Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1911-02-09
WOMEN AS COMPOSERS.
English Woman Successfully Pro-
duces Opera in Germany.

posers has been a sore subject with
the British isles from time immemo
rial
So far. Great Britain has produced
no master who can class with Bee
thoven, Wagner and Brahms, nor
with Bizet or GOunOd.
Whether the Anglo-SaXOn mind is
not highly enough attuned to COM
pete with Strauss. Wagner. Beetho-
ven and a host of other Teutonic gil
ants who have been creating strenu-
Gus scores remains to be determined.
At present il is certain that Ameri-
cans have been tagging as far be-
| hind as heir British brothers.
Since the death of Sir Arthur Sulli-
van and the invalidism of his colleague,
| w. s. Gilbert. the Latin and Teutonic
nations have had all their own way in
the operate field. both grand and
comic England bewails her lot, but all
to no purpose.
| However. a woman has flung herself
into the breach and may accomplish
what the men have not been able to-
She is Mrs Adela Madison. and an
opera from her pen has just Eeen sue
cessfully produced in Germany. Before
long it may have a triumphal entry
into London.
Women composers of opera there
have been heretofore. though hardly
any that would deserve TO class with
even the second or third rate men.
over in France Nils. Chaminade as
turned out songs and piano pieces that
bear the true hallmark of individuality.
They are like Nils. Chaminade. and
they are unlike any other music that
preceded her.
No Great Women Composers.
But Mile. Chaminade has never writ
ten or produced a great opera. She
may do so some day. but until she does
il, it is only fair to assume that she
realizes that are limits to her concep-
tions. and that it will be as well for
her fame if she does not attempt a feat
at which she is pretty sure to fail.
Her case may be taken as typical.
While there have been distinctive
feminine composers. there have been on
great ones, and their incursiOns into
the operate field have been infreqUent.
In a sense, the whole feminine element
is in the same class as the Anglo-Saxon
men-it can do fine and distinctive
things, but it doesn't "class up to great
ones
What operas have heretofore been
written by women have been mostly J.
act affairs. perhaps to be judged in the
light of trial pieces. Maybe il one of
them had made half as big q hit as
"Pagliacci," or one of the shorter
pieces, its writer would have been en-
couraged to greater things. But, short
as the majority of the efforts We're,
they were amply long enough tc dem
onstrate the lack of divine fire. Usually
they died "a-bornin'." with little regret
from authors or audiences. and the
world considered that it had enough
to marvel at when a mere frail woman
could keep big orchestra, chorus and
lot of principals busy.
"The TaIisman."
At last the situation is somewhat
changed. Mrs. Adela Madison's work
The Talisman,' is full length, being
based on Ludwig Fulda's play of the
same name. This play won the Schiller
prize: but its author didn't get it, be-
cause the kaiser took one Of his con-
trary streaks and refused to ratify the
award
On November 10 last 1.-The Talisman"
made its bow as an opera at Leipsig
and was received with acclaim Lately
Mrs. Madison has been living in Berlin. |
and there were critics galore from that |
city to hear the first performance |
Their verdict was that the instru-
was remarkably well done.
The audience showed it's enthusi- |
asm all through the performance. and |
at the close the composer was called |
in front of the curtain a number of I
times. Then the general public was /
able To realize that she was not only |
talented. but remarkably beautiful |
as well. She is a daughter of the /
late Admiral Tindall. and has been
very much admired personally as well |
as for her work for quite a number
Of years in England. OF late years.
however. she has lived much abroad.
being for time an ardent pupil Of
Gabriel Faure i'm France. More re-
Gently she has been studying and
working in Berlin. and the German
influence is said to be plainly apar-
ent in her latest work.
Still another English woman, Miss
Ethel Smythe, has succeeded in hav- i
ing an opera. Der Wald." produced
in Berlin. and another. THE Wreck
ers." in London. Between them, they