The San Francisco call., 1906-06-10

lasted till midnight, the tickets sold at
a dollar apiece. and il is calculated that
thirty thousand of them were sold. The
people waited in long line at the door
and carried sandwiches to sustain them
through the long day. The house seats
thirty-eight hundred. but at no time
were there less than forty-f1ve hundred
in the building. Among the people who
played there whom we know We're
Emma Eames. Mrs. Ballington Booth,
Mrs Fiske. Yvette Guilbert, Schumann-
Heink. David Bispham, Francis Wilson.
Florence Roberts, Sam Bernard.
There was also a great performance
in the Sarah Bernhardt tent in Chicago
at which many American players then
in the city took part Sarah Bernharot
recited from Victor Hugo, and +. h
Sothern. h. S. Willard and Robert Lo-
raine also appeared. The receipts
amounted to SIS, ,00O- Henry Dixey gave
a benefit in Philadelphia and there were
hundreds of others all over the land
There were a few people here, and
suppose they may be called cholce
few. who witnessed the playing of Ben
Greet's company when they presented
in the little Lyric Hall the solemn
miracle play of "Everyman." Those few
win be interested in the following bit
of information about the Edith Wynne
who was here with that company. The
communication is published in The
Theater:
This charming English actress, who
delighted American audiences in 'Ey-
eryman, is seen here in her great
character study, the Electra of Eurip-
ides. recently performed at the Court
Theater. London. There is no immedi-
ate prospect of Miss Matthison return
ing to the United States, although she
writes: I am looking forward eagerly
TO my next visit to America; but at
present nothing in that direction is ar
ranged and / think ii would be fatal
mistake to appear in anything less than
the very best work-as your public
generously gave me to understand they
expected il of me. Such trust in one
is a great JOY, and a great response
bility."
The Shuberts report that for the
T. H. Sothern-Julia Marlowe production
OF Joan of Arc" TO be made by the
Shuberts next season, the managers are
preparing a spectacular Illusion" which
is TO be not alone mystifying but of
peculiar dramatic effect. Experiments
in this connection have been conducted
for several weeks past.
One of the odd successes of the sea
son is that of George Bernard Shaw's
play, Man and Superman." in which
Robert Lorraine and Ida Conquest have
done Wei II seems 10 De al once d Ddu
and a good thing, for ] notice ii is
praised as a clever satire and con-
demned as very daring almost in the
same breath. The serious face of Rob-
ert Lorraine looks as that of one who
would extract something that would go
in earnest to the good. or else not play
the thing az all.
The Musical Courier publishes an ac-
count of a remarkable success won by
he VinlinfGf AlhArf
Spalding. in Florence. 1t was at a
great gala performance at the Teatro
della Pergola. where he played a num-
Der of the compositions of Saint-Saens.
At the conclusion OF the concert both
Saint-Saens and Spalding received an
ovation. They were recalled again and
again by the big audience. and when
they were leaving the theater the i'm
mense crowd shouted "bravoS" to them.
The Musical Courier says: we Will
not go into details as to the manner
in which Spalding played the various
numbers. but viii attach clippings from
the local papers, giving the opinions OF
the musical critics of Florence. several
of whom are regarded as the best in
Italy. if not in Europe"
Here is translation of a part of
the praise given by one of these critics:
Albert Spalding conquered the audi
ence at the commencement of the con-
cert in three compositions of very diff
ferent styles-the aria by Bach, Study
Of Octaves' by Paganini, and the we'll
known Zigeunerweisen' of Sarasate
where we thought he happily rivaled
the eminent composer and player.
In the concerto in B minor. in the
concerto for piano and violin, in which
the piano was played by Saint-Saens
himself Spalding gave fresh proofs of
his ability and capacity. In the sonata
he was the most worthy companion
Of the excellent composer and player.
who said 10 him: I have seldom been
more satisfied with the way in which
the violin interpreted such difficult pas
sages as this one
In the concerto there are also i'm
mense difficulties to be surmounted
and young Spalding overcame them in
virtue of his profound knowledge of his
art and his absolute mastery of the
instrument. His calm strength, his
boldness, his security. the transparency
of his playing are quite astonishing. He
possesses already style of his own and
understands how to penetrate the most
difficult STYLES of others. His bowling is
broad and powerful. and has a mar
yelous sweetness, suavity and finesse
He translates with the utmost facility
in neat and well-given out sounds the
delicacy of feelings. His execution is
bright and luminous. Every now and
then one feels quite daZzled. Some vio-
Inns talk a great deal and don't say
anything He always expresses with
precision what he means TO say. and
speaks to the soul.
Last night he was much applauded
by the side of Saint Saens; wreaths of
laurel were offered to him. but surely
he must have most of all appreciated
the applause of the valorous artists
who compose the Cherubini Orchestra
who have not considered him as a
happy competitor, but cordially ap-
plauded him as maestro
PlNER0'S SILVER JUBILEE