Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-12-07
BY HENRIETTA M. REEFS.

Wy HILE there is a dearth of
wv musical events i'll our own
" city, and, of any other event
for that matter, it is worth while to
glance at the large musical centers
where notable musical events are
taking place.
A special interest attaches itself
to the opening appearances OF the
Chicago Opera company III its home
enVirons. because of its recent visit
to Omaha.
The house was sold out week
in advance for the opening perform
ance, La Nave, by Montemezzi,
which was produced with the COM
poser conducting, and with Miss
Raisa, Dolci and Rmini in the stel-
lar parts.
The entire production was huge
success, and an ovation was given
the composer and his new opera.
During the first week, Madam But
tert1y" was given with Nine. Miura
in the title role. Nine. Miura has
been heard in this role in Omaha,
and with the high standards of the
Chicago Opera company the success
of this production can be imagined.
A thrill was recorded, according
to reports, by the first appearance
of Edward Johnson, in the two pro-
auctions given of "Fedora." Mr..
Johnson's debut was heralded as
sensational. The Musical Leader
says Of this new tenor: Not for
many moons has there been such
excitement over a debut, and never
has there been a more legitimate
triumph. Unheralded, as Edward
Johnson, practically unknown, this
great singer by the sheer force of
wonderful art, personal magnet
ism, and glorious voice conquered,
and now Chicago's public has an ex-
IRENE case of what has i'll the last
few days become known as John
sonitis." Johnson is widely known
in Italy as Eduardo di Giovanni
He is a Canadian.
Bonci ,has also appeared in Chi
cago in the Masked Ball" where
he duplicated the success he made
in Omaha The Pavley -Oukrainsky
ballet is also making its artistic
work feature of the opera season.
The metropolitan Opera Co. ,ot
New York, instead of opening with
the newest of the new, as Chicago
did, on the contrary selected Puc-,
cini's "Tosca," with Caruso. Ger
aldine Farrar and Scott as principal
stars. The first week also intro
Huced notable debut in that OF
Nine. Beaumont, new contralto,
and the successful first appearance
of Albert Wolff, the new French
conductor of the company, whose
operate setting of the Blue Bird"
will be presented later in the season,
Capacity houses were the rule in
New York as we'll as Chicago.
The death of Major Higginson,
the founder of the Boston Syn
phony, brought to a close the career
of one of the greatest, if not the
greatest. of musical benefactors
which this country has ever had.
This occurred at Boston short
time ago, and in tribute to his MEM
DRY activities in the important ar
tistic, academic and financial circles
of Boston were suspended while the
funeral services were being con-
Quoted. Major Higginson was
remarkable type of man. Musical
America points out that he was
patriot of the exemplary order, fl
nancier, orator, writer, trustee and
manager of vested interests, high
minded sitizeu. patron of arts, friend
of education and philantropist.
He was born in 1884, and came of
American Puritan ancestry. He
studied some time at Harvard, but
left before graduation to enter a
business career. He went to Vienna
to study music in order to round
out his education. and while there
his musical ambitions took shape.
He entered the civil war. and at
tanned the rank of major, finally be-
ing discharged for disability result
ing from wounds, and bfeveted a
lieutenant colonel for bravery
After the war he returned to the
banking business.
He was the founder and financial
hacker of the Boston Symphony
orchestra for Sc years, and by this,
his most conspicuous public service,
he became internationally known.
The first concert of the Boston
Symphony orchestra was on Oc-
tober %, 1881. For Is years there