San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-09-16
By PIERRE v. r.. KEY

anu AhPiNccANt ways Va a dNAAoiAd
amongst the rea ling public for en-
lghtenment, no less thar for enter
taingly written infol ma tion, about
music and musicians. Newspaper
editors have recognized the growing
appreciation, in all classes, for an art
form which has come to be vital in
everyday life. Sensitively alert to
the desires of their readers, these
editors have acted to supply those
desires. Nothing could be more ma
tural. Scarcely a community, of even
the very small size, which is without
its yearly course of concerts; and
many of them have turned to opera
with an eagerness reminding one OF
ducks heading for nearby pond.
Small wonder, therefore, that such
tendencies should be catered TO by the
men who make" newspapers, and who
keep a constant finger upon the pub
lie pulse.
The latest piece Of evidence 20
demonstrate the need for good daily
newspaper music reviewing has been
furnished by the New York Times.
First Guest" Writer.
Three weeks hence. the Times is to
present for the consideration of its
readers a guest reviewer OF the
leading events soon TO take place in
the city which. by common expert
acceptance, is unsteady the first IN
the world.
II. C. COLES. Of the London Times.
s is the music chronicler who will serve
in that capacity as guest" member
of a newspaper staff. We have had
the guest" conductor and the guest"
optra singer. but never, until now,
TIE guest" writer upon matters mu-
steal.
NJ. COLES will remain at his post
for three months. at which time he
will yield 10 Edwin Evans, also of
London, who is 20 pen guest" COM
nentary for the New York Times IN
Ill the end OF the season.
Richard Aldrich. tie Times music |
critic for 81 years past. wi contribute |
to the department OF which he is TO re-
main in charge occasional articles. |
But. as he himself says, he has been
permitted to retire from the active and
laborious task of in cessant music re-
viewing" We should not be sur
prised to see Dick" Aldrich drop out
altogether II the Times dis
covers IN either Mr.. COLES or Mr..
Evans a suitable successor. Another
year, perhaps two years. and the ac-
Invites of three illustrious music
writers-Krehbiel, Huneker, Aldrich
will have become memories.
A Quartet Of Critics.
The loss of James Gibbons Hume
ker, left an unfillable gap in the
ranks of Americas music commenta-
tors. Jim was unlike any one of his
confereres, in his opinions and in
his style. He was perhaps not a
critic at all, but IN. essayist; original,
learned, and gifted with wit and bril-
liancy. During the twelve years We
served the New York World as music
reviewer James Hunekerf was a gen.
erous co-laborer on other New York
newspapers; and when Huneker took
up the work we had laid down he
became more than ever the interested
friend.
A very different chrnicler was
Henry Krehbiel. Where Huneker would
have flashed. Krehbiel held steadfast
to the traditions f analysis and writ
ing soliGity which were peculiarly his.
Yet each man had his followers each
welded widespread influence, and, to-
gether with William J. Henderson and
Richard Aldrich, they formed a quar-
tet of veteran musical writers such
as we may never have again.
These arbiters of music opinion ex-
ercised a steady influence; upon we
in the craft who were their Juniors
no less than upon the people who read
them, and the artists of whom this
quartet wrote.
When tomorrow comes-and AID
rich and Henderson have completed
their tasks-their best work will 90
on.
Beating Big Records.
IL Is going to be an early music
season, a long season, a busier-than-
ever season, in 50 far as New York
is concerned. Announced schedules
are enough to bring means to the
critics, who must hear all the con-
certs, recitals, and opeFas before they
can write of them. That. unfortunate
ly, is something the critic must do.
Now and again he doesn't; and there
are instances, of record wherein at
tempts TO comment upon unheard per-
formances have been attended with
humorous consequences. But your
wise expert who Yields pen, or
pounds a typewriter. listens before he
prepares his impressions for the limo
type composition. 1t really is an ex-
cellent thing to do, and averts ever
so much annoyance.
September II will bring the New
York 1923-1924 seasons first music
gun, at the Century Theater. 1t will
be Of operate calibre, being none
other than that Of the San Carlo or.
ganization. which Fortune Gallo has
boosted to fame. Aida is the work Sc
lected aida. with its fortissimi eli.
MAKES, its Trainings and big scenes)
but the cast will be another than the
one which appeared there under iden
teal conditions year ago.
This time the soprano is to be Anne
Roselle, in place Of Marie Rappold
with RadameS' music sung by Manue
Salazar Ga former San Carlo teno
who has been with the metropolitan
for two seasons past, and a new
Amonasro in the person Of Mario Bas
lola. II Basiola is really the bari
tone we are ssured he is, well-thel
there may be a story to write.
An ARM OF Recitals.
Even before the San Carlo finishe