The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-01-24
GOSSIP OF MUSICIANS
AND MUSICAL PEOPLE

themselves and to their sons great
pleasure and enjoyment.
For some time it has been rumored
mat Mime. Nordica had declined an
offer of $500 a performance made to
her by Heinrich Conried for this sea-
sons opera and had demanded $2.250.
Ihis rumor is now fatty contradicted
Dy Mr.. Conried, who has stated that
the only time he made Nine Nordica
an ofter was last spring, when he
wished her for the roles which Ternina
is now singing, but even then he aid
not offer her anything like $1,000 a
night, nor did she make such a de-
mand as s2,250.
There are many who regret not hear
ing Mrs. Clarence Lilienthal play this
season. 1t was expected she would
appear on a nearby programme of
| the Music Club, but she has stated that
she will be unable to play at all this
season.
Three works are now in course of
preparation by Heinrich Conried for
presentation at the Metropolitan Opera
House in New York in the near future.
They are Boieldieu's little masterpiece.
La Dame Blanche" which will be
given in German, under the title of
Die Weisse Dame" Delibe's ballet of
'Coppelia" and Les Dragons de VIII
lars" Nine. Calve will probably be
heard this season in Les Dragons de
Villars." Apartments have been taken
for Nine Calve at the Savoy Hotel,
but whether or not she will remain
there depends largely on how vigor-
ouSly the hotels rule against dogs is
enforced. 1t may be necessary for her
to find other apartments where dogs
are not barred. The new tenor, Fran
Naval, engaged by Mr.. Conried, will
make his first appearance in this coun-
try in Die Welsse Dame" 1t is a
part in which he is said to have won
many laurels abroad. In the produce
ton of the ballet of "Coppelia" the
the performances.
When Mozart's great opera. The
| Magic Flute" was given in New York
last Wednesday night once more in
Italian, the interesting question arose
as to whether it sounded best as I'll
Flauto Magico," or as die Zauber-
| fote." 1t was a question raised by the
sudden change in the language in
which it was sung. from German as
formerly TO Italian.
Nine. Sembrich again headed the list
as Astrifammente and Nine. Gadski
! retained the role of Pamina, and both
distinguished themselves again with
brilliant singing. but there was other
wise scarce a vestige left of the previ-
! Gus cast. Nine. Ternina was replaced
as first LADY, by Nine. Seygard,
| whose associates were this time Nine.
| Homer and Miss Bouton. A new Pap
agena appeared in the person OF Miss
| Fanchon Thompson and three new
| genii-Miss Marguerite Lemon. Miss
| Marcia Van Dresser and Nine. Helen
| Madison.
From Rome comes the information
that Mascagni has completed his new
opera, entitled, Marie Antoinette."
| There are seven scenes, the court at
Vienna, with the Empress Marie The
resa and her daughter, Marie Antoin-
| cite; the reception at Versailles; the
arrest at Varennes; Marie Antoinette
| before the convention; the temple; the
| revolutionary tribunal. and the exc
| cution.
A little American girl of II years
! Jessie Georgiana MACPHERSON. was the
| Only foreigner duIllllGQ " TIC al 10
| Conservative at the recent concourse
| for piano playing. Out of 300 appli-
| cants there were twenty who passed
| successful examination, and of these
| the little American girl was one.
The startling information comes from
| Berlin that Joachim's famous Stradi-
varius is played out"-that is. that it
! has been played so much that It has
| deteriorated in tone. According to an
| expert CHarold GorsD 'all the old
| Italian violins will some day share the
! fate of Joachim's. unless some mil
| lionaire gets up violin trust ana
keeps the old instruments locked up,
and even that would only retard the
process of disintegration. Joachim mas
| for some years been advising those
who could not afford to buy "Strad"
| to get a Guarnerius eighteenth cen
tury), and price Of these has accord
ingiy doubled and quadrupled. rag
amin owned a superb Stradivarius, but
usually played on a Guarnerius. HIS
| taste is shared by Ysaye, and Vieux-
TEMPS also preferred the Guarnerlus,
which has stronger, more manly
tone. Ultimately, perhaps, the sweet
toned "Strads" will be reserved Tor
women players, while GuRrnerius VIII
anneal to their male colleagues.