The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-01-21
MUSIC AND MUSICIANS.

BE- very much surprised 10 learn tna' MS
"A Basso Porto" Is " be sung THIS week III
New York. The Castle Square Opera Tom
pany has already produced the opera at 81 LOUIS
and Il Is said " have me, With the rpproVai OF
the Missouri metropolis, which dd not care mu'h
for tho performances given 'her, IN NOVEMBER
By the Maunos Grau Opera company ~ II
true that nOns Of the younger Italian composers
was represented in the repertoire ~ Ws or
uapiznuon now at tho Metropolitan. The cal
gsncies Of the repertoire for an Englsh-speHk
Ing opera company have fortunately led !" ms
psrformancs ere Of some works which wonlh
o,bsrwi.s have remained unknown 10 New iofH
for som. years II not forever fhcclhls Ia
Bohsme" reached New York first In this way
and now comes AZ the Lower Hhrbor' one OF
the most successful specimens OF the muscai
ysoybtde.d that has rome from young imiy'
The lower harbor Is the quarter oil Naples oc'
eupted by the citizens most likely W iuf''Sh
themes N I . tast, Of the latest school oil Italian
musicians and librrttists The lIbret,o by En
gcnio Cheschi tells the story OF a wife who' DC
sorted for another woman q few hours aft'r mar
rage, denounces her rival a. a spy and mas her
nut into prison Then she maries another man,
lives a. q happy wife and mother unti years
after, when the first husband sets out u revenge
himnslf. lie returns and makes a ielon OF the
son, then attempts to dsbnuch tho daughter
Ignorant Of her real relation " the man. the girl
mistakes for jealousy her mothers attmpt "
save her The mother has tho father arrested
A. q SOY AMI Il Is only after revealing his identity
10 her daughter that she is able % save her This
story Is typical OF many that have inspired the
younger composers In Italy. although there are
already notable indications OF a rebellion against
his school, which was seen at its best or worst
In Samara, who In his opera. III Martie, al
lowed the heroine g. commit suicide, ny inhal-
ing the fumes Of a charcoal stove while The or,
,hestra played In subdued tones 4 slighNy changed
version of the fire music from Die Nalknere
Already there has been u revolt AGAINST the blood
that began n How In "tayallera uStcana
and poured for several years through the works
Of the young Italian composers Nicolo Spi.
nelii belongs to that period. He is the son OF
a Government official and was born al Turin
In 1895 He studied at Naples under Prof Ferra
His first opera, "Cabrlia, Opposed IN 1850.
won the second prize when IN lSeu the first went
10 Pietro Mascagni for his famous one act opera
"Cabnlin," along with the others IN That com
petition, wa, aitrrward sung IA kome. Cod
iredo Cognett's "Scencs from NeapOlitan Life
seemed N Splnelll at this Tune u contain ma
tertal for an operate, h6retlo and Sis theechl
prepared IL for hIm In 1890 tue work was sung
iirst by an Italian company IL MAS soon after
ward translated into German and produced on
q number Of the operauc stages OF EUROPE he
tfUkl1 IL mas uIbDIfl "a VI NhkhS " ~ n w
incidence that Selma lkIonold and / amy Moran
Olden. tho two women associated chiefly with
the success OF the work IN ~Iernany are now
in this 0ty Miss kronold will be heard in the
performance tomorrow night al the American
I.eatrs.
Few weeks Of the, musical season pass without
the Introduction Of new pianist. Two Sero
heard on Tuesday afternoon, and Ludwig Bret
nor played for ths first time on Wednesday after
noon. II need only he'added 10 what has already
been said Of NJ. BreItuer that he failed 10 he com
PEELED 10 give an encon. That used 10 be more
difficult in New York than it has heen lately.
The culiness Of musical audiences this winter has
been general. and in NJ. Breitner's case, that
attitude must be accepted az the explanation Of
his rather unusual ex perience. There were various
other causes assigned for il by the knowing on
Wednesday afternoon. but they were too much in
the nature Of unfOunde1 gossip 20 receive serious
attention On Tuesday afternoon Marie Potvin
was heari in recital nj tho Waldorf, and revealed
little besides n certain digitAl facility, which Is
a valuable foundation for further progress in her
art II cannot ne belle we'd that she asks the pub
ic N accept her now a. a fll fedged pianist.
and she doubtless intends 10 devote some years
more 10 acquiring the technical and interpretative
powers 81 which she now stands 81 much in need.
Ethel Ncwoomhe played On the same evening at
Mendelssohn Hall and selected a programme
designed To show 10 the best advantage what
she had learned from her teacher. tho famous
Lechetitsky. Her performance showed the be-
ginner in public appearance and she was not to he
accepted rs a pianist attempting now TO take
final rank among the pianIs's before the public
She revealed many qualities. however, that prom
iss ultimate cminence in her profession. Her
tone is good, she plays with taste and her sense
Of rhythm Is adequate. Her technical equipment
Is adequate, even at present, and her futurc,place
among her colleagues must depend in a large
measure on the estimate she makes of her powers
to-day. Tuesday was IN a measure devoted 10
budding talent, and the evening brought forth
a new composer and conductor in Young Henry
Hailey, 1t was not in his favor that he elected
u appear in \ fashionable ballroom under the
Inevitable patronage" rather than in an atmos-
phfrs mora suited ~ the serious 90 lSideraiIon
Of a young man who gives every evidence Of a
desire IN he Judged On his merits. But possibly
hs could never have given the concert
without this social assistance and eNampl, set by
musicians ut note Is not clifyIng FIR lha hcrinnarS
Two motel sing ~ ar" about 10 give a recital 70
gcthcr and \ hurS" - house canvass To sell the
seats and hnNes has h'rn undertaken By a music
teacher On th"lr behalf As neither is IN object
Of charity. this m"th"d ot getting an audience
seems uudisnilirl enough. II ~ common among
the lcsS known singers IN Europe, hut the greater
ones scorn It rs the prIncipal object with th.
singer is alWh's Q. 'r"" III" audience, It pussiNlv
makes no great difference how the raSult iS acr IN
plishaI. Mr. 'iHdl"v Ind IN even more DIS
coutaSing e,ompl" Before his eyes Last winter
a musician who nal hNer known for years here
came forward with II uam'or II compositions
supposed to r"lr',r0' the fruit - a years work.
He dil not reveal them IN n music hen under cir
cumSt,nc"S NAT usually SUR md musical Per
.,u,a 1LAN par. .lA.Hl 80, d, "a -