Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1900-04-01
METROPOLITAN MUSIC.

| NEW YORK, March 30.--The accidental
blow struck by Signor Escamillo Scott in
| Carmen the other evening was one that
| was not to be mach wondered at. consid-
| ering the very ruthless way in which Nine.
| Calve changes her representation Of the
heroine nearly every time she essays the
| part. 1t SO happened that her impetuoSity
carried Carmen a trtde too near her
| lovers. Escamillo's arm few backwards
and hit his sweetheart a terrific blow that
| knocked her senseless. True, she was not
| in her best strength-but still at her
/ best" she is not over strong these days,
| and 1t was a cruel blow that felled her.
| But, plucky little woman that she is, she
| insisted upon finishing the opera, and did
so with tremendous spirit.
| She Is great character study-this
Calve-impulsive, wayward, headstrong,
| passionete-but oh! how truly artistic in
| all that she attempts, and what she at
| temps she accomplishes. I have never
| been stirred by her portrayal of her favor
| lite character, Carmen, as have most peo-
| pie. But 1 have been electrified by the
| manner in which she has invested many of
her other roles with her intense individ-
tlality. Her Ophelia Is wonderful; her
| Marguerite, a dramatic poem OF great
beauty; her Santuyza, wild cry of ma
| ture, and her picture Of the tragic little
| heroine in la Navarraisi" is as powerful
and as truthful a bit of character sketch
| ing as we are often privileged to see in
| this life No, her Carmen never reaches
! these heights, and, yet 1t is to Carmen that
| she owes nine-tenths of her American
| reputation, and nine-tenths Of her Ameri-
| can dollars.
| A most welcome addition to the serious
! musical events of the season was Caesar
| Franck's oratorio. Les Beatihides,"
which was given it's first American hearing
| on Sunday evening last, and we owe a
| debt of gratitude to the Lieder-kranz So
| ciety and to its conductor, DR.. Paul kleri-
| gel, for giving us the pleasure OF listening
! to so complete and satisfactory perform
ance of this novelty. There are parts that
are strikingly reminiscent of the setting of
| the same words by I4iszt IN his 'Christus."
| Where List pictures the Star of Bethle-
| hem by a sustained E in the violins, the
| French composer presents us a true SYM
| bolism of peace in the Christ motive. And,
very graphic and telling it all is-this Their
matte figure painting. Ard the daring
Mons. Franck has stopped at nothing in
his desire for effects. II takes the pres
ence Of Satan himself to befoul the musl-
| cal waters and his antithesis is more
other than the Christ. Very beautiful is
the quintet music and hardly less so are
the more massive numbers given to the
chorus, while the orchestral background
lends appropriate color to the various
| scenes depicted without being obtrusive or
noisy. 1t is a strong work throughout
d.
~
The first of the two Marteau De Pach-
mann recitals was given on Tuesday after
noon in Mendelssohn Hall. Either of these
capable artists is enough for any ordinary
recital and the two together presented a
programme of rare merit. Unusual is
probably the best word to describe the
Martinez, for rare indeed is the oppor
| tunity offered Of hearing two such artists
in SO happy combination. Mozarts
sonata (E fiat major) was caressed with
loving fingers, and Beethoven's larger
broader work Opus 4O was treated in the
most thoroughly musicianly manner. OF
course, their groups of so1os were made
doubly interesting by the contrasting
powers and limitations of the two instru-
ments and the joint work of the artists
was at times as satisfying as that of
Sarasate and Nine. Bertha Marx, when
they were in this country few years ago;
and this is high praise, for Sarasate and
his friend had played together so much
that it seemed as IL the two were ami
mated by one soul, one motive power.
There were no waits, one for the other,
even of in1initesimal length so common
among two performers Of equal Importance
(for when playing with Sarasate Nine
both were compelled by the same force,
at the same instant, and, in the same de-
gree, and this feeling of joint support was
so convincingly conveyed to their listeners
that a feeling of perfect contentment
gradually came over them, and they sur
rendered themselves to the complete en-
| joyment Of what is ordinarily but a
scholarly and not a sensuods treat. And
So the other day, there were moments
| when it seemed as If no two similar in
| struments could be more deliciously in
accord in spirit and execution.
The irrepresSble Sousa comes to US on
| Sunday next for another of his popular
| and pleasing performances. 1 use the
word performances" advisedly for no
| other conductor ever had or ever could
| have the same remarkable manner of
| conducting. Sousa has been q boon to his
day and generation. but it will never be
! necessary to take him seriously on that ac-
count His band plays excellently well,
1 his programmes are mada up Of pieces