The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-21
MUSICAL NOTES.


washington's musical season may now be
considered as being at its height. One or
chestral concert, two piano and song re-
citaIs and the annual presentations by the
Choral Society of THE Messiah" and the
first installment of the story is told The
continuation is not much more promising.
Absolute stagnation will be avoided, how
ever. thanks TO the enterprise OF the Dam
rosch Society. which will offer several in
terestlng programmes before the winter is
ended. The sad conclusion is forced upon
one that unsteady. the capital is nil.
Wherein lies the fault? Not with the man
ayers of players and singers. for many a
time and oft have they endeavored to pre-
sent their respective artists here and al
ways with the same results. The blame
rests entirely with the public. excepting of
course. that small but faithful band of mu-
sicians which can ever be counted upon 10
pstronize anything in that line. II Is rather
the persons who flock to the all-star casts
OF grand opera who are responsible for the
condition of affairs now existing here. To
them must be charged the responsibility OF
having made local musical attractions so
far apart.
This has been too amply demonstrated to
admit of any doubt. In years past. when
there has been an operatic performance
by world-renowed artist5-that is, about
six of them In one eveniug-the public has
opened its heart and purse, and the
shekeis have rainef in upon the delighted
manager Next night he has put on one
Of the masterpieces OF our time. such as
Verdi's ''Fallstafr.' and. forso0th. because
some of the singers were not so well known
as those of the preceding evening. a mea-
gerly gathering was in attendance. The
people are always reputation worshippers;
what care they for the opera itself. They
pay to hear, or. IL might be said see. for
half of them do not know good singing
when they hear Il. Men and women of
mighty names attract. and little difference
II makes to the patrons whether they sing
in tune or ort-the deities of song are be-
fore them, and that Is sufficient.
The same state OF things applies to cong
recitals and the like. The proyerbial cor
poral's guard looks like a legion compared
to the number which an entertainment of
this nature can muster. Any person who
does not believe this. would do well to en-
quire as to the amount Of money taken at
the Watkin-Mills' recitals. Fifty dollars
were the gross receipts for the two even
ings The engagement OF Clara Butt. the
English coutralto, over whom New York
and Boston went wild. was cancelled be-
cause the advance sale was OF such in
proportions that no manager in
his right mind would have allowed her to
appear. Then. last week the concert OF the
Baltimore symphony Orchestra was post
poned for the self-same reason. and, while
its proprietors are hopeful Of giving two
more performances, the outlook is not at
all propitious.
STILL the people cry for music. and when
they get an opportunity to hear what they
demand thew uasS IL hv unless IA said he
fore It happens to be fad. Rather de-
plorable record. The remedy. however. is
an easy one. Let tine people who are sup
posed to represent the brains and culture
Of our country evinee a Willingness to sup
port even in a fair measure, such attrac-
ions. and Washington should be second to
none In such matters.