New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-28
BY II. +. kREHBIEL.

Upon the vocal score OF his opera
"Goyescas" and his pianoforte pieces
/ published in New York by G.. Schirmer
the name of the composer is given as
! Enrique Granados. To give him the
benefit OF his patronymic in full, he
should be called Enrique Granados Y
Campina. He was born at Lcrids. Cata-
lonia. on July p, 1867, and received his
/ early instruction in music from Juan
I Bautista Pujol GS36-1s96). in his day
man OF considerable rcpute through
/ out Spain as teacher. pianist and com
. poser of pisnofortc music, and Felipe
/ Pedrill, a composer and scholar. now
professor of musical history and as-
thetics at the Conservatory Of Madrid.
When he was twenty years old he
went TO Paris and entered the piano
/ forte class Of Charles de Beriot. On
/ December ,, 1898, his first opera, CT
titled Maria del Carmen" in three
acts, was brought forward at the Royal
Theatre in Madrid. A correspondent
OF "The Musical Times" Of London,
wrote TO that journal that It "produced
quite sensation alike among amateurs
! and critics, on account OF the original
: ity. righteousness and dramatic power
displayed in the score"
| In 1903 a portion Of a second opera,
"Foletto." was performed at Barcelona
and a third. "Lilisns," was in the rep
ertory of the opera house in the same
/ city in 1911. Meanwhile he had COM
posed a consideral number Of works.
including two symphonic poems for
/ orchestra, entitled LA Nit del Mort
and "Dantc" played by the Chicago
/ Orchestra last Noyembcr). a trio for
/ pianoforte and strings. a string quartet
and number OF songs and pianoforte
! solos Among the latter were the
[ pieces called "Goyescas," which became
| the foundation Of the opera Of that
name. and were introduced in America
/ by Mr.. Ernest Schelling
The opera had been accepted for
/ performance by the director Of the
/ Grand Opera OF Paris, in the season
/ 1915, but the plan was frustrated
+ By the breaking out Of the war, which
/ has now cost him his life.
II was brought TO the attention OF
Mr.. Gatti- Casazza, who, having a likely
/ representative of the heroine in his
/ company in the person Of Senorits Bori,
/ accepted il for performance at the
] Metropolitan Opera House. Senorita
Bori not being able 10 sing this sea-
son, the part was given 20 Miss Anna
/ Fitziu, and the opera had its first per-
formance or January 2S, being coupled
/ with Lcorcayallc's "Pagliacci"
/ The composer had come 10 New York
/ TO attend the production OF the opera,
| together with his librettist, Fernando
/ Periquct. "Goyescss" had four more
/ season and one At a popular Saturday
night, its companion pieces. since it is
| a short opera. being "Cayslleria Rusti-
cana and the German "llansel und
/ Gretel."
Senior Granados had been well intro
! duced 20 the local public before he
came. On November 8. 1915, Mr. Gogorza
sang three Of his songs at recital
/ i'm Aeolisn Hall. On January 10. 1916,
Mr.. Schelling played some OF his piano
forte "Goyescas" in the same room, and
on Sunday afternoon the compose
+ played some OF his pianoforte pieces
and some pieces for pianoforte and vio-
/ loncello, with his countryman. Pablo Ca
sails, a. the Ritz-Carlton before the So
ciety OF the Friends OF Music. He was
heard in public at recital of his music
in which he had the help Of Miss Fitziu
on February 22 He was expected 10
take part in the concert at Carnegis
Hall for the benefit Of students of the
Paris Conservatoire on March -.
He did not play at the concert. how
ever, probably because at about the
same time he received an invitation 70
play at the White House in Washing
ton. He had already secured passage
for himself and wife on a Spanish
steamship. and the invitation caused
him considerable embarrassment.
Added to his desire 10 play az the
home OF the President of the United
States was the notion, probably. that
the invitation was something like a
royal command. At any rate he con.
cluded 10 cancel his engagement and
( take passage on the Rotterdam which
sailed something like fortnight ago
and was then withdrawn from service
because of the fear of the Holland.
America Line officials that she might
become a victim OF a German subma-
rine. As is known. the Rotterdam
reached port safely and IT was on the
Channel boat that the composer and
his wife lost their lives. if the reports
I OF their death are correct.