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

ever, would not help our French author:
and composers, who are outrageously
pirated in Russia. without any compensa
ton whatever. The Franco-Russian al
lance has neither profited our commerce
our manufactures nor our compatriots
who work In the domain of art
George Enesco. a 16-year-old composer
and violinist, is the musical sensation OF
the hour in Paris. He was born in 1882, In
a little village in Roumania, and when
almost an infant showed a remarkable
aptitude for music. In his eleventh year
he won first prizes both for violin play
ing and for harmony at the Paris Con-
servatory. HE Is not 12" said Masse-
net. "and he orchestrates like an expe-
rienced musician; and Saint-Saens
added: "He produces music as an apple
tree produces flowers" At recent con-
cert given at the Chatelet, Paris, where
one of his compositions was played, the
whole orchestra rose to its feet at the
conclusion of the performance and gave
an ovation to the young composer. AL
though only 16, Enesco is said to look 20.
The italian Senate is examining the
question of whether the rights of 1.-THE
Barber of Seville" expire on the 10th inst
or not. The decision is Of vital import
ance to the Rossini Musical Lyceum at
Pesaro, which inl1erits the royalties of
it's founder, under Rossini's will, and
which consequently has every inter-
est in the rights being prolonged. Mas
cagni, director of the Rossini Lyceum,
telegraphed the other day to Verdi for
his opinion of the matter The aged
master gave by telegram the following
answer I'm applying to me you over
rate the Importance of my opinion. do
not hesitate to declare, however, that I
sincerely hope the Senate, in it's deep
wisdom, will see fit to make decision
favorable to art and to the institu-
tions that serve it."
The literary Queen of Roumania, bet
ter known under her nom de plume of
Carmen Sylvia, recently attended a per-
Torrance of Carmen" given by the pu-
pills of a school under her patronage No
doubt it was because of the Queens
pseudonym that Bizet's masterpiece was
selected, for the subject has nothing in
famine about it. AT the moment the
Queen entered her box the children were
preparing to sing the first chorus, but
the aspect of royalty SO disconnected
them that instead of burst Of harmony
there was dead silence. The Queen,
her box, marking the time with her fan
as correctly as the best conductor. The
children faithfully followed Carmen Syl-
vas impromptu baton and the chorus
ended amid the frantic applause of those
present.
Marie Van Zandt, the famous American
prirna donna, ran narrow risk of being
in panic the other night. Very soon
af an O.
lodownikow Theater Moscow, where she
was playing brilliant engagement. fire
broke out in the auditorium, and in spite
of heroic efforts on the part of the fire de-
partment that part of the opera-house
was soon reduced to ashes. The stage
was preserved by means of the iron cur
tain which was lowered in accordance
with custom when the performance ended
Luckily all the spectators had gone home,
but two firemen were killed and eight
others gravely wounded.
While Ysaye is cavorting about Europe
and America, making fame and money by
his violin-playing, the Ysaye concerts (al-
ways without Ysaye) continue to draw
big houses in Brussels. No wonder that
people flock to them. for Felix Motif is
the conductor and Nine. Motif charms
the public with her singing.
The announcement is made in London
that Adelina Patti has expressed her in
tention of making grand farewell tour
of the United States, as well as of Eng
land, In which latter country she appeared
for the first time exactly thirty-seyen
years ago. The question Is whether Patti
will really retire after these touching
adieux.
La grippe is finding number of vic
tins in Italy. as well as in France. AT
the Fondo Theater. Naples. the other day
three prima donnas, attacked simultane-
ously. were Obliged to suspend their serv-
ices while the conductor, Edoardo whale