The San Francisco call., 1910-05-29
HOMECOMPOSERTO
BE Shown HONOR
GayOtte, Intermezzo and Choral
Numbers for Pastoral Play
at Greek Theater
Elaborate Plans for Presenta-
tiOn of Shakespeare's Drama
by Maude Adams
By WALTER ANTHONY

evening. June 6, when the great pro-
duction Of Shakespeare's "As You Like
tt is given by Maude Adams and her
company at the Greek theater in Berke-
ley. Theodor VoEt, who is recognized
as one of the best musicians on the
coast, is the composer who will be
heard, and his creations for the oc-
cssion include a gavotte, an instru-
mental intermezzo and some choral
numbers for chorus OF 80 male voices
The incidental music to the perform
ance has been arranged to follow the
scheme that was employed when Maude
Adams appeared as Joan Of Arc in the
stadium Of Harvard university. In the
case Of "As You Like It." however,
there is more music intrinsic to the
piece than the story of Frances sainted
maiden called for, and In LAS You Like
It the music grows naturally from
lines and scenes. Few plays indeed
contain so much genuine music as this
ioyllic comedy of Shakespeare. Amiens'
song, BLOW, Blow. Thou Winter Wind f"
mas tempted q thousand composers, 1
dare say; What Shall He Have Who
Killed the Deer2" has been dear to
multitude Of male choristers; "It Was
a Lover and His Lass" sings itself so
well that composers have been unable
to leave IL alone, and from the begin
ming TO the end Of LAS You Like 1t"
there's music in the air.
William Eurst. whoE when Charles
Frohman produced Joan Of Arc" was
in charge Of the music, has been sent
oct by the enterprising manager of
Miss Adams TO do q similar duty here
he has organized an orchestra of 10
men, il is claimed, and the instrumental
body viii be under the veteran mu-
sicians baton, except when Vogt's mu-
sic is played and then the Local COM
poser win indicate the tempo. The or
chestra VIII play almost continuously
throughout the performance. Selec-
uons from Schubert, whose melodic
setting of "Hark, Hark. the Lark" and
Who Is Silvia?' show how well the
Niennese composer caught the spirit of
the Avon dramatist, will supply much
OF the music. Orchestral arrangements
Of old English ballads and Shakes
pearean woodland songs will piece out
the beautiful musical portion of the
production. The musicians will be in
visible, their seats being arranged for
under the greenwood trees" which
viii be set on the stage Of the Greek
theater and viii form the forest of
Arden, in the very fringe of which the
audience viii sit and touch hands. al
most, with the actors, who will make
AS You Like It. a fantasy come true
What is expected TO be a materially
valuable addition TO the repertoire of
the Loring club is J. ". Elliotts rous-
ing "Bacchanalian chorus" for male
voices and orchestra. The composition
viii be presented for the first time in
this city next Tuesday evening, May
81, on the occasion of the clubs con-
cluding concert for the season.
Charles Nilliers Stanford's cycle of
choruses, with barytone solo and or
chestral accompaniment, Songs of the
Sea" viii also be given by the club, and
the Introduction and Hymn to the
SUM- the finest portion of Mascagni's
Iris" will also be heard.
Excerpts from Wallace A Sabin's mu-
sic 10 the forest play, st Patrick at
Tara" win be repeated. The soloists
viii be John Darlington and J. F. Veaco
and the accompaniment will comprise
piano. organ and orchestra scores. with
Bernat Jaulus as director. Frederick
Msurer viii be the pianist and w
Fletcher Husband the organist, the
concert being under the direction Of
Wallace A Sabin, conductor of the club.
Americas promise 10 produce a
grand opera is still a grand unfulfll-
ment and there is no composer native
TO these shores but has a chance
20 win the honor Of establishing q
school, developing a cult and putting
Uncle Sam in the international musical
conservatoire along with GERMANY
France. Italy and Russia, If only some
body shall write the opera which shall
be American in feeling and spirit and
possibly in subject, but universal in its
esthetic message. Some hope was en-
tertained Of Arthur Nevin, who had
what was at first deemed 10 be the
good fortune to have his opera "Poia"
accepted for production at the ROYAL
opera house in Berlin. But Nevin
has returned home to New York
and doesn't know what TO make of his
opera-whether it is a big success or
q mild success or complete failure
Nevin seems certain Of but one
thing. and that is that he was subject
ed at the bands of the Berlin critics to
personal abuse and that his opera was
not given serious criticism. Though
that cry is usually the plant Of the
man who fails there seems. in this
case, some justification for Nevin's
complaint. He says that when he and
Randolph Hartley were called before
the curtain on the opening night gen
uine applause greeted them like the
music from aeolian- harps. The joy
was short lived, he says, because there
was organized a mob of hissers and
whistlers who drowned out the plaud-
its in a tidal wave of disapprovaI,
which was the purchased demonstra-
tion Of his enemies. He declares that
Germany is provincial and anti-for-
eign and that further opposition to his
work was inspired by a rumor that the
crown prince was interested in the
opera and that Nevin had been given
the royal sign Of approval. That in
Itself was, he says, sufficient to arouse
enough antagonism TO his work to sup
press it. He adds naively TO his state
ment issued on his return to New
York that -four performances of
.Poia' were given and then the opera
house was closed for repairs"
Let Nevin take heart and let us hope
that his opera was too good for Berlin |
Meanwhile Nevin can console himself
with the reflection which has sustained
q thousand composers-Paris hissed /
'-Tannhauser' OF the stage.
Madam Louise< Finkel, vocal in
structor from New York, plans to open |
q summer school of vocal music at the |
University OF California June l.
Mncso 80 <t4a Do~Iy