The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-02-16
MUSIC AND MUSICIANS.

1t is a familiar fact that new operas
rarely draw in this city one large audience.
-Manru" has tho contrary to its credit,
for the Metropolitan never held a larger
audience than gathered there on Friday
might.
When the opera is sung in Philadelphia
on Tuesday, tho story will be the same.
Already the Academy Of Music is sold out
for the single performance Of Paderewski's
opera 20 he given there.
On Thursday the real test Of the works
impression on the public will be made.
The performance to be given then will
not nave the support Of the subscribers.
II ia outside the subscription that on every
other opera night occupies two-thirds
Of the house.
Every seat Will he offered TO the public.
Tie outcome will be interesting Novel;
ties az the Metropolitan have sometimes
drawn one good audience. but not Of the
overwhelming kind that was there or
Friday. Ifthat same experience is repeated
on Thursday. -Manru" will have accom-
& plished wonders.
The force of the composers personality
Is. of course. 10 he taken into consideration.
The immense interest attaching to every
thing that lgnace Paderewski does had its
: influence in collecting the audience that
7 1tl W III U pen u AdllN vi Ait OlNlo
\ here.
No other personality in the musical
world is 50 potent with the public to-day:
Previous operate novelties never had
this fortuitous aid to success. II IA not TO
I he minated that the fate Of other recent
! predecessors Of ire new Polish opet would
have been different If their ctl posers
had been better known
Their artistic value would have remained
as great er as small. The personal popu-
larft, Of InpoCe paiprpMSki with Tho
American public has nothing to do with
the worth Of his music. But il goes 70
explain the crowded audiences that have
listened To II.
Nine. Sembrich is not going TO make
any change in future plans because Of
UIdnd.
Il am not going to sing Isolde or Brunn-
hale," she said al the final rehearsal on
Wednesday. "or even Sieaiindo. | shall
take up roles no more dramatic than those
! have been singing. merely because the
heroine of 'Manru' wac q little out Of my
usual line.
Il am singing that part because VI Pader-
ewski especially wanted me TO and because
] was Clad 20 do it. These we're sufficient
reasons for my undertaking the role AID
! am happy that | did it.
with the exception of two other operas
rarely sung outside Of The Polish cities
have never before appeared in an opera
b. n Polish composer. have never before
done that outridc Of Warsaw. The most
| could ever ito here vas TO nut th" songs
Of Polish composers on my recital pro-
: grammcs.
$50 | wa. delighted 10 take nart in the
performance of an opera by a Polish COM
poser that was certain 10 he such a credit
TO everybody concerned ia II, But ] shall
- 49, f, Il n KILL 10. D..,V. .HNf AH
SATURDAY"
Robert Rlsss. who sings the role Of the
gypsy fiddler in the opera, nigh well
have PLAYED tho solo that il now performed
IN the ytngs bv. Nathan F'7Tko. Mr.
Blass stud'-d the violin for morc than three
years ~ tho Conservatory Of Lcipsic.
Il was NJ the ord Of that period that he
discovered his voioe ard decided 10 loo n
singer. He thought that the experience
~ > now role in n now opera was enough
bonded the solo over n Mr.. F~arko, as has
heen done at all previous performances Of
tho opera.
Jan Kubalik was oneof'he compara,iyely
largo audiences that gathered 10 hear tho
opera nj tho hnsl rehearsal. He was not
disposed to think that he would ever write
On opera
Il expect TO conoose,- he sold, .but 7
am quite certain that the operate form will
never appeal 20 me. In the first place the
labor il onormou., and after that comes
the question Of having the work performed
in the way the composer wants it-indeed.
Of Fettin~ II SUM ~ oil.
'And the CHI noes 81 success IRE so .ligh,
after sll-of enduring success, I meTn.
After the composer has given himself UP
absolutely 20 his work, he sees II CO ~ aside
after q few performances. Tho labor OF
years, the end Of I'll HE hopes and ambitions.
is treated in this WY unless IL a~ccomplisbes
the woll-nigh impossible thing and makes
a success.
But how many operas find enduring
success nowadays? No. ! am quite sure i
shall never be moved 10 compose an operas
Jan kubelik goes again TO the West this
week and WI trayel as far ms Kansas City.