New-York tribune., 1920-12-19

4 8
of such masters as Gluck, Mozart, Bee
thoven, Weber, Berlioz and others, men
OF to-day also, were performed as they
ought and can be performed the public
would soon rise to their appreciation
and be as eager and generous in its
support of them as it is now of the
operas which it rushcs to hear only be-
cause Caruso or Farrar appear in them.
There is some pardonable, even lauda
bic, justification for the present craze
over Caruso because of his phenomenal
voice; there is little of cXcrse in the
case Of Miss Farrar, who is come to be
to New York what Mary Garden is to
Chcago-only that and nothing more.
There is much more that could be
said on the subject of opcra-of the
benefits which might flow from more
studied performances only possible if
there be less activity outside of the
Metropolitan Opera House and more
within in respect to rehcarsals, care
for truthful, beautiful misc-en-scenc,
effective stage management and illu-
mination, accurate and poctica text
books, proper diction in ali languages
and larger consideration for the YER
nacular. We have, moreover, not yet
ceased to regret the abandonment of
the praiscworthy ideal which consortcd
an institution devoted to opera bufa
with the larger institution devoted to
opera scria- comic opera in the polite
sense leagucd with what is known rs
grand opera. But perhaps efforts at
reform in these directions would be as
unwelcome coming from the trustees of
fund as from us. SO VIC forbcar
Wisdom in Regard to Music Schools
The subject Of music schools iss
vital one indeed, and Mr.. Damrosch
has spoken wisely OH it, A great ma
tional school for vocal and instrument
tai music may be great desideratum,
but no organization, however richly
endowed, would be able to rise above
the level of the wise ambition Of the
students who would be attracted to it.
What good schools (and we have SUCH
jSCu 10 IOt utOIC SluOCHtS UUC lew Si !,
so the few be persons Of exceptional
endowment--vocal, intellectual, artistic
and moral. The consuming desire of
multitude of mediocrtcs to get before
the public is something which ought
to be Discouraged not furthcred. If
money could be made to teach imperti-
nent talent that the road to artistic
excellence is so long and arduous that
only the chosen few ought to be en-
couraged to enter upon it, then an cX-
be praiscworthy. If in the case of
singers gifted with a capacity FOR
dramatic representation there could be
set as a goal for their striving eventual
participation in model performances at
the opera it would be a good thing.
But to further recruit the already
oycrfull ranks Of mediocre singers and
performers clamoring for public ap
pearances would only add to condi
tion which is deplorablc enough as it
is Nccdful education, as Mr.. Dam
rosch urges, is that in the professional
practice Of orchestral instruments. For
nearly a century this country has had
to depend upon foreigners TO fill the
ranks Of its symphonic bands, because
musical culture to native Americana
has meant that girls ought to play
little on the pianofortc, or sing a little.
For American men it has meant
rcxt to nothing. We have no class
born and bred to tic notion that an
honorable livelihood may be earned by
p!, y,ng upon wind instruments in or
chestras. But the great infusion of a
| foreign element in our population may
be working a chanec even in this.