The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-04-12

This will be a great opportunity for
people who are musically inclined
Mr.. Damroseh and his Metropolitan
opera house orchestra of so pieces is
attraction enough without the extra
inducement of ''ParsifaI' and the So
loists. This Wagnerian masterpiece
was the greatest kind of a success in
New York. 1t was brought from Bay
reuth, where it had been given for
years, and presented for the first
time in the United States. The sue
cess was instantaneous. and Par
sifaI'' became the rage
A few years ago an unaccountable
wave of ''Trilby' spread over the
land, and the entire population was
immersed in the atmosphere of the
Latin quarter Books, plays music,
entertainments Of all kinds, profess
siOnal and amateur, centered around
Du Maurier's herOnie. Then 'HErilby''
passed and was forgotten and was
succeeded by Ben Hur-" General
Wallace's Dfods romance was read by
hundreds e. thousands who had never
read it before, and the play which
was founded upon it, with its skillful
combination of the religious spectacle
and the circus. proved an irresistible
attraction to those to whom the the
ater had remained unknown
Just now "Parsifal' occupies the
place lately held by Ben Hur.' 1t has
caught the popular attention; it is
read of and talked of and written
about at length in magazines and
newspapers; it has been performed in
great splendor in New York and every
pianola is playing excerpts from the
music. The Procession of the Knights
of the Grail has become as familiar as
the Wedding March" from ''Lohen-
grim or ~HiaWatha."
Mr.. DamrOsch is one of the best
known conductors. Among musicia rs
the name of Damrosch means every
thing. To those not so musical he is
known as the SOn-in-law of James g.
DTr.gr l.
and explanations of 'ParsifaI' are one
of the most pleasing features of the
entertainment. Mrs. George W. Park
hurst attended the Damrosch lecture
in New York and the admission to rhe
lecture, without the orchestra OF 50
pieces and the ten sOlOistS, was equal
the highest prices for the coming con-
cert in Topeka At St. Louis Sunday
the Odeon was crowded for the Par
sifal'' concert by the Damrosch com
pany
The scale Of prices for the Topeka
concert is so arranged that all may be
suited. Everyone who has attended
musical entertainments at the Audi
torium knows that every seat is a good
seat. There viii be 700 seats at 81, 800
seats at $1.50, 600 seats at 81, 700 seats
at rs cents and ZOO seats at so cents.
The seats are on sale at Stansfield's 8
drug store.
So far the sale of seats amounts to
500. To bring this attraction to the
WAS
given. 1t will be unfortunate for To-
peka. with a reputation and claims as
a musical center, not to furnish an
audience which Will meet the expenses.
This is the first entertainment ar
ranged for the benefit of the pipe or
gan fund. The people should see that
the concert is a success. from the
point of attendance, as the profits go
back to the people in the form of a
fund to pay for the organ.
The DamTOsch company comes from Des
Moinss to Topeka. then goes to Kansas
City and then to Wichita "Parsifal' is
the rage everywhere. even in Wichita,
and Wichita is trying to eclipse Topeka
by giving the largest audience which Will
assemble in Kansas for the concert
Mrs Frank II. Foster. one Of the best
known of the Topeka musicians. in speak
4 ing of the coming concert, said
Il hope the people of Topeka fully ap-
preciate the splendid opportunity that VIII
be at their door in the production Of Par
sifaT at the Auditorium 1t is the master
piece of the greatest musical composer
should chance to be visiting in New York
and should find II possible to hear this
production by the celebrated artists WhC
| appear here, we should consider ourselves
! fortunate to be able to do so at cost
reach for from SOC to $z. according 70 tht
seats we select All know, who have
heard entertainments of this character n
/ our Auditorium, that there IS really nttit
difference in the relative desirability Of
the seats There are three good reasons
why people not especially interested ir
4 grand operas would find it a delightful
\ privilege to hear 'Farsifal-' any one OF
Il which. If appreciated. would cause a rer-
son TO regret it If they missed it. First
/ It affords an opportunity to know thai
/ one has heard the greatest master piece
/ of the greatest master second. the oppor
tunity TO hear the finest orchestra in ~
/ country led by a man who has no sU
/ perior in this country; third, the purDos'
! for which the proceeds Of the entertain
ment are to be devoted should appeal q
/ the civic pride of all our citizens and b.
| a pleasure to assist in installing in rh'
best Auditorium in the state the best or
gan in the west