unsurpassed in arias. She has many
admirers in Indianapolis, who will be glad
to hear that she has been engaged for the
festival.
Mime. Josephine Jacoby was born in the
citv of New York twenty-five years ago,
and received her musical education from
the best teachers the metropolis contains.
In her case the results of a purely AIneri-
can musical education are eminently illus
trated for her success as contralto has
been pronounced and unequivocal. In addf-
ton 10 her recent repeated appearances at
the Metropolitan Opera House Sunday
night concerts, so popular in New York
Nine Jacoby has this season appeared at
dore Thomas orchestra concerts, Chicago;
the Pittskarg symphony concerts, under
Frederic Archer; the Cincinnati symphony
concerts, under Mr.. Van der Stucken; the
Damrosch concerts. in New York; the Arion
concerts, at Providence, under Jules Jor-
dan. the Philharmonic concerts OF Mont
real: the performances in New York and
BROOKLYN of THE Messiah, Elijah, "St.
PAUL. and other oratorios, and the cam
tafas s.Arminius." THE Swan and the Sky
lark and other secular works The partic-
ular force OF Nine. Jacoby's work 10 con-
certrated in declamatory and lyric vocal
compositions of larger dimensions, such as
0raforiO, cantata. German lleder and arlas.
~ n,