The New York herald., 1921-10-30

turers had been trying to feed the C
their doom was sounded. Thencefo
became the only possible thing.
Walter DaInrosch is the Jubal OF
this tribe, the father Of all such as
play Wagner on the piano and tell the
plots of the operas. He came back
most successfully in Ills opening lee
ture at Aeolian Hall two weeks ago.
He had an audience ten times as large
as any that faced Mrs. Busby in the
heydey of her success. He wasted no
time on the oloeies. He candidly told
his audience that il any one wished to
know about that sort of thing there
were many good books. some made In
Germany and some here. There are.
There are move books about Wagner
ylan about the origin Of man or the
emancipation of woman. Some OF
them are read too. But, as Mr.. Dam
rosch intimated, that Is another story.
Mr.. Darlrosch got right down to
business. FIe told them who the per-
sonages OF "Das Rheingold" were and
then he began to play the piano. He
woye n clever version Of story and
music, all condensed into about an
hour and three quarters (the whole
onera takes two hours and a half), and
about a quarter OF triumphantly
thumped the gods into Walhalla over
the famous rainbow bridge, which al
ways sounds SO much better than 1t
locks
Several we'll meaning persons have
tried within the last thirty years to
apply the Wagner lecture system to
other musical themes. but with little
success. A lecture on Beethovens
fifth symphony, for example. interests
only the few. Yet there is hardly ap-
other musical subject which lends
itself go readily to discourse and illu-
minating analysis. But there is no
fairy story connected with the compo-
sition. Possibly that il the reason why
n fails IS a popular topic.
One supposition is good till another
IN suggested. II it is the myth that is
desired, then why not have lectures on
"IIansel und Gretel"? There is a good
story to tell and beautiful music to
play. There are folk songs and lead
ing motives TO be mentioned and,
above all, the absence of all excuse for
Drofundity. Yet there are no Humper-
dinck lecturers.
Puccini is the idol OF the opera going
world. why arc there no Puccini
lectures? The writer has a vague Sue
picion that he did once see one mem
toned in the list OF public school lee
tures, but cannot be sure. IL MT.
Demrosch announced a lecture on
"rosca" would he be greeted by a
sold out house? If not. why not2
II Henry T. Finck, the apostle Of Mas
senet, should offer to give some lee
lures on "Thais." "Manon" and
"Sappro," with references ION the
side) TO Lilitli, Catherine dc Medici.
Camille and Mrs. Warren, illustrated
BY Percy Granger at the plano. and
moving pictures OF Miss Farrar, would
he draw" as well as Walter Dam
rosch with q lone piano and his little
box Of performing gods and his
jangling lett motiven?
No. the day of the musical lecture
ranes. Even the good old folk song
graft no longer comes in. The last
trench into which the general musical
lecture has retired is the public school.
The Wagner lecture alone has sur
vived and proves itself able to stand
In the forefront. And Walter Dam
rosch has been It's brilliant chief OF
staff. without doubt now 1t viii begin
70 appear again from its hiding places
in various parts OF tho land far re-
moved from New York.
IL is to be hoped that misguided
German synpathizers will DO nothing
10 mar the visit Of DR.. Richard
Strauss. What they may choose TO
do IN the cases OF the performing
musicians who rcenter tho concert