Los Angeles herald., 1909-07-11

Landers and Stillman ingalls,, members
of the choir.
Visiting Elks are invited to hold their
ner to an American musical scholar,
who told her Of the interest and en-
thusiasm which her husbands music
had created in America. Are they
really fond of 1t, and do they appre-
clate it, or is it just a fad? have
always heard that your countrymen
were rather apt to be faddists'
1.-THE answer to her question seems
to have come, but whether 1t is the
audiences or the artists themselves
who are responsible for the change Is
subject so involved as not to yield
readily to a clear solution. Art, at
least the art Of the twentieth century,
has it's commercial as well as its
aesthetic side, and singers are not going
to spend their time studying roles for
which there is absolutely no demand
in the two operate Eldorados of Eng
land and America. There have been
two striking defections already In the
operatic ranks, viz, Slezak and Knote,
and when the none too lengthy list of
Wagnerian tenors suffers such deple-
tion the future of the Wagnerian opera
may well cause concern to those who
believe ii to be the ultimate word in
operate production"
=
Nine Sembrich and Nine. Gadski. the
worlds greatest concert prima donnas.
are at loggerheads as a result of their
competition for the services of an Illi-
nois accompanist. The object of their
raValry is a young Rockford, Ill, pia-
mist, Frank La Forge.
For the last three years he has
brilliantly accompanied Gadski on her
European and American tours, and a
few weeks ago when Sembrlch decided
on tour of America for next season
in concert she succeeded In enticing
La Forge away from Gadski, it is said,
by outbidding the latter for his SER
vices. AS a result Gadskis Ire is mex
pressible.
Gadski in the meantime has paid
western music a rare compliment by
choosing another Illinois man as ac-
Companist for her in Edwin Schneider
of Chicago, who is also a composer
of songs Schneider has arrived in
Berlin for the summer to practice with
Gadski. Sembrich is telling the people
of Berlin that she expects to bag
500, 900 from eighty concerts in Ameri-
ca next winter-Chicago Tribune.
=
"Natoma," libretto by Joseph D. Red
ding of San Farncisco, music by Victor
Herbert, scene in and about Santa
Barbara. is the first real American
grand opera written, which Will be
presented by Oscar Hammerstein at
the Manhattan theater New York, next
January,
The scenes and costumes have been
designed by Alexander F. Harmer of
Santa Barbara. OF all American ar
lists, none is more capable of perform
ing such work than Mr. Harmer. For
many years he has devoted his talent
to the old Spanish and native types
and life of the settlement, and 1t is GER
tain that he will be able to preserve the
atmosphere of the early days in Santa
Barbara. Mr.. Harmer has just shipped
to New York the last of his sketches.
They include suggestions for the cos
tunes of the principals of the opera.
The epoch of the opera is the year
1880, in the romantic, picturesque days
before the American occupation. The
excellent scenic opportunities are evil
dent from the following arrangement
of the acts:
Act ]. On the Island of Santa Bar
bara, two hours sail from the main
land
Act II. In the plaza of the town of
Santa Barbara on the mainland; in
front Of the old Mission church.
Act III. Inside the old Mission
church.
Don Francisco de la Geurra (basso)
"A noble Spaniard of the old regime;
of great dignity, courtesy and sim
plicity.
Father Peralta (basso)-The padre of
the Mission church, likewise a Span
lard of high character and having su-
preme power over the inhabitants.
Juan Baptiste Alvarado (baritone)-A
young Spaniard of fiery temper, ambi-
tious to marry Barbara, the daughter
of Don Francisco. He Is her cousin,
being the son of her mothers brother.
Jose Castro (baritone)-A halfbreed;
part Indian and part Spanish; fellow
Of low cunning and vicious hatred of
Spaniard and American alike; a chum
of Alvarado.
Pho Pico and Kagama-bravos; COM
rades of Castro.
Lieutenant Paul Merrill (tenor)--A
young officer in the brig Swallow"
of the United States navy, which has
dropped anchor in the bay of Santa
Barbara.
LIEUTENANT Middleton-A brother Of
ficer.
Barbara de la Guerra (soprano)-
Only child of Don Francisco. A beau
tiful Spanish girl, just coming of age;
she Is the last of her name and has
Just finished her convent days
Natoma (mezzo-so soprano)-An Indian
girl of pure blood. She is of the same
age as Barbara and has been her con-
fidant, half playmate and half maid,
since childhood.
Bruzzo-An inn keeper.
Friars, acolytes, nuns, Vaqueros
market women. flower girls, Spanish
dancers, reapers, vineyards, shepherd
esses, sailors.
1t is a story OF tragic but sacrificing