The record-union., 1898-03-27

OkaOhAuLIN III OAlLl
Britain was represented by twenty-one
works of eighteen composers, Russia by
seventeen works of nine composers,
Germany 1910. France and Belgium
1873, Bohemia IL, Scandinavia IL,
Italy is not in the list.
some discussion in London of late
touching the Housing of the Drama"
and a good many true and unpleasant
things have been said about British
theatrical architecture. But it was with
the outside of the theaters that the dis
putants were chiefly concerned. No
body, of course, will dispute the self
evident truth Of the proposition that
the abode of art ought to have a hand
some and significant exterior, but the
most pressing need of the theater-goer
of to-day is a house in which he can
see. hear and be comfortable The spec
tacular part, to be sure, is, as a rule,
pretty we'll cared for. Theaters are
rare in which the stage, or the greater
part of it, cannot be seen from any seat
within the walls. But as regards hear
ing The case is very different In some
of the very finest of modern theaters
the acoustic properties are exceedingly
poor, as must be well known to all New
York playgOers. The great evil how
ever, is the lack of an intelligent and
efficient system of ventilation. That
architect will be a benefactor of the
human family who will devise a theater
upon some plan that will obviate the
necessity of deadly draught down the
center aisle every time the ground floor
doors are opened. The fact is that very
often a theater is practically a tunnel,
with the front doors at one end and
the stage door at the other. SO that,
when both happen to be open at once,
which is not uncommon, there is blast
of wind strong enough, as the phrase is,
to "cut your head Off"
The Bishop of London, having been
asked the other day whether a certain
action of his meant to imply sympathy
with the stage, replied as follows: AS
to the question which you ask me, the
drama is very ancient form of art.
Like other forms of art it has changed
at different times. There are two points
to be considered at PRESENTLY the ma
ture of the plays; CD the conditions of
the theatrical profession. There is a
further point: If people wish to see
popular amuSements put on a right
basis, ought they not to sympathize
with and help efforts to amend the
stage? l think that on these points
every one is responsible for forming
his own opinion, and acting wisely and
rightly upon the sense Of his response
bility."
Frau Cosima Wagner has contradict
ed the report that the Bayreuth school
for opera was about to be disbanded. On
the contrary, it has just had a new
recruit in the person Of Herr Ernest
This young gentleman was a heroic
actor at the Darmstadt Court Theater,
where Frau Wagner heard him, and
fancying he had a voice, tested It, pro-
nouncing it robust tenor. Herr Ern-
est has accordingly entered the Bay
reuth school.
The enormous attraction exercised by
the present series of performances of
Die Meistersinger," at. the Theater de
la Monnaie in Brussels, says the Lon
has already been given some thirty
times during the last two months,
forms significant contrast to it's for
mer reprise, in 1885, when it was only
played eleven times to scanty and luke
warm audiences. The public was not
ripe even then for full appreciation Of
the masterpiece.
d
competition. is to be held at Turin in
July next, in which France, Germany,
Austria Hungary and Belgium are to
be strongly represented, and in which
a hundred Italian bands will also take
part. Verdi has consented to preside
over the jury, among the members of
which are Boito. Leoncavallo, Mascag-
nj, Massenet and Saint-Saens.
Among the seventy-four new oper-
attic works produced in Italy last year
only twenty nine belonged to the genre
of grand. opera. the others being oper-
ettas and plays with music. OF the
grand operas only four were comic.
The present can scarcely be called
dull period in the theatrical season.
says the New York Evening Post"
for most of the principal houses are
enjoying marked prosperity, the num-
Der of plays popular for the moment
being uncommonly large.
Osmond Tearle is having success in
the English provinces as the hero of a
historical play, Harold, the Saxon"
written for him by ~ w. Boulding,"
whose real name is the Rev. Mr. Bor-
land, an ex-Free Church minister of
Glasgow. Mr.. Tearle is also having a
drama written for him on the subject
of The Prodigal Son"
The death of Harry Meredith and
John Wild removed two interesting
theatrical figures Mr. Meredith was a
dignified American actor. whose ex-
perience covered many years as well
as many parts. John Wild was the
direct opposite. He was the jolly negro
on the stage. and was a maker of more
fun than any comedian in his time
8 *
The London Avenue Theater. after a
revival Of Sweet Nancy" has closed
it's doors indefinitely.
The life Of the late dramatist, w G..
Wills, has been written by his brother,
the Rev. Freeman Wills, and will be
published soon
The Wagner Society of Vienna cele-
brated its twenty-first anniversary the
other day with concert, under Hans
Richters direction. Bruckner, List and
| Wagner were on the programme.
MoIouap che -