The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-04-10
AS St. Paul a listening public?
writer in the current Musi-

z AS St. Paul a listening public?
A writer in the current Musi-
elan diferentates between the
public that attends a concert because
It has been we'll advertised and because
the impression has gone abroad that it
promises to be a smart social affair as
Well as a musical success, and the
public that goes because it loves music,
that follows the programme carefully
and applauds only at the right time.
Naturally, she makes a plea for such
public musical instruction as Will give
to the performing artist a listening
public which, she asserts, is quite as
necessary to the success Of the concert
as the artist himself. The audience
which listened to the Requiem" last
Thursday night would certainly have
convinced the most doubtful that if
St. Paul does not possess a listening
public" it does possess material out
Of which such public may be evolved.
The remarkably close attention with
which the audience followed the beau
tiful mass music was reassuring when
one considers the size of the audience
and its representative character. The
only way to secure a listening public
Is, Of course, by inducing the public
that doesn't listen to attend as many
good concerts as possible. This week
In St. Paul the public will have plenty
of opportunity to hear good music, for
the week will be a very full one. The
Savage Grand Opera company begins
its return enga cement at the Metro
politan tomorrow night, and, to divide
the interest there is the Strauss en-
gagement in Minneapolis for the same
night Tuesday night Walter Dam
rosch and his New York Symphony or
chestra will present "Parsifal" in con-
cert form at the Peoples church, and
Thursday evening Mr. Witherspoon,
the bassO, appears under the auspices
Of the Schubert club at the Park Con-
gregatiOnal church.
The annual meeting of the St. Paul
Choral CLUB, which will be held Monday
evening. April IS, promises to reveal
the fact that very healthy difference
of opinion exists among the members
as to the future course of the club.
Some Of the members prefer that the
club shall be conducted along the old
conservative lines, while to others the
enthusiasm Of the new president, Gus
tav Scholle, has proved infectious, and
they are eager to branch out along the
lines that he has suggested. No I'll
feeling divides the members; only an
honest difference Of opinion. Perhaps
the discussion at the general meeting a
week from Monday night will result in
making the members of one mind. The
club has reached a critical period in its
history. 1t has demonstrated to the
public its worth, and the latter will not
be content to have 1t stand still
Gustav Scholle, president of the
Choral club, was seen last evening by
T he Gl b e, and refused to discuss
the affairs of the organization in a
controversial spirit He consented,
however, to make a statement as to
action recently taken by the club, and
plans for the future, as so far out
lined. He said:
For the purpose Of correcting some
misunderstanding that has arisen TN
the public mind and has been aggra-
waited by published reports, L will tell
you the facts regarding what has been
done.
AT meeting recently held at nv
home it was agreed by all present that
the president should sound Emil Oberhof-
fer on the subject of conducting the con-
certs TO be given by the club next year,
and also find out from Mr.. FairclougT
whether he would be willing to conduct
the rehearsals If Mr.. Oberhoffer were
made conductor Of the concerts. That 7
assure you, is all that has been done in
regard to choosing new director for the
club Those who attended the meeting
We're Mrs. Jane Huntington Yale, Fred
erick Helm, Miss Nellie Agnes Hope and
Mrs. Downs, who represent the interests
In the club which have brought it up from
the beginning to its present state of sue
cess
AS far as the Symphony orchestra Of
minneapolis is concerned, there has never
been any suggestion that the st. Paul
choral club should back 1t UP in ST. Paul
Inc only use to be made of this organtza
ton Is for the purpose of supplying a
competent orchestra for the oratorios
when the club will give.
AS to the suggestion of q nronoead
merger OF the musical interests of the
irwin Cities, 1 will say that the PhiIbar-
nome club, Of Minneapolis. and the 81
Paui Choral club will continue to hire
the same artists and use the same or
chestra as has been the policy for Soma
years past because 1t has been found to
thelr interest to do so. That is not an