Books › Musical Courier 1908-08-05: Vol 57 Iss 6, 1908 › scan 29
Scan 29
Musical Courier 1908-08-05: Vol 57 Iss 6, 1908
53 lines. Read by computer on 23 September 2026. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
1this means, but I am sorry to say that most of them had some connection or other with money. Almost everybody who wrote appeared to be hard up, but the peculiar thing was that they all had a first class scheme for making a fortune, provided I would only 'lend them a bit' to make a start with. I was very sorry for them, of course, but I would have needed to be a millionaire to help them all in the way they desired.
3"It was on the occasion of my appearance at the Queen's Hall that I also went through a very decided 'trial,' which lasted for nearly an hour, and happened in this way:
5"Professor Kruse had very kindly lent me his own violin (a Strad worth about £2,000) for the concert, and at the end of the program I laid it back in the case, but was called away immediately afterward to make my bow to the audience in answer to their applause. Hurrying back from the platform, I was horrified to find that both violin and case had vanished. The artists' room was now crowded with people, but nobody appeared to have seen anything of the instrument for which I sought, and I was in a terrible state of mind about it, as you may guess. Seeing my distress, Mr. Geller, my agent, volunteered to go off to Professor Kruse's house and break the news to him for me, and to this I agreed. Accordingly, Mr. Geller went off, while I set to work searching diligently in every imaginable place to see whether I could come upon any trace at all of the missing treasure. You can just imagine how tremendously relieved I felt, when, presently, I received word that the violin had been taken off by Professor Kruse himself, who, being in a hurry to get home, had taken it away, never for a moment thinking that he would cause me any distress by doing so."
7Zimbalist will arrive in America in November, and will be under the management of J. E. Francke, 1402 Broadway, New York.
9LEONCAVALLO AT HOME.
11Leoncavallo was seen by THE MUSICAL COURIER correspondent recently at his sumptuous Moorish villa in Brissago, Switzerland, near Lake Major. He and his charming wife invited the representative to luncheon, and over the most delicious real Neapolitan macaroni an interesting conversation, musical and literary, was held—I say literary, also, as I do not think it is generally known that Leoncavallo has himself written several of his own libretti.
13Of course, the talk turned to his two new works, "Maja" (commissioned by the French editor, Choudens) and "La Camicia Rossa." "Maja" is finished, and Leoncavallo and his wife will leave shortly for Paris, where he is to read the score to Choudens, after which it will be decided when and where it will be given its first performance. The Opera Comique and Monte Carlo are both open to him, but the maestro prefers Monte Carlo, because there they would engage whatever artists he might desire, which, as he says, is a great advantage. "At the Opera Comique," he says, "I would have to take what there is!"
15The subject of "Maja" is Provençal, and Leoncavallo has introduced some local Provençal songs, which give the work strong local color. He stated: "I feel that I have progressed, and I am sure the musical world at large will feel it also, in 'Maja.' As to 'La Camicia Rossa,' a patriotic and intensely dramatic subject, so far I have finished only two acts, but by the end of this year I expect to have completed the opera, which will be given at about the same time as 'Maja,' and most probably at Monte Carlo also."
17Leoncavallo has a magnificent Angora cat, and he never composes unless the cat (Pom Pom, by name) lies purring near his book on the composing desk. By the way, his studio is a marvel in artistic and architectural medieval style. His desk is high, as he generally composes standing, and it looks into a beautiful glass covered gallery. The studio is connected with the billiard room and an exquisite little Egyptian gallery facing the lake. This is where the Leoncavallos general receive. No music was made on my visit, as their niece was ill and could not stand the least noise. I was most cordially invited to come up again, which I shall do this summer, and then I shall see the progress of all the plantings Leoncavallo made—for not only is he a great composer, but also a fine horticulturist. He showed me around, and denominated every plant with its botanical name. He is quite proud of the fruit trees and all the vegetables and vines of Naples he has planted.
19On one side of the grounds, surrounded by picturesque grottoes, is the statue of Roland von Berlin and on the other side is a pretty fountain representing Zaza. In the vestibule, on entering, there are oil paintings, panels of "Pagliacci," "Medici," "La Boheme," etc. By the way, it is strange that Leoncavallo's "La Boheme" is not given in America. Why does not Hammerstein present it? Speaking of America reminds me that when Leoncavallo spoke about THE MUSICAL COURIER, a cloud came over his brow, and I asked him why. He referred to the article that appeared in THE MUSICAL COURIER and was reprinted in the Corriere della Sera, in which it was said that Leoncavallo and Mascagni were such enemies, etc. He took it very much to heart, as he says that he is on the most friendly terms with Mascagni, and would not for the world have him think he had any influence in the writing of that "caustic criticism," as the Corriere called it. I finally managed to show him that it was all meant in jest. After a while he understood, the ice melted, and never was a more interesting and charming afternoon spent by me, for Madame Leoncavallo is as delightful a hostess as her husband is an enlightened and sympathetic host. On departing, they repeated their invitation for some other and more propitious time, when there would be no sickness in the house.
21E. R. P.
23It Seemed Incurable
25Body Raw with Eczema—Discharged from Hospitals as Hopeless—Cuticura Remedies Cured Him.
27"From the age of three months until fifteen years old, my son Owen's life was made intolerable by eczema in its worst form. In spite of treatments the disease gradually spread until nearly every part of his body was quite raw. He used to tear himself dreadfully in his sleep and the agony he went through is quite beyond words. The regimental doctor pronounced the case hopeless. We had him in hospitals four times and he was pronounced one of the worst cases ever admitted. From each he was discharged as incurable. We kept trying remedy after remedy, but had gotten almost past hoping for a cure. Six months ago we purchased a set of Cuticura Remedies. The result was truly marvelous and today he is perfectly cured. Mrs. Lily Hedge, Camblawell Green, Eng., Jan. 12, 1907."
29TO LET
31TO LET—163 W. 49th St.—Fine light studios to let, furnished or unfurnished, near Subway and L stations, between Broadway and 6th Ave.
33TO SUBLT—1425 Broadway (Metropolitan Opera House Building); nicely furnished studio and waiting room, from October 6. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, from 10 a. m. to 7 p. m. (vocal excluded); grand piano. Address Janitor.
35SITUATION WANTED
36WANTED—Voice teacher with wide experience here and abroad (pupil of Lilli Lehmann, Berlin), who will accept position in conservatory, Middle West, or open for studio if good inducement. Address Box 51, Otranto Station, Ia.
38PROCURE ENGAGEMENTS. Use the
39AMERICAN MUSICAL DIRECTORY
40which gives the ADDRESSES of
41MUSICAL SOCIETIES, CLUBS, ETC.
42PRICE, $2.50 Delivered 439 FIFTH AVENUE—Telephone 4292-38th—NEW YORK
44MELVA CLEMAIRE SOPRANO
45Address, care of STEINWAY & SONS, 109 E. 14th St., New York
47ROBERT G. WEIGESTER SUMMER SCHOOL for SINGERS, TEACHERS and STUDENTS
48Near Elmira, N. Y., from JULY 20 to AUGUST 29—Write for Circular
50ETHEL CRANE SOPRANO
51216 West 102d Street NEW YORK
52Phone, 8262 River
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