The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-04-03
AT THE THEATERS.
METROPOLITAN.

METROPOLITAN.
So many infant prodigies of the musical
world disappear completely when that
elastic Infant period" is finally passed
one is almost compelled to believe that
1t Is especially the gifted who die young
1t is pleasant to realize that one in
FAINT prodigy, at least, has developed
into sincere and well hammered artist
who does not do his hair and whose
bow is not an achievement Josef Hor-
man, the pianist, who gave a recital
yesterday afternoon at the Metropolitan
theater, showed by his work and his
manner that he has reached mans es-
tate and that he is entitled to claim the
serious consideration which the dignity
of that estate merits. The not large but
sincerely appreciative audience was glad
to accord him that consideration yester-
day. He impressed and delighted his
hearers If he did not move them.
MI Hoffman, is not an emotional play
er. He wins admiration by his master
iy technique, by an exquisite shading of
tones observable throughout his work,
and by the fine little touches that are
individual in way but that all true
artists give. There are times in his
playing when one is almost sure the
pianist lacks SOUL A certain hard bril-
liancy noticeable in passages where one
looks for warmth repels rather than at
tracts. But the things he is capable of
doing with those supple fingers of his
makes his audience forget any lack and
marvel only at his skill Liszt's dynamic
'Gnomen Reigen,' gave him plenty Of
opportunity for displaying his superb
technique, and when he -had finished
playing 1t he was recalled again and
again. But Mr. Hofmann is chary of
his encores. In fact he apparently
eschews them altogether. There are
many who will not criticise him for that
In the Beethoven sonata the pianist
showed that he has delicate fancy If
he hasn't the flame of genius and
that fancy inspired him to paint some
exceedingly pleasing pictures with bold
outlines and a niceness of detail that
such outlines do not always lead one
to expect A composition of his own,
Variations, was listened to with in
terest.
Anna Held will close her brief but
brilliant engagement at the Metropolitan
opera. house with two performance to-
day, special matinee this afternoon and
farewell performance tonight. Miss
Held,s visit to this city has been big
success from every point of view
BOSTON LYRICS RETURN.
Collamarini, Russo, Alessandroni and
the Boston Lyric Opera company will
begin a return engagement at the Met
ropolitan opera house tomorrow night.
presenting III Trovatore," in which they
scored their greatest success during the
previous engagement in this city. This
opera will be repeated at the Saturday
matinee, and Carmen will be the bill
for Friday evening. The engagement will
close with THE Fencing Master" Sat
urday night.
THE u S MARINE BAND
Small orchestras make enjoyable music
but the great symphony orchestras of
seventy men or more are revelations
away beyond and the real projections of
orchestral music. This same difference is
found alike in military bands. The presi-
dent and the other officials have decided
to spare the reorganized U. S. Marine
band of seventy-four men from the
| White house to go out among the people
! of few of the music-loving cities not
only to show what a great band it is
| but to satisfy them that the large in
crease in the cost of the national band is
fully justified by the results. Congress
! passed a special act in March 1899, which
| greatly increased the size and pay Of
! the band, and made the leader, William
| H. Santelman, a first lieutenant. The
band will visit ST. Paul on Easter Sun
| day and will give two concerts at the
Metropolitan opera house.
LESLIE CARTER IN GAIA"
Mrs. Leslie Carter will devote only the
! present to Zaza," and the only oppor-
tunities this city will have of seeing
| her in the part will be offered at the
! Metropolitan theater next week. As the
| heroine of David Belasco's play, she has
! won the greatest triumph known to the
American stage in many years. The orig
| inal cast, scenery and effects as seen
| in New York and London will be brought
unchanged. The evening curtain will rise
| at o'clock sharp. The engagement is for
| three nights, Monday, Tuesday and We'd
| nesday.
| GRAND.
| Lovers of comedy are finding pleas
| urable entertainment in the engage
! ment the current week at the Grand
opera house of Because She Loved Him
So,' farce adapted from the French
by William Gillette. Today at 2:3O the
| first matinee of the engagement occurs.
The latest novelty in the theatrical
line, ''The Royal Lilliputians." will be
the attraction at the Grand the coming
week.
! STAR
| The double bill at the Star theater,
made UP of the ''Tamrnany Tigers and
| the New York Stars" company. will be
| found one Of the best burlesque and spe-
cialty entertainments that has come to
| this theater during the season. Every
thing bears the stamp of vigorous man
agement the young women are all of
striking appearance, the SkitS are well
writer, and everybody in the company
! provides something that is really anus
ing or interesting.