Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-05
operate "reminiscences
Bv a Local Musician

1T Is always interesting to get con-
trasts in styles, musical as well as
along other lines, comparing the tastes
of the public of the past with that of
the audiences of the present day, Or.
Oscar NJ. White, who has recently re-
| opened his studio in Washington after
! recovering from serious Illness. has
! set down some reminiscent remarks
about operate tastes Of half q century
! ago. At that time he was very
! young man in Europe and known as
| Cav Bianco di Palermo.
/ He says;
Wonderful changes have taken place
In the operate world during the last
half century Very popular operas of
years ago. like those Of Meycrbeer, were
in the repertoire Of almost every opera
Diahlc. Ice Prophetic. 'LEtoile du
Mold and Les Huguenots proved AL
ways great attraction. especially for
Sunday audiences at the larger opera
houses. but with the exception of Les
/ Hugucnots' most Of them have COM
pietcly disappeared Many other famous
operas have followed the same path.
For instance, Don Giovanni, Flo
lows 'AleSSandro Stradella,' Ernani,
and especially 'Masanello. more famil-
iarly known in Europe as La Muette
de PortiCi' at one time was a great
drawing card The part of Fenella, the
dumb girl was generally played by such
artists as Taglioni dc Miorini and. with
the Bergamaschi italian Grand Opera
Co by Signorina Belucci Taglioni was
considered the greatest premiere dam
SeuSo and pantomimiste of her time.
the idol of royalty and public.
Daring my college days / heard the
great tcnors, Nicman and Botel in lie
Position de Lonlumeau" In Amster-
dam / met the noted basSo. Conrad
Behrens, at that time connected with
the Arnheim Grand Opera Co. Carl
Steinman, conductor His roles of
Sarastro IN The Magic Flute and
King Heinrich in 'Lohengrin were
great favoriteS with the audience, not
only in Holland. Germany etc. but
later at the Metropolitan opera House
under Irpresario Conried Conrad
Behrens and / enjoyed many stein
at krasna- polSkis Amsterdam
In Hanover l made the acquaint-
ance Of Anton Schott, whose friendship
| valued moro than any other artist. He
Iltu bttH 4 cavalry OUlCcf ana he pos
SeSsed wonderful personality. The
Rathsweinkeller in Hanover used to
be the rendezvous every Wednesday
and Saturday night for the above men
toned artists. lesser lights and musi-
clans. meeting about II pm. after the
performance Of a social evening and
Impromptu music The place. poorly
Illuminated and filled with dense smoke
OF 1lpes Of every description, had an
aspect Of mystery In the center Of the
vault, seated before an old harmonium
one could hardly discern the giant figure
Of the venerable Herr Hofkapelmeister.
with long flowing hair. PLAYING his inn
provlsations TO a highly appreciative
audience. Deep silence reignad even.
The walters moved on tiptoe until the
maestro finished. Then a few singers
OF the Royal Opera rendered songs
sometimes couplets. and Mr.. Deecke
chorus repetitor of the opera. not an
artist OF the first rank but A good n1u-
stefan and pianist played a standard
overture with good taste and discretion
to the delight OF those present. About
or o'clock IN the morning. and some
times later, everybody went home hapny.
not olseord or even dissonance hav-
ing marred the evening. chatting and
goSSiping about topics Of the day.
These are sweet recollections and
these happy DAYS will never come again
Sic gloria mundi."