The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-23
HONORS SAINT,SAENS.
PRAISE AND FAREWELL FOR THE
FRENCH COMPOSER.
Musicians and Critics Talk OF His Work
Guest Replies In q speech Full Of
Praise for America Walter DamrOsch
and the French Consul General TaIk.


Praise for America Walter DamrOsch
and the French C0nsul-G General Talk.
The Lotos Club gave a dinner last night
i'm honor Of NJ. Ca mile Saint-Saens, the
French composer, who il alb out to return
to his own country. The dinner was the
compliment paid to NJ. S aint-SaGns by
the music loving members Of the Lotos,
and a number Of them not only said pleasant
things about Saint-Sasns to his face, but
cheered enthusiastically other amiable
things hat were said by guests.
The vice-president Of the I.otos Club,
Chester f.. Lord, in introducing Hermann
Klein, who formally welcomed the guest
Of honor, said that the Lotos Club has
honored many distinguished men, but that
he was sure he voiced the sentiment Of the
club in saying that il has never had a
warmer welcome for any mar than for NJ,
Saint 81 ans.
Mr.. Klein made his address in French.
The visit Of Saint-Saans had long been
awaited for, he said, and its success has
been demonstrated by the attendance at
concerts, ever growing in numbers and
augmentine in enthusiasm. Mr.. Klein re-
called his friendship Of thirty years with
the composer, and then spoke of the Illus
trious musicians Of the past century who
were friends and admirers of M. Saint
S~aRns-Beriioz, Wagner, Liszt, Gounod,
Cesar Franck, Anton Rubinstein, Hans Won
Bulow, Georges Bizet, Leo Delibes, Gabriel
Faure, Vincent d'Indy. He recalled the
tribute paid to M. Saint-SaGns by Gounod,
on the occasion OF the premiere of Saint
Saens's opera Henry VIII" at the Paris
Opera, on March s, 1883.
"A work that is now doubly Interesting
said Mr.. Klein, because Heinrich Conried
has promised TO produce It next season at
the Metropolitan Opera House.
The visit to America OF a composer OF
your supreme talent and universal re-
nown," he continued, Ought To produce
"A very important effect upon musical art
generally, and the progress OF French
music in this country more particularly.
i also hope that your coming will lead TO a
closer acquaintance with your dramatlc
works. Perhaps before we get Henry
VIII We shall he having Helene
TIT toastmaster called for a toast to NJ.
Saint-SaGns and it was drunk standing.
Then some one called out Three good
American cheers for the guest They
were given with a will,
NJ. Saint-Sasns was obviously pleased
with the warmth of his welcome. He
spoke in French with the utmost rapiiity.
He said that he was not by nature speaker,
but that he would attempt to thank the
Lotos and its friends for the kind toast
pTODOSc DY IDe Nltt- DTtSltltHt anu lOT
the beautiful speech Of Mr.. Klein, much
more fisttering than ! deserve, y he added.
Needless TO say he continued, in
Europe We love America and everything
American. Applause 1t is also needless
to say tina | found in this country thai
everything in the musical world was Of
the very highest order. Applause.
1T is indeed a great pleasure for me to
find that the American public IL not un-
grateful, and that everything beautiful in
nrt at,I p,,.afa - Anaplx- nnnrACfafnI hara
/ found everywhere splendid orchestras,
excellent conductors and sympathetic au-
diences. ] am very thankful 20 the press
also for its exceedingly kind IT exception
and comments on my visit to this country
/ hope, gentlemen, that | shall soon have
the pleasure of revisiting these beautiful
shores" lApplause.I
Walter Damrosch said that there is not
"A living composer whose works are so well
known or performed so often as NJ. Saint
Sa9as. He recalled the first performance
in this city of the Danse Macabre,' and
then called attention TO the vigor, energy
and enthusiasm Of the composer, who Is
more than 10 years old
Il fancy" said Mr.. Damrosch. that he
is the last TO visit this country of n period
of great men whose names. as We read
them now, make US think Of a far away
past"
The French Consul-General, VI. Alcide
Flbray, made an address, and among the
others that made short talks were II. f.
Krehbiel and w. j. Henderson. Among the
guests were Sir Caspar Purdon Clarke,
Maurice Renaud, the barytone Of the Man
haitian Opera House; Frank Damrosch,
Richard Arnold of the Philharmonic Soci-
ETY., William McNnley, the tenor; James
Huneker, Alexander P~etschnikof, Sigis-
mond Stojowski, Arthur Rosenstein and
Franz Kneisel.
As a further compliment TO NJ. Saint
Saans there was music played Of his own
composition-th the Romance for the Piano"
and two violin solos, lie Cygne" and
"Havanaise," the violin solos being played
by Mr.. P~etschnikoff.