The sun., 1916-09-24

operate public cannot be wholly kept
within the opera house. The feeling
VI rostlessnees ~ certain TO spread.
Tho demand for sensational fcutS
widens. Possibly we are III danger OF
acquiring q Southern appetite for ca
c%iteinent and may in time bring about
q resuscitation of the provcrb 40 ia
miliar ia tho fifteenth century IN
eiese Italianato a M diuNolo linear
nato."
These Wandering observations all
bear upon the probable character "c
the musical season Of 1ylS-1T, now be-
ginning. We shall DO listeners to AZ
tonishing feats. applauders OF virtuosi.
This Is not a healthy state for any art,
and for music is most, injurious be-
cause " q are not SO dependent on tho
interpreter.
Already warning has been given
from the operate general stan. We
have been told that. owing IT, tho con
ditions In Europe, II has been iiprvs-
sible to engage how singers. Now
operas will undoubtedly be produced
but what they may furnish IN the
shape OF inspiration has yet TO he dis
closed. The greatest interest will DO
aroused by the production of n row
work by Americans. The opera called
Canterbury Pi!srime," tic book by
Percy Mackaye and the music hN
Reginald de Koven, should be tho
piece de resistance OF the season.
Lsudunai's "I'rancssca da Rimini
Is also promised. IT has beer, a Ions
time on thu way 10 production "
was TO have had its first hearing In
Boston, but the Boston opera paNc ny
tho ghost before the thing WAS cc-
complished. III addition to these two
announcements the one other impress
sive proclamation Of the Metropolitan
Is that Nine. Frances Aid will sing
dramatic roles. sho Is cast for FRAN
cesca and II IL intimated that n
will sing Aida. Well, why not? Patti
sang the part. and SHE was n lyric
singer. too.
The great orchestral organizations
are using large type In the announce
inent Of suloists. This Is inevitable,
for they IAN hardly expect to produce
many no, elites. But IA glance over the
lists discloses the sad act that even
soloists are not all that they might be.
one fnds the names OF many firmly
settled mcdiocritics.
However. NJ, viii be sheltered under
the warm protection OF that useful
term Interesting" There will lie much
opera. not only In New York but else
where. There will be about 80 or
, chestral concerts In the greater city.
And as for reciteIs, the mind ~stsggers
at the outlook. Acolian Hall Is AL
ready overstocked and managers are
out securing the city for theatres. May
the tates forbid that the list OF recitals
shall stretch out into the warm
weather. lest some daring spirit con-
ceive the project OF giving n In the
polo Grounds or the stadium.
Searching critical nj on the
two opera representations IN the Lew
isohn stadium may perhaps lie spared.
No thoughtful observer OF such a per
Torrance as that Of die Walhuere'
could ba otherwise than thankful that
some nine or ten thousand people,
mostly Of the kind that cannot afford
TO We TO the Opera House. should
have the opportunity to hear the great
work Of Wagner as interpreted ny the
:. Metropolitan singers and orchestra
. under the judicious guidance Of Mr.
Bodanzky.
The man who gives his attention for
a week or two to what passes for music
with the vast majority Of human be.
ings in this town must he glad OF any
movement which promises to confron,
these people with beauty. In the vau.
deville theatres for tho mos, part the
thing which Is called singing sounds
, TO q musical ear Ike the lowing OF cat.
tic, while the stun which Is sung car
|, do nothing but lower Ideals, vulgarize
taste m generally render the habit.
ual listener incapable Of recognizing
real music. even In its simplest foil
song manifestations.
Tho ear is assai.ed every day by
street music" Of Undesirable coarse
ness ana ugllness. Half grown boy.
vail and moan. making precisely the
same sort OF sounds that one hears IN
passing a hospital. and people pay
money to them for doing II. Others
come with whining or yeIping OF
humping instruments and again the
:. flood Of coins flows from windows.
| II IL not charitable impulse thai
makes people pay these pcr!pa.et!c de
stroyers Of the public peace. II Is q
I genuine belief that these nerve rack
Z ing noises are music and that the,
c ate pleasant to hear. II then til,
cheap open air performances OF oper;
: chance to arouse the curiosity Of pei
: SONS who DO not habitua,ly hear goo,
music aud lead them to q discover,
Z OF the real poetry Of sound, let then