The record-union., 1899-08-27

Miss Lillian Blauvelt was commanded
to sing before the Queen at Windsor
Castle on July 18th, when she sang YER
dis "Sicilian Vespers" and Thomas.
"Connais tu la Pays" accompanied by
the Queens band, under the conductor
ship of Sir Walter Parratt. After the
concert Miss Blauvelt had the honor
of being presented to her majesty, ana
received a gold locket set with dia-
monds and pearl pendants with royal
monogram at the top.
Next year the London opera season
will begin at Covent Garden on May
7th. and nearly all subscribers have
given orders for their boxes to be re-
tanned NJ. Jean de Raszke hopes to
remain in Europe next winter, SO that
he will without doubt be here in May,
while Mr.. Grau already has under en-
egagement for America $50 that they
will also be available for London) III.
Alvarez, Madame Calve and Madame
Sembrich. 1t is probable that Madame
7Calve will appear as Elsa, Aida, Eliza
beth and Cherubino next year, and
Herr van Rooy has also been re-en-
gagged.
In England the most distinguished
engagement an artist can have outside
London is one for the famous Halle
symphony concerts at Manchester. The
orchestra, founded some years ago by.
the late Sir Charles Halle, is a perma-
nent organization, and is deemed by
many the ablest in England. 1t must.
IF ir1tp
to learn that among the eminent artists
engaged there for the coming season
two are Americans, Fanny Bloomfield
Zeisler, the pianist, and Leonora jack
son, the violinist. Among the other
artists engaged are Paderewski, Lady
Halle and DR.. Joachim.
e =
Jean de Reszke is reported to receive
f300 a night in the London opera sea-
son, which is in full swing at Covent
Garden This sum, says the London
Outlook" seems preposterous. Yet
the sums received by the opera singers
in New York were much larger
According to figures which 1.-The Out
look" says are authentic, Jean headed
the list in New York with $4,000 for
the season, Edouard received about
SOS, 900, Van Dyck S23,000, Van Rooy
and PIancon each $4,000, Seleza SlO,-
600 and Bispham $1,000. With regard to
the ladies, Nine Sembrich made about
,S2S. 600. Lehman $26,000, Nordica S24,
600, Eames $4,000 and Brema $4,000.
The New York season is twice the
length. of the London season, the latter
containing only three months "Lohen-
grim drew the largest house in New
York last winter when Jean de Reszke
took the leading part, the box receipts
being $4,000. On another occasion,
when the incompatible Jean" did not
appear the same opera drew the small
est house,, 500.
Yankee Doodle" can not be claimed
as the exclusive property of the Yam
kee race. According to a writer in the
Cincinnati Commercial Tribune" it
has had a long and varied history. He
says:
+" Yankee Doodle is one of the oldest
songs in the world and at different
periods of an unparalleled career has
belonged to England, TO the once vast
empire of Holland, and to the Roman
Catholic Church, where it probably
originated, somewhere about the year
1900 A D. If you happen to be Il
musician and do not believe that such
an undignifed ditty could ever have
been intended for religious purposes,
play it over on a pipe organ very SIM
ply and slowly, and as the majesty OF
a grand old papal chant fills your soul,
all your doubts will vanish away.
Several hundred years ago the good
people of Holland thought so much of
Yankee Doodle that they adopted the
tune for the harvest song and made up
new words for it. Mary Mapes Dodge
gives one of the verses in Hans Brink
err:
Yanker didee dude down,
Didee dudel launter,
Yankee viver voover vown,
Botermelt und taunter.
tsGoOn after baine sung this OuanE