The silver state news. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1907-1909, 1908-04-20
NEW YORK A MUSIC CENTER.

- ~
Reginald de Koven is a figure of
some stature in contemporary music,
although few would think of him as
a competent critic for Eugene Wagner.
However. the North American Review
presents a piece from the pen of some
Of the composers Of our light operas.
IT is Mr.. de Koven's opinion as the
result of a study of the last operate
season in New York that Wagner has
.. declined and fallen,' like the Ro-
man empire. On its face the dictum
Of New York covering a period of Z
few weeks does not seem like COZ
elusive evidence of the passing of the
great German master, but this is the
solemn asserveration of this writer.
If New York is a reasonable "crt
terion Of operate taste, =, which we
cannot believe, it is likely that Mr..
le Koven s observations might be cx
tended to a longer time in that history
or. that most remarkable seat If mu
steal and a~rtictic culture. 1t is likely
that the people just now do wart
Piccini and Verdi and the italian "
ric operas. Masses of them would
prefer burlesque, and farce comedy
and the hurly-gurdy even to this. they
prefer the Rogers Brothers to Shakes
peare and if we were to &c to any
whittier in the United States with the
cxnectation of finding any evidences
of fjckleness and handishmnnt Of taste
n r~lqtters of this kind it would he to
| New York. Without a settic3 CHI r
actel with a population shi ting like
he sands an, hanging its form f.oE
day to day. the city is a pice no.
to, nss for its whims. Nowhor" in
the country is the crowd fillowed SO
thoughtlessly; nowhere else can 60
rianv Of the ignorant rien be gati or
ed ta pass up their OPINIONS about
music and pictures. If they have
turned upon Wagner, that artist 1t
IS our belief, survive the indignity.
The marvel IS that he could yer have
been a favorite there.
s1In the rush and turmoil of pres
ent day existence people like their
emotions short and sharp and to the
point says de Koven Of course
they de. They go more and more to
the theater for relaxation and amuse-
ment. No one denies. To properly
appreciate the wonderful beauty Of
Wagner, is more often a severe mental
strain than a relaxation. No intelli-
gent person can hold any other view,
but is that any reason for arguing that
'sthe eventual fate of the Wagner
music Dramas hangs in the balanced
No Question of art is decided that
most of the people will - to the
fheater will wish to be amused and
that these people are not amused by
Wagner?
Ono ieason for the deciin" Of inter
est in this composers wotS. If de
tlire there has been, is, as e k9ven
suggests, that it is not so well sung
over here as it was a few years age.
Another reason is the fact that to hear
and appreciate Wagner was earlier 4
fashionable fad. Gins in short dresses
suffered over RS name. Drawing
room disputes arose over the proper
pronunciation. There was glib talk
about the "ring, arc a certain number
Of persons in each street learned the
the titles Of the operas composing it.
Like Browning, robin. skating and
golf, Wagner got a grcar vogue for
q time from the hangers-on who turn
from one thing to another at an hours
notice. Human beings Of this kind,
as we have limited with as much deli
caey as possible are peculiarly indigo
nous to New York city. If they are
done with Wagner. nevertheless he
may survive.-Philadelphia Public
Ledger.