The record-union., 1899-03-19

who wrote After the Ball is Over" is
the author Of Just Break the News to
Mother" which probably comes second
on the list of last years as a song of
the people. ssShe Was Bred in Old
Kentucky" is perhaps the best of the
three, and it will probably have
longer sale than either of the other
two. This song was written by Braist-
led and Carter A little. glance at the
songs will reveal the same fact that
makes popular and successful a play
the note which appeals to the great
throbbing heart of humanity.
=
Mascagni's greatest passion and de-
light is to conduct an orchestra, for
which he himself says he has a natural
talent. But what is more interesting
is to watch Mascagni composing his
works. His wife (Signora Lina), Mimi
(his eldest boy), Dino (another SOM, ana
Emilia (his little daughter) all have
their parts in it. When the maestro is
feverishly writing notes and rushing
to the piano to catch an inspiration,
his wife follows him to and fro; while
the children climb on his knees, he un-
CONSCIOUSLY IQlulllS5 IIS HlSGIS through
their curls. AS soon as he has fixed
on a melody he gathers the children in
his arms, and they all roll discriminate
ly on the floor, the shouts, bumps, laugh
ter, tears making such an uproar that
at last Signora Mascagni interferes-
scolding her husband, and telling him
that a grave musician should give a
better example to his family She bum
o1,;II I,
to his desk; but few minutes later the
scene repeats itself.
Musical America: Read this little
true anecdote, ponder over what it
means in the world of song, where one
singers fame is as gall to another. and
then feel proud to think that Lillian
Nordica is an American
In an interview, Frau Schunaann-
Heink, the marvellous eontralto who has
made: such a. pronounced hit this season
at the Metropolitan Opera-house, said:
'I was a poor and obscure member of
the company at Berlin when Mme,, Nor
dica was engaged to sing coloratura
roles there. One day she spoke kind
ly to me, complimented me on the qual-
ity of my voice, and urged me toElearn
1eoiiolh IL yOu hHCN yOdl 1OlCS III
Italian as we'll as German she said,
you could sing in England and Ameri-
Ca But what she proposed then
seemed ten thousand miles off. had
four children at the time q have eight
now, and between my duties at the
opera-house and my household I had
no time to study languages.
When Nine. Nordica departed from
CHI bof cl,o
forget me, and it may seem wondrous
strange to the people in America that
it was your American singer, Nine
Nordica, who made for me, a German
singer, the opportunity to sing at the
Bayreuth performances in 1896. To
that Bayreuth engagement and Nine.
Nordica I owe everything. Next Nine.
Nordica introduced ME to Mr.. Grau,
and four years contract followed
Nine. Nordica was my good fairy. She
is very good artist, indeed, and a sin
cere and noble woman. Frau Wagner
is very fond of her, and in musical cir
cles in Germany her art is as much ap-
precjated as it is in her own country
In these days of Wagner cycles it
takes courage indeed to air ones opin
icns, if they are not favorable to the
talented Germans music. Zelie de
Lussan said recently: "A soloist is in
constant combat with the orchestra,
and it is SO exhausting to sing the
score, and the acting is so artificial,
that am quite content to sing in
operas that suit me, and that are better
AGA pied to my temperament. l would
rather be pre-eminent in one Of my
roles than, for instance, be one of the
many who sing Brunnhilde, and who
never receive superior mention over
any of their associate Brunnhildes."
Miss de Lussan seems to have logic as
well as voice
London expects to have a spring sea-
son of opera to rival the one now being
enjoyed in New York. All the great
singers of Graus company will proba-
bly, be engaged there. Several novel
ties are slated for production, among
them Goldmark's Prisoner of War"
recently produced in Vienna. The lead
ing roles will be sung by Reichmann
and Renard
Miss Nellie Salome Thomas is Ros-
ton girl now in London pursuing her
SS-
ed a memorial fund in honor of Jenny
Lind, and decorated her grave with an
American flag. Miss Thomas is a mem
Der of the Massachusetts Daughters of
of the American Revolution
Camille int-Saens has spent part
of the winter in the Canary Islands,
writing music for a great tragedy,
which is to be produced in the Beziers
Arena in 1900
A Kansas girl was left a legacy o.
S5GO,O00 with which to cultivate her
voice We can imagine the anxiety of
the entire voval pedagogical fraternity
regarding the young lady's present ad-
dress. ~ =
Tamagno has just celebrated the
completion of twenty five years of act
i've service as tenor He is singing
this winter at Naples and is enjoying
all of his great popularity.
Evolution.
Jack-Now that Cuba, Porto Rico and
the Philippines are American territory,
will the Spaniards continue using the
Don before their names?
Gill-Oh, yes. But they will have to
use that title with due respect to the
Americans.
Jack-What do you mean?
Gill-Why, spell it with an "e."-
Town Topics.