The age-herald., 1901-10-20
Paderewski Writing Opera


 Imagine Paderewsld in the orches- : tra conducting the opera and Calve " singing in the role of a passionate : woman trying with all the wiles of . Circe to keep the man she loves !" from another woman. Unless all : plans miscarry this sight you will : see next February in New York, for " Paderewskfs own opera of 'Manru Is going to be given at the Metropol- itan Opera House, and Paderewsk whose opera turns upon the impas- stoned love of two gypsies, is desir- ous to have Calve sing the part of his heroine to the American public . When Paderewsld's opera was pre- : sented last spring in Dresden there " were fifty-two recalls in all. This . first performance will rank as a . memorable one in the history of : music. Rarely has an event in the : world of music caused as much in- 5 : terest With Calve singing and Pad : erewsh leading "Manru'' will be the ' great sensation of the American op- : era season. ia
 It is a trite fact, and yet ffreefuently' an unappreciated one. that the most suc- cessful people meet with the greatest dis courasements when they attempt to achieve recognition along any other line than the one in which they have gained popularity.
 Rubinstein. the great pianist, had one consuming desire-a desire which he never fulfilled-to be a great composer. In his latter years he said bitterly he had sacrificed his life to give people pleasure by his playing, and that as they refused to listen to his compositions they should no longer hear him. If a man had been eminently successful in one line, anything that he may undertake, no matter in what direction, commands immediate at tention; but on the other hand the dan gerous element of curiosity enters largely into that attention and more is demanded of him because of the position he has already made for himself.
 There is small doubt that Paderewsh weighed the situation and the chances of his success as writer for the stage before he undertook to compose an op- era for he Is a level-headed man.. Mime. Carreno once said that he was a greater manager even than he was a pianist, and told him that she hoped when he re- tired from the concert platform that he would manage her.
 But tact and talent for management are more useful to a composer after his opera is written than in the writing of It.
 For PaderewslSi to undertake an opera was for him to challenge contrast with his performances as the most popular or pianists. The first presentation of his opera, 'Manru." at Dresden, would seem to indicate success. The popularity of the composer has brought offers for the presentation of the work at the principal opera houses of Europe and also in Amer lea. The discouragements with which Paderewsk meet with before its comple- ton' and the tremendous perseverance re- quired to overcome them, demanded of him, 1t would seem, as great a talent for courage as the one he had already dis played as pianist. For years para graphs have been floating the rounds of the press about an opera on which Pad erewsh was engaged. The date of pro- duction was variously announced, only to be denied, and the skeptic were not wanting who set 1t down in the list of things never to be.
 The unique place which Paderewski holds and the celerity with which his doings get into print, doubtless brought the opera to notice before it was fairly begun, misfortune to which the run of composers are not subjected Announce ments Of It's completion and statements that work on 1t was indefinitely post poned followed each other so regularly that Paderewskis opera grew to be looked upon in. way as the shirt which Becky Sharp described as making for lit tie Rawdon and which he outgrew before It's completion. Paderewski was working ahead under a series of conditions more discouraging than any he had faced as a pianist.
 The entire opera of '.Manru'' had to be rewritten after its original completion, and the last act had to be rewritten three different times before it was accepted for performance.
 The prodigious amount of preparatory practising for a series of concerts and the subsequent fatigue of constant study and long journeys, lasting sometimes for many months. generally left him exhaust ed. But after a short rest he would be- gin again on 'Manru."
 So the years went by, and at last the opera was completed. Yet the worst, from standpoint of discouragement, was to follow. This and that was object ed to. The opera still did not play well. Finally, after many consultations and much adverse comment. there was noth- ing left to do but to begin all over again;