Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-10-05
GRAND OPERA TO
REPLACE JAZZ
music, HE Thinks
Manager of Boston Company
Says 1918 Season Will
See Change for Better

Less Jazz music and more grand
opera will mark the l917-19lS must
cal season, and the war, instead OF
devitalizing will prove an effective
tonic"
Max Rabinof, managing director OF
the Boston Grand Opera Co, OF late
has stood as herald OF good tidtngs
for affairs musical and, while he be-
lieves in announcement for courage s
sake and sees unmistakable signs OF
busy season ahead, he bases his
deductions still more securely upon
natural causes. In short, he finds that
war is stimulus not only for bust
ness and economy but also for the
body musical
Good music is more necessary to-
day than ever before" was the plain
statement of the impresario. found at
his office in the Metropolitan Opera
building. The season in America
will prove what | say " Can you
imagine any greater contrast than war
and music? Can the indispensableness
OF music receive a surer test than
today? Its Counteracting force has
come to be recognized asst never was
when the poet wrote Of its soothing
the savage breast. Just as the boys
In uniform find the song Of the camp
fire their keenest. almost sacred, d.
version from the horrors of battle.
the distressed thoughts of a nation
seek comfort in the eloquen: music
OF the stage.
AS a people are awakened to the
sterner realities of life art reassumes
its truer aspects and deeper mean.
ings. That which Is shallow and ST.
perficial is separated like the chaff
from the wheat and serious effort is
forwarded by greater recognition. It
is a phase Of law of economy. With
the spirit Of sacrifice and heroism ex.
tant, that which is wholesome takes
deserved precedence over the idle and
fictitious and its appeal becomes wild.
er and more powerful. Not merely
by virtue of prohibition will there be
less of cabaret in the cities, not sole.
ly because the cognoscenti view the
approaching season with optimism
are we inclined to dispense confidence.
History has taught us that in time of
war the stage is busy and that when
realities are sternest there exists the
strongest public craving for illusion
of diyerting kind
Grand opera has the advantage
over other musical enterprise at this
juncture because of its romantic fla.
vor, its combination of fine vocal and
orchestral music and its absorbing
symbolism. Already 1t has shaken |
loose those shackles by which 1t has |
been held In America as the darling |
of the elite and the masses are begin |
ming to divine their common prop
rietorship. The Boston Grand Co.
during the last two years has
brought the finest within reach of the |
poor of a hundred cities and each |
week the coming indications of a rec
ord season become more undeniabie.
There is evidence OF courage in |
the desire of people to sing and |
to encourage others to sing in time
OF war, be their search for this re-
spite ever so natural, and who can.
not say that deeper philosophy and |
more undaunted spirit Is their re-
ward? Let them say abroad, as they
shall have good reason to say: Amer
leans sing as we'll as fight.
With the most harsh ana cruel occu-
patton of men, standardization, goes
ae a comforter music, most glorified
of the arts land more Indispensable
than the sciences"