Scan 27
Musical Courier 1901-01-23: Vol 42 Iss 1087, 1901
106 lines. Read by computer on 21 September 2026. Printed page 28. See the scan on archive.org.
1time and space when King Marke entered, accompanied by the busybody Melot.
3"Oh, these tiresome husbands," she thought, and not listening to the noble music of the deceived man, she presently slipped into the lobby. The place was deserted, and as she paced up and down she recollected with pleasure the boyish looking Tristan. How handsome he was, and how his voice, husky in "Die Walküre," now rang out thrillingly. There! She heard it again; muffled, indeed, by the thick doors, but pure, free, full of youthful fire. What a Tristan! And he had looked at her the night before with the same ardor. A pity it was that she, Tekla Calcraft, born Tekla Jörnsen, had not studied for the opera; had not sung Sieglinde to his Siegmund; was not singing at this moment with such a Tristan in the place of that fat Malska, old enough to be his mother; and instead of being the wife of an indifferent man who—
5The act was over, the applause noisy. People began to press out through the swinging doors, and Tekla, not caring to be caught alone, walked around to the stage entrance. She met the director, who made much of her, and took her through the archway presided over by a hoarse voiced keeper.
7In his dressing room Tristan welcomed her with outstretched hands.
9"You are so good," and then quickly pointed to his throat.
11"And you were superb," she responded unaffectedly.
13"Your husband, is he here?" he asked, forgetting his throat.
15"He is not here yet; he is detained downtown."
17"But he will write the critique?" inquired Viznina, with startled eyes. Tekla did not at first answer him.
19"I don't know," she replied thickly. He seized her hands.
21"Oh, you will like my third act. I am there at my best," he declared with all the muted vanity of a modest man. She was slightly disappointed.
23"I like everything you do," she slowly admitted. Viznina kissed her wrists. She regarded him with maternal eyes.
25As Tekla mounted the stairs her mind was made up. Fatigued as she was by the exciting events of the past twenty-four hours, she reached the pressroom in a buoyant mood. It was smoky with the cigars and cigarettes of a half dozen men who imaged ideas, pleasant and otherwise, about the opera in the morning papers. Mrs. Calcraft was greeted with warmth; like her husband, she was a favorite, though an old man grumbled out something about women abusing their privilege. Jetsam, one of her devoted bodyguard, gave her a seat, pen and paper, and told her to go ahead; there were plenty of messenger boys in waiting. It was not the first time Tekla had been in the pressroom, the room of the dreaded critical chain gang, as Cal had named it. All asked after Calcraft.
27"He has gone to the Symphony concert," replied Tekla unblushingly, and young Jetsam winked his thin eyes at the rest. Feeling encouraged at this he persisted:
29"I thought Gardner was 'doing' the concert for Cal?"
31"Oh, you know Cal," she answered, putting a pen in her mouth, "he hates Wagner; perhaps he thinks Mr. Gardner needs company once in a while."
33"Perhaps he does," gravely soliloquized Jetsam.
35"How many performances of 'Tristan' does this make, Mr. Jetsam?"
37"I'm sure I don't know; I am never much on statistics."
39When she was told the correct number the scratching of pens went on, and the smoke grew denser. Messenger after messenger was dismissed with precious critical freightage, and soon Tekla had finished, envious eyes watching her all the while. Every man there wished that his wife might be as clever and helpful as Mrs. Calcraft. Driving home she forgot all about the shabby cab, and only had memories for the garden scene and its musical enchantments. The spell of them lay thick upon her as she was undressed by Magda. When the lights were out, she asked Magda if Mr. Calcraft still slept.
41"No ma'am; after drinking all the beer up he went out."
43"Oh, he went out after all, did he?" said Tekla in a sleepy voice, and passed immediately into happy dreams.
45It was sullen afternoon when she stood in her room regarding with instant joy a large bunch of roses. Calcraft came in without slamming the doors as usual. She turned a shining face to him. He looked factitiously fresh, with a Turkish bath freshness; his linen was spotless, and in his hand he held a newspaper.
47"That was a fine, dark potion you brewed for me last night, Sieglinde," he mournfully began. "No wonder your Tristan sang so well in the Watchman this morning." The youthful candors of her Swedish blue eyes, with their tinted lashes, evoked his sulky admiration.
49"I knew, Cal, that you would do the young man justice after his magnificent performance," she replied, her cheeks beginning to echo the hues of the roses she held; her fingers had just closed over an angular bit of paper buried in the heart of the flowers.
51For answer Calcraft ironically hummed the pity motif from "Die Walküre," and went out of the house, the doors closing gently after him to the familiar rhythm of that implacable warrior, Hunding.
53THE success of Gabrilowitsch in Chicago at the Thomas Orchestra concerts on Friday and Saturday amounted to an ovation and go on record as one of the stupendous piano events of that city. Seven and eight recalls and three encore performances marked the nature of public demand, which even then was not satisfied.
55Emma Abbott's Father's Estate.
57NOW, many years after the death of Emma Abbott, it is learned that the favorite American singer provided generously for her father and mother. As the parents separated many years ago, the prima donna left $100,000 in trust for each parent. A contest over the estate of her father, Seth Abbott, has made these facts public. Mr. Abbott, who is very aged and feeble, is at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Clark, at Lowell, Mass. The contestants are Mrs. Clark and her brother, Frederick M. Abbott, and the trouble is over the control of the estate. The brother and sister, according to the reports, have disagreed, and the case is to be decided by the Probate Court of Chicago on January 23 (to-day).
59Guilmant's New Work.
61William C. Carl has received from Alexandre Guilmant an acceptable New Year's gift in the form of eleven Händel fugues, edited by the eminent French composer, who claims that these works, like similar creations by Bach, deserve to be heard very frequently. The book is published in attractive style by Schott, of London.
63Music in Canada.
65UNDER the direction of Prof. J. B. Dubois, Gounod's "Redemption" was creditably performed at the Solleggio Institute, Montreal, on the evening of January 15, the soloists being Miss F. Bertrand, soprano; Miss M. Sarault, contralto; Miss L. Lavigne, contralto; Louis Berube, tenor, and Mr. Langlois, bass.
67The Toronto Conservatory of Music String Orchestra, under the leadership of Mrs. Drechsler Adamson, will give a concert on February 18. Dohnányi, Miss Beverley Robinson and Miss Lina D. Adamson are the soloists engaged.
69Miss Henriette Cady, pianist, and Mrs. Borden-Low, soprano, gave an artistic recital in Karn Hall, Montreal, on the evening of January 16.
71Madame Carreño's playing has this month aroused enthusiasm at recitals given at Orme Hall, in the Canadian capital.
73Mr. Harriss, of Ottawa, will manage Albani's spring tour of the Dominion.
75At her recital in Montreal on January 12 Miss Hollinshead sang the new "Love Song" composed by Mrs. Maud Stelle Muir.
77Mrs. J. W. Henshaw ("Julian Durham") has returned to Vancouver, B. C., having paid a successful journalistic visit to Europe.
79The Toronto Orchestra is holding rehearsals for a concert to take place on January 31.
81Madame Sembrich will give a concert in Massey Music Hall, Toronto, on February 5.
83The Montreal Symphony Orchestra's program of January 18 included works by Beethoven, Donizetti, Liszt and Massenet. Miss Cady was the assisting pianist, and Professor Goulet directed.
85Mrs. Mina Lund Reburn has been appointed contralto soloist at Westminster Church, Toronto.
87Mr. Renaud and Mr. Saucier gave a recital in the city of Quebec on January 21.
89Another performance of Sullivan's "Gondoliers" will be given at the Grand Opera House, Hamilton, on January 26.
91Glenn Hall.
93GLENN HALL, the Chicago tenor, is in demand this season. From different sections of the country we have received excellent reports of his singing. Subjoined are some Eastern as well as Western criticisms:
95Glenn Hall is a tenor of exceptional ability and has had great success in the West. Combined with a good voice, he possesses admirable discretion and his phrasing is most artistic. His dramatic temperament was very marked in his first number, an aria from "Rienzi," and all through his rendition he showed that priceless gift of a singer—a soul. The enthusiastic audience demanded an encore after every number, and Mr. Hall gained its lasting approval by his gracious responses.—Holyoke (Mass.) World, October 13, 1900.
97Glenn Hall, tenor, sang excellently in a sweet voice of unusual strength. His phrasing and general treatment of the score was artistic in the extreme, and his singing was satisfying.—Minneapolis Tribune, December 6, 1900.
99Glenn Hall, the famous Chicago tenor, sang four solos, which were enthusiastically received. He was encored again and again. His voice is high, clear and under perfect control. He is the best tenor singer heard in this city for some time.—Holyoke (Mass.) Telegram, October 13, 1900.
101The tenor solos by Glenn Hall could not have failed to delight. Mr. Hall's voice is one of unusual qualities, rich, mellow and sympathetic, lending itself readily to its master's will, which last night was clearly to express in the music all that Mendelssohn intended.—Minneapolis Journal, December 6, 1900.
103The feature of the evening was the singing of Glenn Hall, of Chicago, tenor, who received several encores.—Springfield (Mass.) Republican, October 13, 1900.
105With a voice of no small range and carrying in his methods force and admiration, Mr. Hall, the tenor, found quick favor with the audience.—Milwaukee Daily News, December 21, 1900.
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