The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-02-06
THE HUMOROUS SIDE
OF MASSENET :


The Chevelier Eugenio di Pirani, in
a recent issue of THE Etude," gives a
highly entertaining picture of the
French composer, Massenet, from
which the following has been ex-
| tracted
/ In his memories Massent writes "
being present at Caruso's debut in
Milan and confesses to a fragrant joke
he played while he was in that city, at
dinner of Sonzogno, the publisher.
Everyone knew of the strained rela-
| tions between him and Ricordi. He
lslipped into the dining room before
any one Of the guests had gone in and
placed under Sonzogno's napkin an
orsini bomb which was only of card
board he had bought from the con-
lfectioner's.
Beside this inoffensive explosive he
placed Records card. The joke was
a great success.
On the occasion of the first per-
Torrance of his opera "Cendrillon" in
1889, Gounod sent to Massenet the fol-
lowing lines: "A thousand congratu-
lations. my dear friend, on your latest
fine success. The devil! Well, you go
at such a pace one can scarcely keep
up with you" One sees how aston
ished a fellow artist was at the fabu-
lous working power Of Messanet.
Cendrillon here, success phenome-
nal" The last word was too long and
the sending office had cut it in two.
to make it more profitable for the
company.
Massanets talent was of a rather
feminine nature. He lacked depth of
thought and strength to grapple sue
cessfully with biblical subjects. At
the same time there is distinct ele-
ment of poetry noticeable in all his
works mad a peculiar sensuous charm
is prominent in most of his compost
tions. To these qualities he added
richly colored and varied instrumental
ton and an always interesting and Of
ten original harmonic treatment.
Few musicians can touch him in the
art of handling the orchestra. At the
time when he was studying at the
Conservative he astonished everyone
by the prodigious amount of work he
got through and the ease with Wp1cn
he was able to compose.
Once while Massenet was working
on his opera Theresa" he had to tel
ephone to his librettist, Jules Claretie,
about some difficulty in the final
scene. He called him up and shouted:
"Cut Therese's throat and it viii be
all right" At this moment Massenet
heard an unknown voice crying ex-
citedly (somebody was listening at the
wire: ''Oh, if / only knew who you
are, YOU scoundrel, / would denounce
YOU to the police. crime like that!
Who is to be the victin?"
Suddenly Claretie's voice:
"Ohce her throat is cut she will be
put in the cart with her husband. l
prefer that to poison"
The other mans voice:
"oh, that's too much! Now the ras-
calls want TO poison her. I'll call the
superintendent; want an inquiry"
buzzing ensued; then blissful
calm. With a subscriber reused to
such a. pitch Massenet and Claretie
ran the chance OF a bad quarter of an
hour.
Massanet relates a conversation one
OF his friends who had lost an uncle,
a millionaire. had with the undertaken.
IF" said the latter. Monsieur
wants a flrst-cls.ss funeral. he will
have the entire church hung in black |
and with the arms Of the deceased, the |
opera orchestra. the leading singers |
the most imposing eatafslque-ae-
cording 10 price"
The heir hesitated
Then sir. 1t will be second-class; |
the orchestra from the Opera Comique, |
second rate understanding to |
amount paid"
Further hesitation.
Whersupon the undertaken In a sad |
tone: Then II viii be third class but /
I warn you. Monsieur. 1t Will not be
gay!"