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Musical Courier 1891-09-30: Vol 23 Iss 606, 1891
74 lines. Read by computer on 19 September 2026. Printed page 359. See the scan on archive.org.
1FOREIGN NOTES.
3A SACRED CONGRESS.—A sacred music congress is to be held at Milan during the first days of November. There will be three great musical performances in connection with the meeting.
5RITT.—Eugène Ritt, the ex-director of the Paris Grand Opéra, has been nominated an officer of the Legion of Honor.
7ST. PETERSBURG.—The St. Petersburg Society for the Promotion of Chamber Music has opened an international competition for the composition of string quartets, with a first and second prize of 350 and 150 rubles respectively and honorary distinctions for those compositions found worthy thereof on the part of a competent jury. The competition will be closed on January 1, 1892.
9TSCHAIKOWSKY.—Tschaiikowsky's opera "Onegin" is to be produced next month, for the first time in Germany, at the Darmstadt Hof-Theater. The residential theatre of Hesse-Darmstadt has frequently taken the lead in introducing foreign operatic works to the fatherland, a notable instance being Gounod's "Faust," brought out there, under the composer's supervision, some thirty years ago.
11MUNICH.—The Royal Opera at Munich reopened its doors on the 15th ult. with a scenic performance of Liszt's oratorio "Saint Elizabeth."
13ZURICH.—The new Zurich Municipal Theatre is to be definitely opened on the 1st of next month, with a performance of "Lohengrin."
15SHE WAVES THE BATON.—The female conductor, though a somewhat rara avis among us, is apparently unique in Italy. The "Trovatore" points to the theatre at Poggiobonsi as the only spot in the peninsula where a maestra concertadora e direttrice d'orchestra is to be found.
17HE HAD HIS NOSE TAKEN OFF.—A curious incident is reported from Kieff, in Russia. On the day fixed for the expulsion of the Jews "Robert le Diable" was announced for performance at the opera house. But of the whole personnel only the conductor remained.
19MUSIC AND NERVES.—Since the discussion among the doctors upon the value of music as an agent for convalescence, a guild of Saint Cecilia has been established in London, with the aim of training musicians to soothe a patient's nerves with music, under the direction of the physicians. Every member must possess a sweet, gentle voice and delicate execution. Miss Florence Nightingale is among the subscribers.
21THE MASCAGNI CRAZE.—According to the Berliner Tageblatt a collection of new songs composed by Pietro Mascagni will be sung for the first time in public by some of the singers at the Imperial Court Opera, in Vienna during a concert to held at the commencement of the season.
23MRS. FREGE IS DEAD.—The death, on the 22d ult., is announced from Leipsic, at the age of seventy-three, of Mendelsohn's friend, the Lieder singer, Mrs. Frege. She made her début at the age of fourteen at a concert given at the Gewandhaus by Mrs. Schumann when that lady was thirteen, and for four years until her marriage she was an operatic vocalist. It was at her house while trying over some of his songs that Mendelssohn was attacked by his mortal illness.
25HELMHOLTZ IS GETTING OLD.—On August 31 Professor von Helmholtz celebrated his seventieth birthday. He quietly spent the day with his family at Madonna di Campiglio, in the Southern Tyrol.
27PRAEGER DEAD.—Ferdinand Praeger, Wagner's lifelong friend, has just died in London, after a lingering illness.
29A NICE STORY.—The "Neue Musikzeitung" is responsible for the following story: A noted German tenor, whom we will call Mr. S., arrived one day at the only hotel in a small provincial town where he was to sing in the evening. While seated in his room his attention was suddenly aroused by hearing a voice, a tenor of rare quality and taste, singing Schubert's "The Wanderer." He was astounded at the purity of style and perfect intonation. The voice was accompanied on the piano in exquisite taste. He was proud of his own voice and style, and with reason; but here, though he could scarcely credit his senses, was another equal to himself. He inquired of the landlord who occupied the next room, and was informed he had only arrived that day and the landlord had not yet learned his name. Five minutes later the tenor's curiosity overcame his politeness and he tapped at the door of the stranger. On the door being opened he courteously asked the stranger's name, and was told he was a traveler in wines and that his name was Karl Meier. "Let me congratulate you," said Mr. S., "on the possession of a magnificent voice." "You are mistaken," said Meier; "I do not sing, and I am such a poor musician that I don't know the difference between a Beethoven sonata and a Chopin waltz." "But who, then, has been in your room?" "No one," said the other coolly, "except the waiter and the chambermaid." "But," said Mr. S., whose curiosity was only increased by all this mystery, "surely the waiter has not sung to the chambermaid's accompaniment?" "As you may see," said Meier, "there is not even a piano in my room." "Then tell me," said the tenor, "who did sing?" "With pleasure; his name is Mr. Phonograph, and he comes from America." At this Mr. S. saw the secret and laughed immoderately. "But who is the singer whose charming voice you have thus stored up?" "Although I am no musician," said Meier, "I like to hear great artists, and having bought a phonograph I stored up 'The Wanderer,' as sung by that great singer, Mr. S." The tenor was astonished to learn that he had heard himself sing, and still more so that he had not recognized his own voice!
31"LOHENGREN" MATTERS.—The third performance of "Lohengrin" was given in Paris last Tuesday night. During the first act two men were ejected for throwing stench balls from the gallery.
33PARIS, September 25.—The police have seized a cartoon representing Germany again triumphing over France, the idea for the offensive picture being derived from the successful production of "Lohengrin."
35They have also seized objectionable placards and copies of a pamphlet characterized by a bitter spirit of political warfare. Another performance of "Lohengrin," given at the Opéra to-night, passed off without noteworthy incident.
37There is now talk of a free representation of "Lohengrin" to be given at the Opéra, but the general opinion is that this would be very injudicious and sure to raise a storm. Meantime Auguste Germaine is putting the finishing touches to a three act operetta entitled "Little Lohengrin."
39GEORGE EDWARDS REPLIES TO MAYER.—George Edwards is indignant at the statements alleged to have been made by Marcus Mayer to the effect that he had withdrawn from his original agreement with Miss Agnes Huntington with respect to the lease of his new theatre in Cranbourne street, London. He says that the only reason why she is not at present the lessee of that theatre is that she failed to find adequate securities for the rent.
41OPERA IN BERLIN.—The Germans seem to have a liking for French opera, and the following works have recently been performed in Berlin: "Le Prophète," "La Fille du Régiment," "Mignon," "Fra Diavolo," "Coppe- lla," "Carmen," "La Juive," "Joseph," "La Postillon de Lonjumeau," and "Lakmé;" while at Leipsic they have had "Les Dragon de Villars," "Le Prophète," and "Hamlet;" and at Vienna "Les Deux Journées," "L'Africaine," "Hamlet" and "La Juive."
43VON SCHEFFEL.—There has been found among the papers of the late poet, Victor von Scheffel, a collection of poems hitherto unpublished, together with twenty-one original songs for the opera "The Trumpeter of Sackingen."
45THE CROWN PRINCE FIDDLES.—The Crown Prince of Germany is taking violin lessons from De Ahna, of Berlin. Of course he is reported to have wonderful talent.
47THE LONDON SEASON.—Manager Lago will open the autumn opera season about the middle of October at the Shaftesbury Theatre with "Cavalleria Rusticana" as the pièce de résistance. Arditi will conduct the orchestra. The report that Gilbert and Sullivan will again collaborate in the production of a comic opera is confirmed. Further details may soon be forthcoming, and D'Oyly Carte may preside over the birthplace of their new joint effort.
49ROSA PAPIER RETIRES.—Rosa Papier has retired from the Vienna Opera on account of a disturbance of her vocal organism. She has been engaged as vocal teacher at the Vienna Conservatory of Music.
51Mozart Symphony Club.
53THE following circular has just been issued and largely distributed in musical circles:
55Messrs. Mario Blodeck and Richard Stoezer beg leave to announce that in order to prevent mistakes and avoid any possibility of their organization being mistaken for, or confused with, or thought to have any connection with one Mr. Bachert or the organization under his direction, it has been thought best by them now, before starting on their transcontinental tour for the season of 1891-2, to change the name of their organization to that of the Mozart Symphony Club. In every other respect their organization will remain the same; it will be composed of the same well-known Boston artists, under the same direction and with the same business agent, Mr. John H. Laine.
57The Mozart Club will open their season October 5, 1891.
59The editorial on "Boston Symphony" in this paper explains the reason, and although no injunction was asked for to prevent Messrs. Blodeck and Stoezer from using the former name, they wisely decided to adopt the new title, under which they will succeed as well, if not better.
61It required two bondsman in $1,500 each to get the injunction. Bachert offered as one a notorious Union square fiddle merchant, who was rejected by the court. Hence no injunction, although there is now no ground for asking for any. What a beautiful pair of comrades the Union square fiddle dealer and the manager of the Boston Symphony Orchestral Club do make!
63Is It So?—A report was current yesterday noon to the effect that Theo. J. Toedt, the tenor, was seriously ill and some parties had it that he was dead. A MUSICAL COURIER reporter called at his residence, 151 East Sixty-second street, but found the house closed.
65PERRY.—Edward Baxter Perry gave his first lecture-recital of the season for the Boston Training School on September 22, and left the following day on his annual Western tour. He will fill sixty engagements in the States of New York, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri, returning to Massachusetts for engagements there during the holidays.
67"FRA DIAVOLO."—Auber's "Fra Diavolo" has recently been produced in Rome by a company of children under thirteen years of age. Rossini's "Barber of Seville" is down for a similar hard fate.
69VALLERIA AND HARLEY.—Alwina Valleria, the well-known soprano, who it will be remembered sang in Italian opera here, is to make a German tournée this fall and winter. Her company will consist of Orlando Harley, the tenor; Foli, the basso; Ysâye, the violinist, and Luigi Arditi, Jr., accompanist.
71VON SACHS.—Mr. W. Von Sachs, the music critic, returned from his European tour last Saturday. He spent much of his time with the Kalisches, and says that Mrs. Kalisch (Lilli Lehmann) has recently sprained her ankle.
73MAX BENDIX IN CHICAGO.—Max Bendix, the violin virtuoso and concertmaster of the Thomas Orchestra, leaves for the Windy City to-morrow with his family. Mr. Bendix, who has been hard at work this summer, will play at the third public rehearsal and concert, October 30 and 31, in the Chicago Auditorium, Dvorak's concerto for violin, op. 53, for the first time in this country. Mr. Bendix will organize while in Chicago a string quartet for the performance of the higher order of classical chamber music, which will vie in excellence with the famous Kneisel Quartet of Boston. The personnel of the Bendix String Quartet will probably be Max Bendix, first; Knoll, second; Hermann, viola, and Steindl, 'cello. The latter is Mr. Thomas' new German 'cellist. Mr. Bendix goes to Chicago much to the regret of his numerous friends East, for the handsome and talented concertmaster is very popular. New York's loss is Chicago's gain.
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