The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-05-18
Music Notes.

One of the details Of the next season
of opera at the Metropolitan win be GER
tain to interest the New York public. Maui
rice Grau before sailing for Europe ar
ranged with Walter Damrosch for the
performance of his opea, "Cyrano de Ber-
gerac.
Mr.. Damrosch is now putting the fin
ishing touches on the orchestratio and
will next prepare the plano score to be
sent broad to the singers who are to take
part in the opera. It is highly probable
that David Bispham will sing the title
role. Beyond that arrangement nothing
has been settled.
Mr. Damrosch's opera will be the first
by an American composer ever produced
at the Metropolitan and the production
will be the first performance of an opera
ever given in English during the regular
season at the metropolitan since it was
built.
The orchestral 5situa ton in New York is
deplorable. About sixty orchestral con-
certs were given here last season, but
how many of them We're really salts
factory? asks the New York Post. The
Philharmonic Society elect it's conductor
for next season in about a week, and
it is not known whether Mr.. Paur will
retain his place or Mr.. Walter Damrosch
get it. It is said that overtures have
been made to certain American conduc-
tors There are three who could save
the Philharmonic-Theo Thomas, Vic
tor Herbert and Van der Stucken; but
none Of these could be persuaded to- leave
a profitable position for one worth less
than half as much Yes, it has come in
this, that New York. the second city in
the world, cannot afford to pay as much
for an orchestral conductor as Chicago,
Pittsburg and Cincinnati.
The Cincinnati Music Festival, which
took pla ce last week, was of unusual inn
portance and interest. 5Bach's mino:
mass, which was first given by the now
famous Bethlehem chorus, was the cen-
trail feature, thanked by Cesar Fra nck' 8
t"Beatitudes'' and Berliozs Requiem y
Ben Davies the eminent tenor, and An
drew Black, basso, both came from
England expressly to appear at this festi-
val The Chicago Orchestra furnished
the bulk of the instrumental force, and
Theodore Thomas conducted.
This is the season of the musical festi-
val and the smaller cities are having
their annual musical feasts that arouse
the local public to manifestations Of de-
light. The recent festival in st. Paul was
notable for an unusual event. says the
New York Sun.
Word was received after the audience
had gathered to hear 1.-The Creation" that
Electra Clifford, who was to sing the So
prano was i'll and could not appear. Mrs.
Theodore Van YORK. wife Of the tenor
and a concert singer who has just be-
gun her career was in the audience. She
was called to the platform, and. although
she had not seen the score Of -4le5 Mes
siah'' since she studied it six years be-
fore, she sang the music with great sue
cess and was applauded with great en-.
thusiasnl by an audience of more than
1000 persons.
Louise Homer and Charlotte Maconda
were the soloists at the Kansas City Fes-
tival which has just come to an end.
Richard Burnleister, the distinguished
piano virtuoso, leaves the Goth Of May on
the Kaiser Wilhelm der Crosse for#Ger-s
many. He will go directly to NVeimar a nd
attend the celebrations of the unveiling
of the List Monument, for wnicn an in
vitation was sent to Mr.. Burmeister by
the Grand Duke of Saxe-W eimar through
the Director Of the Weimar Court Thea
tire, Herr Won Virgnau. Mr.. Burme1ster
will spend three months June, July and
sAugust-in one Of the suburbs $ofsDres-
den and give there instruction to q lin
tied number of profe ssionals.
William Lawn, who has been singing
In England and Scotland with Adelinas
Patti, Clara Butt, Santley and others
has returred IN New = orlx Z for a few