Evening star., 1901-02-02
M USlCAl M EN- tt 0 N
aow GRAND OPERA IN ENGLISH
MIGHT BE MADE TO PAY.
Evening Song Service mt Hnmiine
Church-Other Items of Local
Interest.


on. Some have SAID that it was the death
Of grand opera in English which is proba
bly, far from the truth. Mr.. Savage would
not say that for he gives grand opera in
English by his Castle Square companies
in st. Louis and Chicago. but he probably
would say that he was through with the
attempt to tour this country with big
company or large orchestra and principals
imported from Europe at large salaries;
That is a losing venture and ne mas louhu
II out.
1t IS unknown exactly how much active
participation MIR Grau had in the conduct
of the late Metropolitan Grand hnS'-sh
Opera Company, but from the statements
of those who were in the company 1t looks
rs if that astute impressario had roLed
his name up in tissue paper, tied II with a
blue ribbon and handed 1t to Mr.. Savage,
who paid the rent of the Metropolitan
Opera House in New York and then on
opening his nice little bundle found a gold
brick.
The only way that grand opera in English
can be made a profitable venture on the
road is to have good principals. VINO, be-
sides being good singers, must also be able
TO act. a good but not unnecessarily large
chorus and the nucleus of competent or
chestra- In fact, compact organization
which won't cost too much for railroad
fares Emma Abbott made grand opera in
English pay and so did Clara Louise kel-
logg. and there's no reason why it shouldn't
be made to pay now with the right KIND
of management. Zelie De Lussan, at the
head of good company, might proDaDiy
make grand opera in English pay. She
would have to get another soprano to alter
nate and sing those parts for which she Is
not adapted. but her name would be Il
tower of strength and her Carmen, Nedda.
Zerlina in Fra DIavolo" and other char
acters would be attractive to the public.
Mr.. Grau could no doubt handle and direct
a tour of such a company. for he has Il
knowledge of the artistic as well as the
commercial side of the venture. Mr.. Savage
with all his experience in the busi-
ness end of management has hardly the
knowledge of musical requirements to sue
cessfully pilot such venture. He has been
the pioneer in popular price opera and he
has made money in the different cities
where he has pitched his camp; but il has
been by close methods, low prices and by
remaining long in Il city, and not by
compact organization that could go over
the country and charge regular theater
prices.
Miss Ruth Martin. who is the vocal in
structOr in the Cathedral School, will give
song recital al the Washington Club the
18th instant, assisted by Tn .odore Bjork ten.
tenor, and Mrs. G. F. Shut, pianist. Miss
Martin has soprano voice of unusual
range and power. which has been carefully
cultivated. and Mr. Bjorksten is a singer
and teacher of well-known reputation Mrs.
Shut is fine pianist. who has gained high
praise for work in New York and other
cities. The recital will be under the patron
age Of some of the most prominent ladies
In society, and 1t will be a social as we'll as
musical event.
Mr.. Angelo c. Fronani will give a piano
recital at the Washington Club the last
of this month. Whenever Mr.. Fronani has
appeared in public he has been we'll re-
ceived. and in his coming recital he will not
only demonstrate his ability an execut-
ant and Interpreter of the works of the
masters. but will also appear a composer.
for he will play a suite of his own which
Is said by those who have heard fragments
of 1t 10 possess high merit
Enrico Bevignani. who is now acting as
conductor of Mime Sembrich's opera COM
pany, was more intimately associated with
Verdi than anybody else who has recently
Deen IN this country, according to the New
York Sun. He used to meet the composer
every year at Montecatini in July.
1t was Signor Bevignani who first intro-
ouced the composers Aida to London
when When the he singers a C9vent Garden We're
ltni and Graziani. He la,er conducted the
first performance of the opera in Moscow
when the leading roles were sung by Mines.
StoItz and Anna Louise Cary and NM Ma
sim and Cotogini Besides he was always
the conductor at st. Petersburg. Moscow,
and London when the Verdi operas formed
much more impor ant part of the rener-
toire than they do today
When they parted last summer al Milan
Verdi said 10 The conductor:
Farewell, my dear friend. We will meet
me- ~
one month ago the choir of Hamline NJ
II. thurch lnauSurated series of choral
services which are intended to occur month
ly during the Heason. The initial progra m
was sacred cantata by Gabriel THE
foiy one of Israel and it was well re-
ceived by an CGerfoWIng audience The
second of this series will occur tomorr,1y
night and the Program arranged by Mr.
william j. Palmer, the director promises
70 pe an excellent one The choir will rem
ger a number of selections of widely vary
ing character. including the kyrie from Mo-
Zart Twelfth Mass unfold We PortaIs
IRON H9unods 5 Redemption and the Clio
fy.t,y, III,
Among those who will be heard in snacfai
numbers are Miss Helen Rowe, Mr.. John
quincy and Mr.. Melville ID. Hensey, who
have kindly volunteered to assist the cho;r
on this occasion 'ii
AT a recent meeting of the board Of di
rectors of the Dvorak Musical Societv :,
va M"S asteed 10 increase the membership of
the board to fifteen persons. and thai of
the chorus to fifty Arrangements u.ra
aIso made to begin the regular rehearsaIs
LOT tnt pirates of Penzance'' by the So
clety the 12Lh instant.
Inc pupils OF Mr.. George Lawrence paye
en movable entertainment at the Nationaj
Rules Hali last Tuesday before an audi
ence that completely filed the hons 80,
New Year Reception the title Of "a
opera afforded an excellent opportunity for
tne diSpIay Oh the abilities of the various
PPnrIeipInts Pxrpa Ints,,,o Misses Mary Mackenzie
Miller and George Wright took care of
thelr difficult parts in "a creditab!e man
ner- Ihe following were also included In
rie
rousseau Pauline Marstella, Bessie Slater
ana Msssrs. Arthur Paige. Thomas Hen
1ren. T. L. Brock, Fred Austin and F. p.
LearS' The same performance will be given
IN the near future at the Soldiers Home
AT St Paul L. Z. Church, o3d street and
pennsylvania avenue. after evensong to-
morrow the organist, Mr.. W. P Atkinson
VIII render the following selections in
memory of Queen Victoria:
DEAD march In Saul. Handel funeral
march. chopin: funeral march, Beethoven.
march Funerehre ct Chant Seraphie, Gull
Hilnt' y. Rest in the Lord, Mendelssohn
me members of Rebew Orchestra sur
prised their leader. Mr.. II. W. Weber and
Mrs. Weber Wednesday evening the occa-
son being the eleventh anniversary of IT, cir
wedding Mr.. Howard Roderck, in a neat
speech, presented them with a beautiful
bouquet of roses as token of the high
esteem IN which they held by the mem
bcrS Of the orchestra. Games were played
and prizes awarded to the lucky winners
and after bcuntful supper the party dis
persed. Among those present were the Misses
Emma Rosenbaum. Matilda Chester Mabel
Raymond Henrietta Chester Florence
King. Edith Conrad Ida Weber. Mesdames
Henry Weber. sr.. W. A. King. E Persons.
nd