The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-30
MUSIC AND MUSICIANS.

MUSIC AND MUSICIANS.
A traveller In the musical purlieus OF
Europe in the recent summer tsrried for
some sacred moments in the halls OF the
villa Wahnfried at Bayreuth. There, OF
course, he saw and heard the imposing
Cosima, widow of Richard Wagner and
daughter Of Franz Lszt. To him she said
some things anent the "Parsifal' situation
In this country.
"My son, siegfried, and l." she declared,
ARE not cast down by the introduction
of the masters last work to the children
OF the new world. II appeared TO us to be
a sacred duty to try to prevent such per-
formanoes and we bent every energy to that
end. We simply attempted to do what
we believed to be according to the law
In the matter, to defend the legal rights
OF the great dead. When we found that
we could not prevent the performance Of
'Parsifal' in New York, we acquiesc ed
in the decisions Of the courts and we rest
content. We are glad to be told that the
production was worthy and dignifed. l
have no hard feelings at all toward Mr.
Conried'
She was then asked whether II was or
was not true that the curse OF Bayreuth
had been launched at the singers who took
part in the performance:
is concerned, said the great lady, there are
mitigating circumstances. He is young
man and he does not know much. His
repertoire is small there are not many
parts that he can sing. He must sing some
where, OF course, and why not IN New iork
where he gets so many excellent dollarsr
We are inclined to be lenient with him for
these reasons It may be that at some
future time when the memory OF his dis
grace Is softened, he may be permitted to
lift his voice again in the Festspielhaus'
we care not IL we never see them again"
Thus are two mighty spirits cast into
outer darkness where there Ia weeping
and wailing and crashing OF contracts.
A soprano was recently extensively adj
vertised az possessing a higher range Of
tones than any one else who had ever sung
on this mundane sphere. Her manager
never heard Of Ajugar, or he would have
included her in the list Of sopranos who
could not pipe as high as his linnet. This
soaring singer was to have appeared in
indisposed after two concerts in other
cities A member Of the orchestra which
played with her returned to this city and
was asked what was the trouble.
There was only one trouble he an
swered 'The lady did not have any high
notes at all. She sang only one, and that
belonged not in her part. but TO the flute. v
This reads as wen az the other stories
about the postponed concert.
Music lovers returning from Europe are
eloquent in their accounts Of the rejuvena-
ton OF Lilli Lehman. Lloyd Rand. one
OF the young singers Of the Metropolitan
Opera House. heard her sing In the Mozart
Festival at Salzburg. and he declares that
her voice is far and away better than II
was when she was last in this country.
In fact, according to all accounts, Nine;
Lehman is singing now as we'll as she did
ten years ago. And all this since she pub
lished book about How to Sing
Willy Hess the new concert master Of
the Boston Symphony Orchestra, will make
his debut here at the Thursday night con-
cert OF the organization. He has been
heard here before, however. but most
people will not remember the visit. He
was born on July IA, 1859. at Mannheim.
When he was years old he began to study
the violin with his father, and at the age
of 10 he gave concerts in Holland and after
ward in Belgium, France and Germany,
He was also in America, and in 1859 visited
Bost on as member Of Theodore Thomass
orchestra. In 1876 he went to Berlin TO
study with Joachim. In 1878 he was ap-.
pointed concert master Of the opera and OF
the Museumsgesellschaft orchestra at
Frankfort-on- the-Main. He remained in
Frankfort for eight years
In 1885 he was called to Rotterdam az
concert master, but after two years he was
called to Manchester, England. to take
the place Of Ludwig Strauss, who had
resigned his position as concertmaster OF
the orchestra led by Charles Halle. In
1895 he settled at Cologne as concert master
Of the Guerzenich concerts, leader of the
Gueraenich Quartet and professor Of the
violin at the conservatory. He was ap..
pointed professor Of the violin at the Royal
Academy OF Music, London. a year or so
ago, and resigned this position to come
to Boston az concert master Of the Boston
Symphony orchestra.
He played In this city in November,
1899, with the Thomas orchestra. His num-
bers were Leonard's Military Concerto
and Beethoven's Romance in F.
Alexander Lambert, who has sold out
his college OF music, is now enjoying the
comforts OF teaching in private. He has
some highly promising pupils. One OF
them, Elsa Breidt, shows uncommon talent.
She will probably be heard at one Of the
Sunday night concerts at the opera house.
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