Omaha daily bee., 1906-07-29
Music and Musical Notes

measured In such a fashion. The poor
unfortunates who are built without any
sense of humor. How on earth do they
live. 1 see people often making such
beastly hard work of life, stumbling and
bleeding along; worn out in body and
soul. apparently no rest for them till they
get to their graves. l thank God, on my
knees, that he put funny streak in me,
and also made me willing to perform any
sort Of work that comes my way.
haven't forgotten the expression of one of
my friends who came to me and found
me on a dry goods box teaching the boy
how to clean the horse properly-to keep
him silky ind shiny. Work of any kind
done we'll is uplifting. I have friend to
whom 1 am devoted, who would grace any
spot upon earth where she was putt she
laid with her own hands the most lovely
and symmetrical little brick walk from the
rear door to the driveway that you ever
saw. Happiness and contentment are
gifts that may be cultivated They will
never come to those who shove all the
work of on somebody else. whether the
somebodies are paid money for 1t or not.
This is an interesting account of Maurice
GrSu's opinion of the way opera in New
Maurice Grau is living quietly at Croissy
his summer villa near here All the rumors
about Mr.. Grau's return to America on
business missions are out of place. II he
visits our country again 1t will be merely
for pleasure.
Mr.. Grau recently discussed opera in New
York from box office vieWpoint-abOut the
only possible viewpoint-and it is his opin-
lon that our glorious cosmopolis will not
be able to endure two grand opera COM
panies; that while II may appear that there
mllNOnAlTRS
support one of two grand foreign opera
schemes yet that there are not the operatio
supporting elements for two contempora-
During Mr., Grau's regime It cost. on an
average, $4,000 a week TO give opera; IL
now costs over $4,000 week. The rivalry
between the two schemes has driven up
ward the demands of the European singers
In opera so that the cost of production will
advance still more, and Il may be possible
that month of opera will cost at the Met
Iopolitan about S250,O00-siN months, 81, 5OO,-
600 Oscar Hammerstein has not yet
rounded on his scheme, but he pays Meiha
for ten performances $4,000. and other re-
nowned singers such as Bonci and Renaud
get large fees. No one can estimate Ham
mersteins costs until he gets nearer to
the estimate himself Cleofante Campanini
Is model opera conductor and cannot be
had tor song. All these large fees make
large averages per week.
These matters are we'll known TO Maurice
Grau and his statement that two expensive
grand opera schemes on the foreign basis
will not be able TO live in New York at The
same time has more value from a financial
point Of view than any other l can quote
George Hamlin, the American tenor, and
his family sailed for Europe July "a on
the steamer Moltke. After a few weeks in
Italy the singer will visit the Tyrol and
Nuremberg, and attend some OF the late
August performances OF the Wagner fes-
uval at Bayreuth, and later the Mozart
festival at Munich. While abroad Mr.
Hamlin will have his headquarters in Ber-
lin. He will I'LL concert engagements in
Germany from September to January. 1897.
Soon after the new year the artist will re-
turn TO the United States for an extended
tour OF recitals and concerts
Music lovers generally will be interested
In the announcement that David Bispham,
contrary TO expectations, will devote the
fore part OF the season to concert work
Early in 1907 Mr. Bispham will make his
appearance IN THE Vicar OF Wakefield" a
romantic opera by LEa Lehman. book by
Laurence Hausman, but until that time ne
will be available for recital and oratorio-
a determination that Is bound to cause
general satisfaction MARY LEARNED.