The Washington times., 1902-03-30

| Today will mark an epoch in the mu-
| sical history of Washington. OF all the
| feasts celebrated in the churches. ire
spective of creed, Easter is the greatest.
and this year. more than ever, the season
| will be notable for the elaborate musical
programmes which have been prepared
| by the various choirs.
In many instances compositions which
have never been given in this country will
| have their initial rendition today, many
| of them with orchestral accompaniment.
There is hardly a singer of any promi-
nence who has not been specially engaged
| for the Easter services and everything
will be done to make the season joyous.
Information reached this city last week
| that Nine. Schumann- Heink, the noted
contralto, had lost her voice and was
compelled to cancel all engagements for
| the season. This will come as somewhat
of shock to the local admirers of the
prima donna and will undoubtedly prove
keen disappointment to those who had
anticipated hearing her at the Choral So
| ciety concert next month.
David Bispham, too, was recently
stricken with throat trouble, and has been
| ordered by his physician to take an in
definite rest This unfortunate state of
affairs should not te matter of sur
prise after all. for no matter how strong
healthy. and apparently reliable a voice
may be, it cannot be expected to do three
times the ordinary amount of work, and
that is Just what many vocalists demand.
In Nine. Schumann- -Heink's case it was
only a question of time, for IN addition
| to her work with the Metropolitan COM
pany in New York, she was continually
| filling engagements out Of town.. which
| necessitated long railroad journeys, loss
of rest. and many other Inconvenience
which few are atle to endure without ma
terial risk.
Nine. Heink and Bispham are not the
only prominent singers sacrificing their
voices in overworking them this season.
1t has been noticed that Nine. Lillian
Nordica has not been singing as well re-
Gently as she did in the early part of the
year, and for the same reason.
Others will experience the same results
If the greed for gain is permitted to out
weigh art. When one tries to combine
grand opera, concert. and oratorio work
and travel all over the country for the
purpose, it can mean only one thing-the
gradual decline of all three, for the SIM
pie reason that there will soon be few, If
any singers who are capable OF interpret
ing the music.
Through the efforts of Mr.. Percy Fos-
ter. Washingtonians will have the oppor-
tunity to hear three of the most renowned
artists in the world Tuesday afternoon,
when Josef Hofmann, Fritz Kreisler, and
Jean Gerardy give joint recital at the
Columbia Theatre.
1t has been the custom for many years
past for artists such as these three to
appear in single concerts, but the joint
appearance of three such well known
musicians is an unusual treat. They are
under the management of Henry Wolf
sohn. with whom Mr.. Foster completed
arrangements some time ago for their
Washington concert.
II would not be hard matter to relate
many interesting little anecdotes about
each OF the trio, inasmuch as each has
had a long and successful career in the
musical world of two continents. Ger
ardy, the 'cellist. is well known to be
true artist.
As a rule. 'cellists however attractive
in their work. make their 'celli rasp and
squeak to greater or less degree, but
Gerardy's Celebrations are as smooth and
significant as violinist can make them
on his smaller and more tractable instru-
ment Gerardys refinement includes the
smallest details.
Hofmann has appeared here before this
season, but will be welcomed back by
large portion Of the music-loving public.
AS is we'll known, Hofmann was a pupil
of Rubenstein, and relates many amusing
things OF the great master.
Rubenstein had all ungovernable tenn
per, and, indeed, on every occasion
brusque way of expressing himself 1t is
said that when Hoffman, concluded his
term of tuition with him, Rubenstein said
after the last lesson:
..There. I've told you everything. II
you don't know it now you may go to the
devil
OF KreisIer. the violinist his fame
reached America when he was fourteen
years old, and he made 4 tour OF this
country in conjunction with Moritz Rosen-
thai After that he retired TO private lie
and spent the subsequent years in study
with many Of the most famed teachers
of Europe The joint recital of these three
eminent artists will be a fitting close to
what has proved one of the most bril-
liant musical seasons in many years.
Prof. SALESMAN and William DeF'o-d
have begun rehearsals for the production
of Gilbert and Sulliyan's opera "Sor-
cerer." which will occus some tins late
in April This will be the fourth opera
which has been presented by the COM
bined classes of these teachers and all !
of them have been given with much credit
to both Tomorrow evening Prof. Salts
man and Mr. DeFord will give COM
plimentary musicale for their pupils at
Sheldons Dancing Academy.
Miss Elizabeth Waters. prominent So
Ioist of Baltimore, will assist the choir
of McKendree Church at both services
today.
Harry Wheaton Howard's latest compo-
sition. Christ Our Passover. figures con-
spicuously in the programme of Easter
music in the different churches.
Tonight at the Congregation Church,
Tenth and G Streets, there will be
musical service IAN Evening With :he
Choir" when Dudley Bucks sacred can
tata. Christ the Victor" will be given
by the Congregational Church choir OF
sixty voices and the regular quartette, !
including Mrs. Hattie Meads-Smith, So /
prano: Miss Edna Scott Smith. contralto; |
Mr.. Douglas G. Miller. tenor, and Mr.. /
Walter Humphrey, bass.