New-York tribune., 1910-03-07
LONDON NOTES
Hr. Beecham as Leader-'Ur
Gals5cOrthy's 1rt.
London. Februarr az

sudden bound Ike a circus clown. y.
has been training himself delIbera.s,x
and thoroughly as a conductor OF an a..
chestrs and a leader OF opera. and ha,
become the most prominent agur,
among English musicians because 4.
has the incompsrabIe gift Of Inspiring
enthusiasm for high aims. He ia a,
oxford man. who composed songs sn.
dis played n strong bent Tor music wbs,
he was at wadham College. Not hav.
ing an ambition for an ordinary pro,a..
siOnaI success. he decided 20 devote n,
energies to the elevation Of the muster
stage and. il possible. 20 found "a.
tiOnal opera. Another enthusiast az Cx.
ford, Mr.. = r.. Benson, had sinIilsr a.
pirations respecting the theatre and d.
voted his private fortune and the lzfa-,
OF a strenuous youth and middle Hfs =,
Shaksspearian drama throughout "a.
kingdom. Mr.. Beecham began his vor,
by forming a small orchestra at :.
Helen's. and il was not long before n.
was conducting larger ones in Nan.
chester. Liverpool and other cities. Z,
Imperial Opera Company and n.
founder Of a new symphony orchestra.
and so much confidence has he COM
manded that he is nov conducting
successful opera season at Covent Gar.
den and has undertaken 10 have an.
ether one at His Majesty's Theatre in.
the course OF few months.
!
made a reputation for modsrnitv. n.
has shown his sympathy for advaaesd
science in music on the Continent and
remarkable intelligence in mastsr;n.
and iuterpreting complex scores He Ia,
contended that England can never have
national school OF music and opera
while it remains behind the times. lack,
we'll equipped Orchestras capable q
producing the most advanced and q.
perimental work and is content 70 hss-
new operas and symphonies years after
the Continental capitals and American
cities are familiar with them Enlarg-
ing his own orchestra and introducing
new instruments required TOR the inter-
pretation of Richard Strauss music. he
is securing crowded houses at increased
prices for "E,lektra." and il the censor
had not interpossd a veto on religious
grounds. or rather the traditions OF tbs
Lord Chamberlain office, he would
have produced "Saloms." He has d.
veloped all the resources of his orchss-
ira. has counteracted the effect OF new
and noisy instruments by multiplying
the strings. and has taught his ulusi-
clans to play as Richard Strauss would
have them. He has created among his
men an enthusiasm fer the new music,
and il is communicated % sympathstil
and appreciative audiences.
Mr.. BeechanG is heartily supported IN
his efforts to improve the bands and to
elevate musical taste BY the productiou
Of the best Continental works. becauss
he is also eudesvoring 70 revive the trs-
ditions Of an English school Of music
Last night he lent all the resources Of
his orchestra of over hundred perform
ers to the first presentation in England
of a Yorkshirenan's opera, The Villags
Romeo and juliet" This work has been
performed for ten years in Germany
without having a hearing in Mr.. Fred
eriek Deliuss own country: and Wills
the nbretto is not particularly interest
Ing, there are many fine passages o.
orchestTation and original rhythmic com
binatiOns. Without being a copyisf,
Delius is the best substitute for Brahms
whom England has found; Yet he has
suffered from neglect and been driven
abroad for sympathy and employment
The opera has served 10 Introduce az
Covent Garden a new prima donna in
Miss Ruth Vincent. who has been vast
ing in musical comedy a soprano vOies
OF remarkable purity and range. Mr
Beecham will also produce Miss Ethel
Smyth's opera, The Wreckers." with
Miss Edyth Walker in the principal part;
aud before the season ends Sir Arthur
Sullivan's melodiouS opera, 'Iyanhoe." s
10 be revived.
MIR. John GaIsworthy commands more
attention at present than many veterans
In literature. IIe is accounted a young
ster who has barely won his spurs: get
he is in his forty-fourth year and has
been ont OF Oxford more than twenty
years Those who knew him al schos
and the university confidently expeetsi
him 10 do great work. so intense vsfs
his powers OF concentration and 50 pow
erful was his personality Yet il was
long time before he brought his talents
10 bear upon any definite literary under
taking. He WAS thirty-thTee when his
first novel was written. ami h. was nas
known as a playwright until The silver
Box" was produced, four Years ago. us
had been studying social problems, a.
iently observing life and allowing his tai
ents to mature when his friends Ws's
complaining that ne was wasting ums
and neglectinS to redeem the promise '
his youth. When the ground had am
fallow for decade there vas raP'a
succession OF crops, Eight novels anu
four plays in twelve years made an our
put which is seldom exceeded, and tn'
work is serious and thoughtful and COM
'mands recognition by its moral earnest
ness. downright sincerity and literary
quality.
Like Mr.. Thomas Hardy. the brililsh-
author OF Strife" and Justice
pessimist. who sees the dark side OF nv
and despairs when he thinks Of the i''
ure Unlike the author Of the Wssss
novels. he lacks the ironical hunor y
auired for comic relief for his gloomy
- =.