Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-22
M u S I c.
BY HELEN FETTER.


or brains, or both, caused the
most trouble in the world have
won the most lasting personal
publicity. George Meredith's idea
of a blessing evidently had to dc
with a peaceful state of mind for
mankind. He did not consider the
love of diversion and entertain
ment that is quality of the hu-
man race which makes any COM
pletely peaceful state practically
impossible.
OF all the women famous in the
world to date for causing trouble,
first place in the list undoubtedly
is unanimously awarded the Miss
Sparta" whose beauty is said to
have launched great fleets of ships
and started a conflagration of ro-
mantle interest that has never
been completely burned out. His
torianS vary as to the date of the
10-year Trojan War, even to the
extent of 200 years. Commonly,
however. EratoStheneS' estimate
Of 1888 B. c. is taken as the date
that this conflict began.
Helen, wife of Menelaus, King
of Sparta. who was carried of by
Paris a son of Priam, King of
Troy. has inspired many bards,
both lyric and literary. None
perhaps has written more enter
tainingly Of this heroine than
John Erskine, a professor of Co
lumbia University, in his Private
Life of Helen of Troy" a facetious,
sparkling volume which appeared
in 1925 and won Mr. ErSkine fame.
Since the advent of Mr.. Err
skine's story about Helen the pro-
lessor has bloSsomed forth muSi-
cally as a pianist of ability and
thorough musical background, and
is now head of the Juilliard School
of Music in New York City. Latest
report has it that he has COM
pleted a grand opera libretto hav-
ing as its subject the same ad-
venturouS beauty that wrecked
Troy those many centuries ago.
The opera is said to carry her ad-
ventures and triumphS into the
underworld, where she has a
chance to vamp many of the he
roes who were unfortunately killed
before she had opportunity to
make their acquaintance, during
the Trojan wars. Achilles, in par
ticular, is her aim and successful
achievement while in the island
of the dead.
THE music for this opera has
been written by a young man
who halls from the city that has
the slogan, What Trenton Makes,
the World Takes" George An
theil is native New Jerseyite, yet
he has spent most of his recent
years in Paris, and it is there,
rather than in New York, that his
works have received the most en-
couragement. AS far back as 1925
his Ballet Mechanique," written
for six pianos, one mechanical
piano, bass drums, xylophones,
whistles, rattles, electric bells,
auto horns, police whistles, anvilS,
Sewing-machine motors, two large
pieces of tin and an airplane pro-
peller, was the talk of all Europe.
The next year it won booS and
misses from a Carnegie Hall au-
dience.
Mr.. Antheil is said to have re-
formed, however, and modified his
cratic rhapSodies. The end of
May his latest opera preceding
the work with the Erskine libretto
- "TranSat lantique" was given
its world premiere in Frankfort,
Germany. Reports have it that
the work was received with
stormy applause" and that it is
to be given a number of addi-
tional performances during the
season. The story has a purely
American subject, concerning the
love affair Of candidate for the
presidency of the United States.
The villain is an INSCRIPTIONS oil
magnate. The hero has a nervous
breakdown. The heroine-another
Helen, by the way-tries to COM
nit suicide by jumping off Brook
lyn Bridge, but she is saved by
the hero. The last scene of this
opera, which is described as a
presentation of a Jazz mad
America in the midst of a presi-
Dental election campaign" is laid
on Brooklyn Bridge, where a pa
rade struts before a background
of skyscraperS; the oil magnate is
led of to jail, and there is the
American happy ending" The
leading roles were sung by Jean
Stern German baritone, and Elsa
Gentner-Fischer, soprano. The
composer was honored with 20
curtain calls at the conclusion of
the first performance, even al
though there also was said to be
considerable kissing.
No information has been re-
ceived as yet indicating the style
or contents of the musical score
for the opera concerning Helen's
post-private life eScapades. It is
said that the work will first be
given in Germany, although the
libretto is in English. There also
is a rumor that the Metropoli-
tan Opera Co. is keen to see
the score Of this work by two
Americans. There are said to be
film preludes to each act.
IN the meantime, the Metropoli-
tan Grand Opera Co. has Just
announced its list Of novelties and
revivals for the season 1930-31.
The first of these is Deems Tay-
lor's Peter IbbetSon," which is
reported as being completely COM
posed, only needing finishing of
the orcheStration of the score. The
reason that this point is stated
Is due to the varied rumors, that
never became realized, suggesting
that Mr.. Taylor was to follow his
successful first grand opera, The