The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-10-22
MUSICAL COMMENT.

AS was announced many. times by the
managers of the Library series last year,
the Thomas orchestra cannot be obtained
for a single concert for less than $4,000,
a price sufficient to secure half dozen
of the best artists, or at least a dozen
lesser lights. Every man In the Thomas
orchestra is an artist, and he is employed
by the year, and has daily rehearsals.
The result is that he forms, with his
fellow artists, an ensemble so perfect
that it is comparable only to an exquisite
fabric from an Oriental loom, hand
wrought and color perfect, or to paint
ing from the brush of a great artist. The
Orchestral Association of Chicago is COM
posed of such men as Philo Otis, Bryan
Lathrop, George Adams, Marshall Field,
Philip Armour, the Pullman estate and
others equally well known, who pay $780,
600 year over and above the income OF
the orchestra, which is now very large,
in order that Chicago may have the glory
and pride of possessing and exploiting
such treasure. The great Auditorium,
which holds 5000 persons, is packed even
to the topmost gallery at nearly every
concert the concerts occurring every Fri
day afternoon and Saturday evening
throughout the long season. The manager
Of the orchestra, Miss Anna Millar,
young woman thirty years OF age, re-
ceives a salary of $4,000 a year, and has
given entire satisfaction for four years,
attending to the business of the associa-
ton both at home and abroad. No other
orchestra, save, perhaps, the Boston SYM
phony, can compare with the Chicago or
chestra, either as to the quality OF its
work, it's conductor or its management.
The holders of course tickets in the
Schubert club choral and orchestral Sc
ries of five concerts can hear these
eighty artists, with their world-famous
conductor, for a sum SO trivial that 1t
would hardly be missed even by the poor
est musical student Then, In addition,
this same course ticket holder will have
the unusual pleasure of hearing some OF
the greatest singers in the world, with or
chestral accompaniment Every one
knows that a grand opera singer especial
-ly dislikes to sing with plano accompan1-
ment, and the great artists are never at
their best without orchestra. Those VINO
heard Nordica when she last appeared in
st Paul remember the keen disappoint-
ment felt by many Of her ardent admir-
ers, who had been kindled to white heat
Of enthusiasm by her work In grand opera
and in concert with orchestra. Even in
the Sunday night concerts In New York
the Grau artists are always accompanied
by orcler.. e.eys<4 AIme Gadskfs manager
realizes the Importance Of an orchestra
so keenly that he makes large reduc-
ton in the price charged for Gadski if
she be furnished orchestral accompani-
ment. The DAM orchestra, under Mr.
Ober-Hoffer's direction, will be used by
the Schubert club at two, and, If the
funds warrant, at three of It's choral con-
certs. Nothing so elaborate and eXpen-
sive has ever before been planned in mu-
steal entertainment in st. Paul, and no
pains will be spared to make the series
one long to be remembered.
AS the treasurers report, recently pub
lisiled, shows, 1t cost The Schubert club
1901 in cash over and above its receipts
last season for its choral and orchestral
concerts, given In the Library series. This
money was taken directly from It's own
treasury and It's education fund. Such
public spirit and generosity, which seems
almost quixotic in these mercenary days,
ought to meet a hearty recognition from
the cultured CITIZENS of st. Paul, who can
not expect that any organization or In
dividual can afford such lavish expendi-
ture Indefinitely.
In but little more than fortnight
Nine. Schumann- Heink, the greatest con-
tralto Of this generation, will appear in
concert at the Peoples church. This
will be the contralto's first visit to Min
nesota. She will make the journey from
New York for the sole purpose of CIV
ing this concert.
Her recital will be the second event
in the artists series of concerts and will
be given on Wednesday evening, Nov. 8,
at the Peoples church. Last winter
Nine. Schumann-Hein made her first
visit to America, and her appearances
with the Grau Opera company were sue
cessions of triumphs. This singer is now
having a three years vacation from the
Berlin opera house, with which she is
connected. During all this time she is
under contract with Mr.. Grau who, be-
tween operate seasons. gives up her serv-
ices, so that she is enabled to appear in
limited number of concerts.
Miss Victoria 1Ioyt, who is managing
the artists series Of concerts to be ven