The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1920-03-23
NEW YORK MUSIC REVIEW
By DIXIE HINES

BY DIXIE HINES
New York, March 2o.-The Metro
politan press and the correspondence
OF the important newspapers Tn the
leading cities have found food for re-
fection in the recently published in
terview in these columns In which
Madame Marguerite sylvia uttered the
protest against the universal lack of
appreciation of the efforts of Amer
leans TO place their music on high
and dignifed plane. Madame sylvia
Is native daughter by her marriage
to the courtly Major Bernard l.. Smith,
United States Marine Corps and Viz
ginfa cavalier. and she has been the
most dominant spirit in this redivivus
of American music. 1t may be re-
called that Madame Sylvia felt that
the government should take a hand in
the propa ganda for established music.
She even went 10 far as to suggest
the feasibility OF inviting the foreign
artists to contribute their service or a
part of their earnings to the general
fund for this promotion. This has
been misconstrued by some writer's
into a covert threat to tar them. The
latter suggestion has come, not from
Madame sylvia. but from the several
scribcs. to which the present scriven-
ger pleads guilty to being one.
What is 10 be the outcome is thus
far problematical, but Madame sylvia
already has accomplished one thing
she has set tongues swa gging in edi-
torial Offices and music circles, and
this liz always the introductory to ac-
corn p i1shments of note.
Another Richmond La in the field.
With the Metropolitan Opera com
pany In fun swing. the Chicago visitors
enjoying questionable success annually,
the permanent company at the Park
| thester singing the tuneful old oper-
ettas of Gilbert and Sullivan, and the
| itinerant Gallo company coming in
every now and then. publicity has
been disseminated of late concerning
| the activities of Mrs Oscar Hammer
stein and Fortune Gallo, to whom will
| fan the Manhattan Opera House in
| this city
| The exact plans Of this new artistic
organizatio have not been divulged
| but it Is known that they are impor-
tant an dimposing. Gallo has won
| his spures as an impresario, and
whatever he assumes will be handled
with care and intelligence. But this
| is not the point. The point In why
| New York should be surfefted with
! opera companies and the rest of the
4
| ceptions. deprived entirely? Opera
| enjoyment Is not an exclusive privi-
| lege. The privilege OF witnessing ii
appears to be, however Tt is within
| the power OF the music lovers of the
country. and more especially the mu-
/ sic clubs and organized music lovers,
| to bring such pressure to bear that
We NAV eventually take *our rightful
| position as music loving and pro-
I noting nation
| The only substantial, intelligent and
interesting solution thus far appears
/ in the personnel Of the American
| Grand Opera company. the new or
ganization in New York, which prom
ises to present American operas, with
| American companies and in a truly
artistic and representative American
manner in American cities. As an
| initial effort 'Shanewis." by Cadman.
and THE Legend" by Briel. have
| been chosen FOR presentation. These
| two operas, which, happily. can he
| produced on one program in an even
| ing. are representative of our best
| native talent. They have been sung
at the Metropolitan, and when pro-
| duced on tour will have a personnel
of singers significant for briliancv
| and distinction. The management
| lies in the hands of Richard G. Hern-
| don and Frank Taylor KNITTING two
gentlemen or high musical intelli-
Eence, who have only recently been
decorated by the French government
for their work i'm conjunction with
French music propaganda. If they
can win such distinction from a for
eign government how much better
may they work for their own coun-
try? The American Grand opera
company is already epoch marking in
fte elm ME formation lis possibilities