The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-02-16

righeful pace. bntpratner hSt the
rate of advance Is rapid and that
opera Is beginning TO achieve q
popularity of which the end cannot
yet DO seen. For this the Chief
credit must be given to Sir Thomas
Beecham, who has not only had ex-
traordinary success with his London
seasons (aias! all too few), but has
gone, like Alexander, to spread his
conQuests farther. Like Bonnie Les
ley he "gaed Ger the border" only
In the opposite direction. Besides
their many triumphs in the nor hcrn
manufacturing towns. the Beecham
Opera company have visited Edin-
burgh and Glasgow. where they were
equally wei. received. But 1t In on
Manchester that Sir Thomas has nxed
his highest hopes; his promise OF an
opera house in that city. and his
scheme for training young operate
singers, In connection with the Royal
Manchester College OF Music, have q
special significance for the future
The Carl Rosa company have also
done magnificent work during these
years and only recently celebrated
their jubilee. The Moody NJ snners,
O'Mara, and other companies, should
also be mentioned. Three English
works have been heard for the FIRST
ime-'"The Critic" OF Stanford.
THE Boatswain's Mate" OF Ethel
Smyth. and Stephen Philpot's Dante
and Beatrice"
Needless to say, choral ard orches-
tral societies have not thrtven during
the war; in the absence at the front
OF so large a part OF the young male
population. it is obvious that choirs
and orchestras are ut q disadvantage.
what Is wonderful perhaps. is that
choirs and bands have kept going al
all. Yet the Queens Hall Promenade
| Concerts continued during the au-
tumn months al usual. and the Com
petition Festival movement shows no
signs of surrender. Nor has the
| Eisteddfod fallen into the back
ground. The Prime Minister'S pres
ence at Meath last year gave special
distin ction to the gathering. and the
gathering, and the words that he
spoke in 1916 will remain for long In
the hearts OF those who heard them
why snould we not sing during the
war . war means suffering and
sorrow but It has been ordained
that the best singer among the birds
of Britain should give its song IN the
night, and. according to legend. that
sweet song is a song OF triumph over
pain"
Among the forms OF music which
have a more or less accidental char
acter, and owe their existence to the
special condition OF the time, should
be mentioned the performances for
/ war charities. These have ranged
from concerts la the largest halls ia
organ recitals in village churches A
special feature has been the war emer-
gency concerts of Mr.. Isidore De Lara,
who has done yeonan service In
| bringing to notice the works OF native
com posers. Then again, there are al
those activities connected With enter.
| tanning the forces. both In camp and
hospital. which are associated with the
Y. M. G. A. and other orga nizations
Miss Lena Ashwell and Mr.. Perc.
Schofes have taken = leading part IL
these remarkably successful efforts
1t is Miss Ashwelrs verdict that tn
longer the men have been at the from
for the best music.
On the whole the position OF music
both actual and potential. appears Il
be stronger today than at the begin
ming OF the war. There has been a,
unprecedented amount of music max
ing. and II is natural that a great pro
portion OF 1t should be OF an inferio
quality. But there Ia this to be sal,
by way Of consolation. that to hea
nohie muStCs even IL IL DO not Oh III
best. Is better than to hear no mus
at all. Many of those who have &C
CURED the concert-going habit vii
con- to find that they enjoy goo,
songs more than ballads or music-ha
ditties. The public taste 10 alread
rising. and the proof OF this Is tina
there are now supporters Of the oper,
who before the war had never though
OF entering the coors OF a theater TO
auch a nurnoSA.