The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-02-24

and produces foreign successes he is
called ''unfaithful to French art" If, or
the other hand, he turns his back on for
eign successes and sticks to home talent
he is called "Chauvinistic,'' and is ac-
cused of having a soul dead to real art. u
He can, If he chooses, produce lyric trag-
edies, such as Carmen and poor God
ards "Vivandiere," and thenceforth they
are given to the world as "operacomique, .
though they are about as comic as "Ham-
let" or Macbeth" He can give worthy
singers a chance, and make them famous
in a night, or he can be so conservative
that young talent has no chance to shine
in French lyric comedy Dozens of incip-
lent American prima donnas will sing to
Albert Carrie in the coming by and by,
and on that account, If on no other, his
new policy in managing the Opera CO.
mique has an especial interest to Ameri-
cans.
A great Russian nobleman has Just
made himself a present of an amusement
which has cost the trifie of $4,000, but
which fills all his evenings with delight.
This nobleman adores "Rigoletto" more
than all the other operas in the universe,
and as he finds that Verdi's popular work
Is not often enough performed in the Rus
sian capital, he has had a mechanical
lists are big marionettes dressed with
exquisite taste, and their movements
are so regulated by machinery that
they reproduce "Rigoletto" with admir-
able stage play. 1t can be easily guessed
that the music is furnished by phono-
graph. Thanks to arrangements with the
managers of several well-known opera
troupes the Russian nobleman has pro-
cured several exact reproductions of the
opera as it has been given by celebrated
artists in America and Europe. Even the
orchestra is reproduced, and the conduc-
tor with his baton. In this way "Rigo-
letto" can be given with several different
casts and with a choice of conductors
The happy owner presses one of the but
tons, the performance commences beau
tiful scenery is displayed and the artists
go through their different parts to the ac-
compartment of the monograph. After
each act the curtain falls and the music
ceases till another button is pressed. This
sort of lyric theater for the home might
compete seriously with regular opera
houses were it not for it's costliness
Amateurs, however, will think twice be-
fore purchasing lyric repertoire at the
cost of $4,000 an opera They will
find II a good deal cheaper to buy a box
for the season.
NJ. A. Bungert, who made a great stir
in Germany not long ago with his opera
THE Return of Ulysses has just nro-
duced the second opera of his Homeric
cycle at the Theater Royal, Dresden.
This work is entitled "Circe," and it's
success has been overwhelming, though
the German critics say that the enthu-
siasm of the public is largely owing to
the picturesqueness of the subject and
the superb mounting and execution.
Never in Germany have such costumes
and such staging been seen in theater
for Bayreuth is entirely eclipsed. The
orchestra, under the direction of Won
Schuch, has done marvels, and the exc
cution has been superb, Herr Scheid-
mantel especially being above all praise.
The Dresden Opera-house is fastening to
produce the four other operas which
complete Bungert's "Homeric World"
series, for the Bungert Theater at Goder-
berg on the Rhine Is to be completed in
1900, and then the entire cycle will be
given, in imitation of the Festspiele at
Bayreuth. After this the "Homeric
World" will be exclusively reserved for
the Bungert Theater. in hopes that it
will become the resort of pilgrims of the
Bayreuth variety. 1t remains to be seen
whether international enthusiasts will
worship at the shrine of the Homer
ouuSoIt ncIocSs tiicy diCduy PiOS-
trate themselves before the gods Of the
Wagner-Wotan mythology.
At San Giuseppe Jato, near Messina,
a worthy priest named Gaetano Maris-
Gallo, died not long ago. and left, among
other possessions. an old piano in the last
stages of dilapidation. In vain did his
heirs seek to get rid of it by offering the
damaged instrument to all corners for the
miserable sum of 10 francs fs3). The plano
was so old and emitted such croaking
sound that no one desired to acquire it.
At last it struck the heirs that IL a few
francs were spent on putting it in tune