Evening star., 1909-03-13
TUNNEL ON FoRMosA's TRUNK LINE.
ROCKEFELLER OF MUSIC. II

perhaps got from his entire musical life.
Starving in a garret may have been
all right a century. ago but Richard
Strauss is teaching the world that even
in art the worlds business sense moves
along.
One of the earliest practical ideas to
tie credit OF Strauss was his effort to
assure himself of royalty or every one
of his songs that is surg in public.
He went at the idea With such skill
that he succeeded in putting iL<throueh
in Europe Then the United States be-
came a problem 10 hiaa He had many
admirers in the new world. 1t was
known as the land of dollars Singers
came to this country to reap the great
financial returns that were not possible
10 them in the old world Why should
the composer be less eager to get d just
return for the product of his BRAIN par
tieularly as the composer is the -real
creator and the singer only an exponent
of another'S idea?
He fixed the amount at S5. and has
actually succeeded in inducing some
managers to consent. for those who want
his friendship for other kinds of COM
positions can naturally not afford to
quarrel with him in the matter of songs.
On his first trip to the United States the
business keenness of Strauss was the vor-
der of all who came in contact with him
ii made him some enemies of course. but
the composer pays not the least attention
to these, reasoning very property that in
all other lines man is given credit
for the acumen that enables him to pro-
tect-his own interests. Strauss declares
himself unable to WHY the creator of
music. something that gives pleasure to
the world. and helps to make it better
should not have the right to a proper
financial reward for his genius without
being assaiied because he strives TO pro-
tect himself.
Nine. Anne de Strauss. the wife of the
composer. sang his songs during his visit
to thes United States. She has thin
vinegary voice. and she made very little
impression. Yet Strauss insists on having
her for his exponent. and charges Just as
high a rate for her services as might be
eXacted for great prma donna. And not
only does he do that in this country; he
is equally successful in following the
same rule in Europe.
tn having his wife for SolOSt he not
only demands salary for her and for
himself as conductor. but he also insists
on the royalty. that it can easily he
figured that there is little wasted in this
combination.
Ii is "A somewhat curious fact that even
the fame OF Strauss cannot save his wife
from coming into some sharp criticism for
her very mediocre talents 1t is a fire.
quent experience for the same critics who
extol the songs of the composer 10 deal
most harshly with the manner of their
rendition by his wife.
But the combination is so advantageous
financially that Strauss swallows his
pride over the way the songs are sung
and stands pat.
AS is well known. "Salome" is very
short. Ii takes only hour and forty
five minutes in the telling, and the cur
tain is not raised till o'clock. Many
persons have wondered why some other
opera Was not given with it, as is the
case with other short works.
The truth is that Strauss will not per-
nit "Salpme" to be doubled up with any