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Musical Courier 1897-09-15: Vol 35 Iss 915, 1897
46 lines. Read by computer on 21 September 2026. Printed page 5. See the scan on archive.org.
1THE MUSICAL COURIER.
3THE MUSICAL COURIER, 107 AVENUE HENRI MARTIN, PARIS, September 1, 1897.
5MUSIC EVERYWHERE.
6Music in the mountains,
7Music in the hills,
8Music in the fountains,
9Music in the rills.
11THE staid and sober M. le Président de la République Française must wonder—if indeed he has left him the power to wonder—why in the name of things fitting the state has chosen Don Giovanni to be his musical welcome! What has the good man done on this memorable trip that the Spanish lothario, Don Juan, should be rougishly introduced to him on his return to his native heath?
13To be sure he has strayed from home through ways and for days never before permitted to a chef of a republic; he has scaled the silken ladders of social fame as no French President has ever; hobnobbed with seductive aristocracy with a familiarity allowed to no other son of French liberty before him; he has flirted with Dame Royalty in a most skittish fashion; he has bowed the knee to the powers that be; kissed the hands of vestals sacred only to thrones; magnetized the royal parents; borne off with sturdy arms the flower of Signatures from the imperial chambers, and proclaimed the fiançailles of two beating governmental hearts; but then—Don Giovanni—Fates forfend!
15At all events the Mozart chef d'œuvre has the honor of being chosen to celebrate this evening the prodigal's return, and said prodigal has been supplicated to be present, even though in dust-coat and sleeping-car cap, just to show his grateful people how grateful he is to them for being happy that he is glad!
17Poor M. Gailhard, who has just drawn on his sleeping cap down at Biarritz, after his taxing preparations for The Meistersingers, must be aroused from his first doze by despoiling dispatches as to fatted musical calves and tripping musical feet in the restless capital. Sleepily he assents to the Mozart comedy on the ground of—its ad-mi-ra-ble ballet! The spectacle is to be gratuit, Caron, Alvarez, Renaud and Carrère in the cast, honored to represent in semi-tones the event of national betrothal and presidential home coming.
19Brasseries, cafés, streets and eyes are to be wide open all night, the national district is to be illuminated and festooned, and sports and dancing through the streets is to be the order of the thirty-six hour day. Business is all suspended of course (who cares for house building at the wedding feast?), and weary travelers at the various reeking stations may carry their own trunks to their different stopping places, or leave them there on the railway counters, just according to the entrainment of their several temperaments. Who wants trunks in Paris on a festal day.
21Certainly we do not hear of any "ring" in connection with this wonderful matrimonial event and no trace of a license is in sight, but then no doubt there are such things. Why the insignia of so sweet and innocent an affair, which so nearly touches all hearts, should be kept so rigidly secret in the bosoms of the respective parents is something that now and again enters the minds of even a few dull people whose fête spirit is damp. But why bother about trifles while the sun shines and the flags make windows in the blue heavens? Let us dance and sing and—forget. For we are French!
23Speaking of M. Gailhard, the last seen of him was passing through Royat, the gay French watering place, his comely, picturesque form mounted on a superb automobile, which he was taking southward to train to face a Spanish frontier or a Pyrenees peak without shying. He was well, but pale and nervous, as are all the operatic force, with their interminable artistic labors.
25For it must be said, with all truth, of the Paris Opéra that if it does not produce that which is "all things to all men" it is not through want of care, toil and ardor on the part of the contingent.
27Carvalho returned yesterday. Professors are returning one by one. Marchesi is already at work. Perplexed students are opening their trunks, shaking out wrinkled skirts and souvenirs of "lovely Swees," getting used to the sounds of the floor and height of the door handles and finding where would be a good place for everything with no room for anything, and for the portraits of papa, mamma and "him." The park bands have a line of lassitude through their harmonies, piano tuners are receiving abrupt postal cards, music stores are arranging their little window expositions, organists are trying dusty stops and the prime donne are looking discoveries of recent gold mines at each other and wondering how on earth they are going to keep it up and—everybody is writing for certain copies of THE MUSICAL COURIER which they "just forgot" or "just read in a hurry" and did not know till now that it had something in it about them.
29And now they will put somebody to the extra time and trouble to find back numbers for them or not to find them, and it will never occur to them but that it is all right that somebody should do so, or as to the superficiality of subscribing for a musical journal only and alone for the sake of reading in it what is said of them when somebody tells them it has appeared.
31There will be many apparent discourtesies on my part in regard to letters, cards, visits, questions, presentations, &c., this month, due to withheld correspondence and other withheld causes. Withheld courtesy is not among the latter, however, and due assurance of the fact is here expressed, with real regret in many cases. Later on the genuineness of the expression will be manifest. There is neither slight nor neglect in the heart of THE MUSICAL COURIER except what is unavoidable, and Fate is responsible for that.
33After remaining in Paris all summer, studying her rôles in Italian, Miss Minnie Tracey is off for a rest in Genoa, whence she goes to Milan, where, as has been announced, she has a first-class engagement with Sonzogno.
35Mr. Le Grand Howland, the indefatigable American musician, reappeared like a bird on a branch in Paris for a few days, but is off again to another branch. Mr. Felix Fox, the Boston pianist, has left for home. M. Leopold Godowsky has passed through here. The excellent Boston vocal teacher Mr. Arthur M. Hubbard and his wife are among the most earnest and appreciative musicians who have been in Paris this season. Sweet Lillian Blauvelt fitted by. Louis Crépaux, of San Francisco and the Paris Grand Opéra, will have a message next week. Miss Julie Opp has been here visiting Miss Blackstone-Freeman. Madame von Klenner has been here and is gone, like many another blessing. Six Americans with characteristic "Haste makes waste" leave rendezvous indications for "to-morrow" without date. Where is to-morrow without to-day?
37Mr. Franz Bellinger, of Philadelphia, is on the Continent. Miss Lulu A. Breed, an earnest, conscientious American teacher of music, full of the responsibility of her pupils' advancement, is in Paris seeking light. This is the sort of student who needs Paris, and whom Paris can benefit, and who can benefit others by her increased light.
39Miss Mary Berry, of St. Louis, a promising young vocalist, and pupil of Madame Lankow, of New York, has left Paris for London. She has been spending her vacation in the most profitable, manner traveling and studying in company with her teacher. At Bayreuth they were met by Marie von Gelder, also a pupil of Madame Lankow, who is engaged at Amsterdam this season. In Paris Miss Berry was under the guidance of the Girls' Club and friends. At Bayreuth she had the privilege of singing for Mr. Kneise, who expressed surprise at her volume of tone. She is to continue German study and return to him. Miss Von Gelder is also to be his pupil. This student gives all the credit of her advancement to her teacher and speaks hopefully of a certain Berlin school for Americans which Madame Lankow proposes to establish in Berlin.
41Miss Catherine South is among the anxious inquirers as to vocal salvation in Paris this season. Miss Pauline Stein announces her safe return to Kenwood avenue, Chicago, and finds her old health almost restored. She intends to make up for lost time with her accustomed energy and intelligence. She has been the recipient of several flattering offers already in America.
43Mr. Frederick Maxon, an earnest and talented organ pupil of M. Guilmant, is in London en route for home. Mr. Maxon is organist and choirmaster of the Central Congregational Church, Philadelphia, where he has been over a dozen years a live and ardent musical worker. Under his direction various selections from The Messiah, Redemption, Holy City, the Forty-second Psalm, &c., have been given to large audiences on special evenings. He is also concert organist and is associated with W. W. Gilchrist's school. He came to M. Guilmant to add to his proficiency, repertory and power of usefulness, and is both surprised at and grateful for what the master has done for him.
45Americans will have a big debt to pay M. Guilmant for what he has done for their young musicians in Paris. He is not merely a great organist and great teacher, but a
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