New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-22
BISPHAW TURNS
.TALENTSTOSTAGE
Singer Will Appear in
Combination of Drama
and Song.

New Workers. fond Of the best in
music and the drama will be interested
in the announcement that David
Bispham, the eminent American oper-
attic and concert barytone, will appear
here as Beethoven in the romantic one
act play, adelaide" for a series of
special performances in October.
adelaide" written by Hugo Miller
about 1862, thirty-fye years after
Beethoven's death. has been a classic
in German theatres for more than fifty
years.
amy actor who could look at all like
the great composer was only too glad
to have an opportunity to play this
part" says Mr.. Bispham. "Beethoven's
letters. his life and his loves were and
still continue 20 be matters of constant
interest and curiosity to those who ad-
mire his music, and this play is found
ed upon the attachment between him
and the Countess Julia Guicciardi, TO
whom the Moonlight Sonata was ded-
icated. and in whose memory The song
Adelaide is. in the play, supposed to
have been written.
Before the play begins the strains
of music are heard from the stage
with the rise of the curtain the IN
terror of Beethoyen's lodging in Vienna
is seen, and the man from whom he
rents his TO ms, viO.inist, is, with his
daughter. playing one Of Beethoven's
violin pieces, Romance in +.
Later in the play two of BeethOven's
songs are sung, one by Clara, the lodg-
ing house keepers daughter, whose
fresh young voice is the only thing
that Beethoven is s. Il able TO hear.
She sings to him the well known joy
full and Sorrowful.' from 'Egmont.'
Later Beethoven's amenuensis, who IS
in love with Clara, sings to her
Beethovens song worldwide fame,
/ Adelaide
,, AT the conclusion of the play, after
Beethoven and the beautiful countess
have had most affecting scene, he Is
/ left alone at the close of day-the rays
of the rising neon fall upon him
/ through the window as he stands by
+ his piano. He pensively 'urns, and,
seating himself strikes a few chords
and sings the opening trains of his
own song, In Ques-a Tomba,
"'Within this lonely dwelling,
Oh, let me ira. qui. b..
Though thou art gone, beloved,
| still will think Of thee.
His fingers trayin; over the keys, he
falls into the familiar Mo .ligh- So
nata.'
Beethoven was known to be the
greatest eXtemporist + his time, and
in the play, as h sits alone in the
moonlight. h thoughts turning newt
ably toward the woman of his heart,
presently there are card the strains
o. his immortal song Adelaide min
Cling with those Of the ',-oOnlight
Sonata as the curtain slowly de-
sends"
Supporting Mr.. Bispham as Beet
hoven will be a specially selected com
pany of actor singers, including Nine.
Marie Narelle, prano, --lss Kathleen
+ Conan, piano; Miss ldelle Patterson,
mezzo; Henry Barron, tenor, and Gra-
ham Harris, violin.
In conjunction with the presentation
of "Adelaide." and preceding it, Mr.
Bispham and his company will offer a
miscellaneous concert, called The Re-
hearsal."
AT the conclusion Of his New York
performances Mr. Bispham, under the
management of R. +. Johnston, will
start on a tour which will take m TO
the Pacific Coast.