The record-union., 1899-12-31

Widens and deepens and increases In
velocity lights multiply, the volume Of
vocal sound swells forth, the dazzle and
glitter of dressings bewilders and the
sumptuousness Of scenic naturalness
amazes.
While Chicago, with a population of
100000, did not care to support q
grand opera company for three weeks.
Frankfort on the Main, with less than
100000, had 319 performances OF
operas from November l, 1893. to the
same date this year. Seven of the
operas given were entirely new and
eight were revivals.
The life of poor Berlioz was made
wretched by the fact that he could not
get his operas performed in Paris, and
when Napoleon ordered that Wagner e
'.Tannhauser" should be mounted be-
fore Berlioz had had a hearing, the
French composer became as furious as
q wounded grizzly. His despair would
not have been lessened could he have
known that thirty years would elapse
after his death before the grand opera
would condescend to produce his Cap
trre of Troy" and that when the same
French public which went into costa
cies over Wagner's Tristan and Isolde
would damn his opera with faint ap-
plause. The trouble with Berlioz was
that he was not born dramatic COM
poser, and that, instead of learning
from Wagner Gas Wagner learned from
him in some details of orchestration)
he antagonized him and went back to
the simplicity of Gluck. To cap the
climax, Berlioz chose subject which
was dear to the ancient Romans. but
does not interest modern Parisians.
Scenically, the performance of 1.-The
Capture of Troy" is said to be fine. even
the episode of the large wooden horse
being managed in such a way as not
to excite the laughter of the Parisians.
But judging by the scant applause,
Father Aeneas'' will not long attract
the attention of the French music low
ers.
Hungary has just lost one of her most
prominent composers, DR.. Ivan Gl,eiz-
niger whose name, however, is rot well
known elsewhere az the number of his
works might lead one to suspect. There
are no fewer than 100 songs, I61 tran
scriptions for violin, two masses, three
quartets, and a great deal of dance mu-
sic similar in character to that Of De-
libes.
Goldmark is again at work on an
opera, his subject being "Goetz Won
Berlichingen. The Iibretta has been
prepared by Wilmer after Goethes
drama.
Father Perosi has finished his ora
torio 1.-THE Massacre of the Innocents.' u
The first part deals with the Wise Men
from the East and the second with The
fight from Egypt and the massacre. He
has now started his seventh oratorio
tThe Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem"
A further indication of the friendly
relations between France and Gerrna ny
is the production at the Opera Conf
que of Humperdinck's "Hanse1 and
Gretel."
Essipoff has resigned her professor
ship at the st. Petersburg Conservato tory
and will give private lessons in that
city.
The body of Johann Strauss was NOV
ed October 9Th to the grave given by
Vienna near that of Brahms.
The. twentieth anniversary Of the
death of Peter Cornelius was comnem-
.. GRATED at Mayence on October 18th
Cornelius was not only the composer
of the comic opera Der Barber Won
Bagdad," but he was the author OF
some charming lyrical poetry. On be.
half OF the municipality. a beautiful
wreath was placed on the monument
erected over the grave, bearing the in.
scription, ITO the Meister Cornelius
from his native city,"