The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-29

tractive and good sized houses gladden. ed the management. The newspapers let 1t be known in a general way that this enterprise was in charge of Henry Rus sell, son of Henry Russell, the cele- brated song writer, who lived in New York for many years, and a half brother of William Clark Russell, the well known English novelist. It appeared that MT. Russell had studied the art of singing in Italy, had taught with marked success in London, and feeling that hon. ors awaited him as an impresario, he had organized the San Carlo company In London in 1904 and given the English capital a taste of democratic grand opera Among his singers in the first season was Caruso, who has since gained distinction, not to say notoriety, in an- other connection. In 1906. MT. Russell brought his company to America. Every thing having unusual merit comes here sooner or later.
 The basic idea of the San Carlo opera company Is to give good grand opera at prices within everybody's reach. The director found himself early face to face with the problem of getting good singers at salaries that did not make exagger- ated prices a necessity. He had been im- pelled to secure, even at sacrifice Of some profits, a number of distinguished . reception In many American cities and particularly by that in Boston. MT. Rus sell reappeared this year with such well known personages as Alice Nelson, Jane Noria, Florencio Constantine, Madame Claessens, Segurola, Blanchart, Mime. Desana, and Victor Maurel. It is inter esting that Noria and Nelson, the two prima donnas, are both American girls as are so many famous opera singers.
 Approaching the value to all students of singing, who, when well trained, are invariably taught the old Italian method of witnessing good interpretations of the classic operas, many teachers of music In Boston last season recommended that their pupils attend as many as possible of the performances of the San Carlo company. Arrangements were also made by which the company on its ieturn 10 this country should do all its rehearsing and in general make it's headquarters at the New England Conservatory or Music, the oldest and largest of Ameri- can schools for the study of professional music. The advantages of this arrange ment were obvious. It gave the opera company a chance to conduct its pre- lIminary rehearsals either in Jordan Hall of the canservatory's building, which has become generally recognized among musi- clans as the bes.. concert hall on this side of the Atlantic, or in Recital hall which, though smaller, is equally good in acoustic properties To the thousands of music students in Boston it gave the chance of lifetime to witness day after day the actual processes by which troupe of opera singers after the vacation of rest and recreation, and many of them strangers to each other, are coached into final form for the opening of the season.
 One member of the company. M. Victor Inn xyi est of the students that, with MT Russelps permission, he gave a special recital for their benefit The conservatory for sev- eral years past has maintained a school for grand, opera, at first under the direc- ton of the late Oreste Bimboni, and now in charge of Senor Vallini, one of the ablest living opponents of the Milanese system of music teaching. The sole lack in the system of training in such an opera school has been the comparative dearth of grand opera rehearsals and perform ances in the New England city. Il Is now currently reported that Boston is to have a grand opera house of Its own, serving as headquarters for an organi- zation under MT. Russells direction that will create a school of popular grand ope- ra for all America. A generous patron of music Is authoritatively stated to have offered to provide land near the New Eng land Conservatory of Music and Sym phony Hall and funds Tor the erection of compact opera house. The music school will be directly interested, for, as Ralph Flanders, general manager of the institution, says:
 'Tt would be very natural that the New England conservatory of Music should make every effort to advance plans which would further the musical and educational interest of Boston It would naturally consider the establish ment of permanent grand opera as ono of the greatest steps taken for music in Boston since the establishment of the Symphony orchestra"
 This will be Amcricanized grand opera, at least to the extent that operas by American composers If they seem to merit production will have their fair op- portunity on an English test and that American singers who are judged com petent will be given chance to rise from minor parts to leading roles. In- deed. 1t Is expected that the company will be recruited in part by young sing CTS from the New England Conservatory precisely as the opera and the opera comique in Paris are recruited from the National Conservatory there.
 Esperanto's Youthful Standard-Bearer John w. Harrington. in Harper's Weekly.
 Amazing spread of Esperanto. the aux