The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-27
LIVE TOPICS IBoUr Town.

LIVE JOPICN AbOOT
Unknown aspIrants to musical fame have
often com planned OF the difficulties which must
be overcome before they can get before the
public. Americans preparing abroad have
forud this trouble greater than II was ever sup
posed to be here. and those who are not willing
10 pay for debut there are al least content to
sing for nothing or for com penaation merely
nominal These conditions have been thought
hitherto part OF the system In Europe. where
every profession " more overcrowded than II
IA In this country and the task OF the beginner
moro severe The foreign situation seems
however. to be little different from what exists
now In New York. Unknown performers who
have acquired their skin here or ut the
hands NJ European teachers. find II near
ly as difficult to get hearing for the
frat tIme One instance OF this recently 90
CURED and rather fortunately for the pro-
fession Ia nv no means the experience always
to he encountered. In concert given under
.trnmentalist who T. presumably in her pro.
rTsss. 20 81 he 1ss
on the proern mme were not OF q character to
HEN her ambition, on account Of association
idea that leads 80 msny. beginners Into the
same error Others on tho proaramme with
privilege Of being there. and one rather
rn,hetic instance Ia that OF woman who ls
for the privilege ian appearance. The dim.
probable poor reward have been frequently
evidently No Influence. Neither would the eI-
rerience Of another performer do much toward
even after a long period Of preraration and
some reputation This n,snist wrote to
"a. "s sns ssd he g1S be nsTy to
msraRement answered that II would he very
glad 70 have him. offered IS for his services q.
his answer by return mail tha, his name might
he put on the programme
One OF the prisoners In a police court last
week was negro woman charged with muir
der. She had shot her rival for whom the man
she had lived with had deserted her. The
story Is concerned. IN every stage. with low life.
Few persons would be likely to sympathize
with any one OF the trio. The whole episode Is
abhorrent. Yet II 10 the triumphant theme on
which scores OF coon" songs have been based
all kinds OF theatres and has Included In tie
varying phases the locose wall OF the deserted
wTnch' tns threats r. 81 reyenss md tie
law, which have formed the stock IN trade o.
the men who wrote these couplets, Yet audit
enceS have laughed at them gleefully and kent
tha' lyle ri comic sone In vogue until Its last
days Of popularity are not vet in sight Some
so.caued negro music had touches Of the racial
humor OF their subject. But they did not last
~
ter which was soon selected for exploit and no
detail In such adventures that could SUPPLY the
excuse for a taking chorus and two or three
badly written verses has been neglected The
climax OF these songs has never been as tragic
as rh- occurrence the other day which ended
airsir is OF exactly the Kind that inspires The
song writer's.
Maurice GrAu's decision not N return to
Oh cago with the Metropolitan Opera House
Company unless sufficient sum IL guarantee
n him in advance will probably be final. The
performances given in Chicago this year
have been exceptionally brilliant. all OF tho
best artists have been there excepting ono
French tenor and the only changes In cast
have been owing TO what the Irishman called
Unavoidable sickness" The old tradition
that opera singers are caprlcious. given to fol-
lowing their own whms and wishes rather
than tho dictates OF common sense and good
judgment, is q hard one to demolsh
Any change In the programme Is COM
monty thought TO be due 10 the caprice
OF an artist. The excuse OF cold or other
Illness is looked upon as mere preteIt. As
matter OF fact. nothing pains singer mors
than the necessity Of giving up performance,
because In most eases tina, means the actual
loss OF the money they would have received. A
guaranteed to them, and when Sir. GraS
eas ss' '"s a senea sHs With the IDEA enc
q certain percentage o. them will be lost
Sometimes In the beginning o. the season tho
loss OF Appearances Ia not so mportant. As they
may ultimately lie made IN. but that does not
always happen. and no man or woman at the
able to sns The change Of ba or re ch %r s"s IN
control. and II II a tribute TO T. . c, m pletenrss
OF I'll. conf any. that the sickness Of one or
Chicago has this year heard such brilliant com
binatons rs Sembrich ami Calve one per-
asked In Chicago. and cols derablv less than
tie regular price here, roIu ar-prcs per-
iormances are also cheaper The charge that
merely Tor rehearsSIs viii not mold. as
tho singers are all presumably in better
will b. In Ave weeks. Rehearsals. moreover
while to take into account at the Metropolitan.
male 10 Chicago "The trouble seems u to he J."
wrote, Chicago manager. the other day to this
with the performances given by the cheap. pr CO
opera eom.antes; They satisfy the public Tor
Rf 81 h h hy Tss
M the performance given Tor three and half
times that sum. although the after, from every
times better than cheap priced performance.
In former years the patronage Of grand opera
the puhlc was more " ing to pay high price
/ tori II. But that was before every city had It's
Ep III 10 snss the public @
side OF New York with the greatness and i'm :
| politan Opera House Company. / read in a
! Western newspaper. during the tour OF the
/ company. an announcement that the principal
! week, VIII DO the visit OF the Maurice Cirau
Opera Company OF New York. and the appear
/ One incident evidently was look ed upon M quite
| a important aS the other aud the primR donna
/ ngnres along with the Leopard bov In the illus
tration' 1t Is from such dscouraRlng views as