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

D''Less jazz music and more grand
Vera will mark the 1917-l9lS must
cal season, and the war, instead OF
devitalizing will prove an effective
tonic"
Max RabinOff, managing director OF
the Boston Grand Opera Co, OF late
has stood as herald of good tidings
for affairs musical. and, while he be-
lieves in announcement for cOurage's
sake and sees unmistakable signs OF
a busy season ahead he bases his
deductions still more securely upon
natural causes. In short, he finds that
war is a 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
viii prove what ! say. Can you
imagine any greater contrast than war
and music? Can the indispensableness
of music receive a surer test than
today? It's counteracting force has
come to be recognized as ii 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 SUI
perficial is separated like the chaE
fIzm the wheat and serious effort vs.
rewarded by greater recognition. II
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 it's absorbing
symbolism. Already 1t has shaken
loose those shackles by which it 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 q hundred cities and each
week the coming indications of a rec.
ord season become more undeniable.
There is evidence OF courage in
the desire OF a people to sing and
to encourage others to sing in time
Of war, be their search for this re-
spite ever sosnatural, 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 well as fight.
With the most harsh ana cruel occu.
paNonl of men, standardization, goes
as comforter music. most glorified
of the arts and mere indispensable
than the sciences"