Scan 27
Musical Courier 1898-08-22: Vol 37 Iss 963, 1898
66 lines. Read by computer on 22 September 2026. Printed page 28. See the scan on archive.org.
1139 Kearny Street,
2SAN FRANCISCO, Cal., August 17, 1898.
4"VERY much alive" seems to be the most fitting words with which to describe the present condition of musical matters in San Francisco. One can scarcely imagine more enthusiasm and interest than that which prevails everywhere out here, and everyone is studying how to improve upon his own work, even though it had been at a high standard in the past.
6Theatrical matters are picking up also, and the quiet which prevailed during the past few months is broken into with a vengeance.
8At the Tivoli grand opera is in full swing and the houses are packed every night. Good performances are being given with little at which to find fault. Zerni, the young Italian tenor, seems to be holding his own, although it is hard for anyone to sing and especially to act side by side with memories of Michelena, with whose polished and refined acting and clear lyric tenor Zerni cannot compare. Zerni needs more repose of manner, but is to be congratulated upon knowing the limit of his voice and remaining within it.
10In "Faust" he did not enervate his audience by trying to take high C. When other tenors will learn what they can't do it will be more bearable to hear them sing.
12I have never heard anyone sing the Jewel Song as Anna Lichter sang it the other night—the limpidity, purity and perfection of her runs were absolutely remarkable. Her staccato passages are exquisitely done, and if in the medium register there was more coloring Anna Lichter would be as satisfying a soprano as one need hope for. Her Elsa was not less satisfactory than her Marguerite. I understand that Miss Lichter is to remain at the Tivoli, which will fill a want to perfection, for lately Miss Roma, who is a favorite, has been displaced off and on for inferior quasi-amateurs, and this caused a serious break in the usual standard of the Tivoli.
14The performance of "Faust" was so good that even the unpardonable casting of Irene Mull as Martha did not spoil it, but it makes one ask the question, Why in the name of art do such things occur? Who is to blame? and why should the perpetrators of this expect to avoid censure?
16Elvia Crox made a fair Siebel, especially in appearance. Wanrell is a fine basso, and gave a very acceptable presentation of Mephisto. The stage setting of the garden scene fairly out-California-ed California in flowers, and made it very evident that there can be too much of a good thing.
18"Loehengrin" is running this week, and is having a very fair presentation. From the standpoint of costumes and scenery it is faultless, and to those familiar with the century plants which bloom yearly as chorus girls in the Metropolitan Opera Company of New York, these beautiful young girls are a relief and a delight. Mary Linck as Ortrud did most satisfactory work. She sings well, and is certainly a great actress. William Schuster as Henry was very enjoyable. Next week "La Gioconda."
20At the Baldwin the season will open August 22, with Henry Miller in "Heartsease," the play written by Charles Klein, who furnished the books for Sousa's "El Capitan" and "The Charlatan."
22The season will be a very interesting one, and many great attractions are promised by the enterprising managers, Friedlander Gottlob & Co. This firm will also interest itself in musical attractions such as light opera and the International Opera Company, which will bring Clementine de Vere to the Coast.
24At the Columbia "Trilby" has been revived by the Frawleys, the stock company which has always held the interest of the San Franciscans. Miss Dennison, of Sacramento, made her début with this company last week.
26At the Alcazar, which has been made a first-class house by the intelligent management of Mark Thall, Lewis Morrison is making his last appearances after an extremely successful season. Next week will be a gala week, when Morrison will appear as Shylock in "Merchant of Venice," with his beautiful and artistic wife, Florence Roberts, as Portia. This will close the Morrison engagement and will make way for a new and magnificent stock company, the principal features of which are Gretchen Lyons, who played the leads with Joseph Holland last season; Edna Ewen, and Ernest Hastings, who was leading man at the Lyceum last season.
28At the Orpheum Marie Tavary is singing.
30The Bush Street Theatre has been reopened by M. B. Leavitt.
32On Friday evening Wm. Tomlins gave his opening lecture in San Francisco, and in Oakland he gave it on Thursday, both nights drawing large and enthusiastic audiences. He said many things which made one wish that he might go around among people in general in behalf of music, so sincere, so sensible, so wholesome are his ideas, and his work will be a godsend to the Coast if it is only regarded in the proper light and not dropped the moment he leaves.
34If something could induce Mr. Tomlins to remain upon the Coast for a couple of years the advantage to the Coast would be more than one could believe it possible, to prove which it is only necessary to look into the "before and after" of Chicago to realize the power of his work.
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38The Pianists' Club will resume its work again and will plan to accomplish the most good possible for the line of work which it purposes to do. It does not exist for the purpose of advancing or benefiting the amateur, nor does it represent the pupils or followers of any one individual, but for all interested in the construction, the development, the analysis, the history and the general understanding of large musical works it is of no small importance. Robert Tolmie is the director, and his wide education upon subjects other than musical makes him in every way interesting and above all competent.
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42I am happy to announce that San Francisco is to have a chamber music course of exceptional excellence.
44It will be under the direction of Giulio Minetti, of whose talent and capabilities I have spoken before in no uncertain tones. That Minetti is in every way fitted to present the highest grade of chamber music in the most satisfactory and scholarly manner will not be disputed by any fair-minded person who understands the requirements. The enterprise should receive enthusiastic patronage for the sake of music without any regard to personality whatever. Too often, not alone here but everywhere, people believe themselves musical and deny patronage and support to that which would benefit students and communities at large simply because their teachers or "pets" are not at the head. Society is under the rule of "clique," and if one clique is in the other must be out.
46"Clique" means death to art or advancement, especially in San Francisco, which if divided into three or four cliques leaves nothing but failure for all. So it is to be hoped most earnestly for those interested in the cause of musical advancement in San Francisco that this chamber music course will meet with the proper encouragement, and that those who are giving it will arrange some plan by which it may be made possible for young students to attend at the smallest possible expense.
48The quartet will consist of Giulio Minetti, first violin; Sam Savannah, second violin; Charles Heinsen, viola, and Arthur Weiss, 'cello. It is planned to have one piano quintet each time, in which Mrs. Alice Bacon-Washington will assume the piano. In October the first concert will be given with the following program: Haydn, D major; Beethoven, C minor; Schumann, Quintet.
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52On Tuesday evening, August 23, Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Lent will give the following program:
53Sonate for piano and violoncello, op. 18……Rubinstein
54Piano—
55La Lisonjera………………………………………Chaminade
56Rustic Valse………………………………………Raff
57La Fileuse………………………………………….Raff
58Violoncello—
59Berceuse…………………………………………..Napravnik
60Song Without Words……………………………Mendelssohn
61Traumerei…………………………………………Schumann
62Piano—
63Nocturne, op. 27, No. 2…………………….Chopin
64Second Hungarian Rhapsodie…………………Liszt
65The concert will occur at the Y. M. C. A. Auditorium and will be the first appearance of Mrs. Lent in this city. Mrs. Lent comes highly recommended as a pianist, having been a pupil of Hans Bischoff, Alfred Grünfeld and Moszkowski. At 1918 Franklin street Mr. and Mrs. Lent open a musical academy and in it have associated with them
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