Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org July 5th, 1881. THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW. 161 ever, at the earnestness with which his pupil replied : "I am an American, and I will sing like a God." MUSICAL CH AT. To such a determined will no difficulties were insurmountable, and before the two years had expired Eonchetti said he could teach him no more, AT HOME. and that he was now ready to make his appearance in grand Italian opera. The musical soiree at Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, June 20th, was largely An incident of his Italian life is worth relating. Candidus was among attended. The principal pieces were played and sung by the six graduates of the guests at the principal hotel when General Grant arrived at the Lago the School of Music—Miss Andrews, of Canada; Miss Littlefield, of Middle- Maggiore. The American General was, of course, an object of curious town; Miss Nichols, of Tarry town, N. Y.; Miss Nagai, of Japan; Mis3 interest to the foreigners assembled there, and he was received with a great Foster, of Poughkeepsie, and Miss Palm, of Texas. There were 12 pieces on display of fire works, etc. As he sat upon the piazza, smoking a cigar and the programme. gazing out upon the beautiful lake, a patriotic inspiration impelled Candidus to seat himself at the drawing-room piano and sing the '' Star Spangled Prof. John Daniel, who died at his home in Second avenue, New York Banner" with such enthusiasm and dramatic effect, that even the foreigners city, on Tuesday, June 21st, was said to be the oldest teacher of music in were compelled to join in the applause which followed. Mrs. Grant left her this city. He was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1803, and came to this seat on the piazza outside, and advancing towards the singer, who had just country in 1840. His first music lesson was taken in the room in which risen from the piano, asked: Lord Byron was born. He taught both vocal and instrumental music, and "Who are you, sir, that signs our American hymn so magnificently?" among his private pupils were the sons and daughters of many wealthy Bowing, he replied: "I am an American, Madame, and though I families. He was a very prolific composer, and almost every music firm in served under General Grant in the American army, I never saw him until this city has published his works. Sometimes Prof. Daniel composed the to-day." words to go with his music. He was an ardent admirer of Burns and Byron, "Come then," she said, "let me present you to the General," upon both of whom he knew. which she led him out to Grant, who shook hands with him, and told him Maurice Dengremont, the young Brazilian violinist, will begin an ex- he recognized the song he had just finished, as one of the only three he tended concert tour in October. knew, the others being " Yankee Doodle" and " Hail to the Chief." Upon learning the singer had been an officer under him in the Army of the Poto- Signor T. Greco has been added to the list of vocal professors of the mac, he offered him a cigar, and condescended to give him his arm for a New York College of Music for the next season. stroll in the gardens. Max Maretzek will give a series of orchestral concerts during the sum- The fame of his successes in Germany had already reached England, and mer in Cincinnati, beginning July 12. a debut in Italy was not necessary, in his case, to secure a London engage- ment. Mapleson immediately secured him for the fall season of 1878, and The Pond divorce suit ended in Boston, June 22d, with a verdict for his debut in Italian opera was made in the British metropolis, in the most Mrs. Pond. Judge Field denied Major Pond's claim for a divorce, and in trying, difficult and, perhaps, the most unsatisfactory of all tenor roles, his review of the case said that there was no direct evidence in support of Florestan, in Beethoven's "Fidelio." There is nothing to please the eye in Major Pond's allegations. The Judge concluded by saying that even if Mrs. the ragged hero of Beethoven's "Fidelio," like the picturesque or gorgeous Pond's testimony be entirely excluded, the libellant had failed to substanti- dressing of " Aida" or " Lohengrin," and the 6pera itself is rather monoton- ate his charges and he therefore ordered the libel to be dismissed. Mrs. ous, but he chose it out of deference to the classical taste of the British pub- Pond and her husband were both in court during the day, and the announce- lic, and thus subjected himself to the severest critical test. After the great ment of the decision of Judge Field was received by both quietly, without aria in act II, when he falls lifeless upon the straw bed in his prison cell, the emotion on the part of either. Mrs. Pond was warmly congratulated by her enthusiasm was so great and prolonged, that the newspapers of the next day counsel and friends over the result. rebuked the people for demanding an encore under such circumstances. A music-box constituted part of the evidence in a burglary trial in the But it would have been impossible, even if the artist had been willing to do Court of Sessions, Hudson, N. Y., on June 23d. During recess, one of the such an absurd thing as repeat a great dramatic effect, for the applause jurors, while gratifying his curiosity in making an examination of the box, which revealed to him his success, as he lay upon the stage, made it impossi- managed unintentionally to wind it up. When court opened, and the Judges ble for him to restrain his emotion, and it found vent in a copious flood of were walking in to take their seats, the music-box started off, playing a tears. The next day he found himself famous, and was at once engaged by march. The juror became alarmed, and nervously endeavored to stop the Mapleson for the seasons of 1879-80. In these he repeated his success in music, but every turn he gave the crank only had the effect of changing; "Fidelio," and appeared with equal success in "Faust," "Freischutz," the tune. A constable took the box and thrust it under a bench, but still "Tannhauser," and "Lohengrin." The latter he undertook without a re- the music resounded through the court-room, to the great amusement of the hearsal, and the London press pronounced him "the best Lohengrin ever spectators. Finally, Prosecutor McGill got possession of the box, and by- heard in England." Even Campanini came to him the following morning, thrusting his knife into the machinery stopped the music. to compliment him on his triumph. At the close of the spring season of 1880, Mapleson offered him an engagement for his American season of 1880-81, Messrs. Sullivan and Gilbert expect to come to America in October, but as he owed him $6,000, and was unable to pay, he did not feel like tak- when "Patience" will be produced at the New York Standard Theatre, ing an additional risk. Mme. Nilsson also advised him to follow her exam and will be followed by the new operetta now being written, which, it is pie and decline, which he did. reported, will be called " The Princess." At the close of his London engagement, Mr. Candidus, at the advice of his friend, Hans Richter, the famous Vienna Kapelmeister, accepted an ABROAD. engagement for the new opera house at Frankfort-on-tbe-Main, where he ap- At Covent Garden, London, the operas have been hackneyed " Rigo- peared in" William Tell," " Freischutz," " Stradella," " Martha." " Dame letto," with Madame Albani as Gilda, and "Faust," with Madame Patti as Blanche," "Dinorah," "Huguenots," "Faust," "Romeo and Juliet," Marguerite. M. Rubinstein was to superintend the final rehearsals, and "Ernani," "Aida," " Meistersinger," " Tannhauser," and "Lohengrin." He conduct the first performances of the Italian version of his opera, sang Rhademes in "Aida" fourteen times last season. " The Demon," which was to have been produced towards the end of June, Mr. Candidus arrived in New York on Saturday, June 18, by the Bre-with Mesdames Albani and Trebelli, MM, Marini, Lassalle, and De Reszke, men steamer, Main, and after spending an hour with his brother-in-law, in the chief parts. Mr. William Steinway, left the same day for Philadelphia, to greet his mother whom he had not seen for five years, and who anxiously awaited his So successful has he been on his Northern tour just finished that arrival at the railway station. On Sunday and Monday he remained at his Josef Wieniawski is already engaged for twenty concerts in Sweden next mother's house, and on Monday evening was serenaded at the Continental season. Hotel by his old comrades, the Young Mjcnnerchor Society and Carl Sentz's A Violin School, with Professor Romagnoli as director, has been opened Military Orchestra. He left the following day for New York, where he at Ancona, Italy. joined Madam Peschka-Leutner, who arrived on the Frisia, last Wednesday, Up to the present time Boito's •' Mefistofele" has been performed at when both took the cars for Chicago. Mr. Candidus will leave for Europe thirty-nine theatres. on July 9th, to fulfill an engagement which commences at the Royal Opera Gevaert has been created Grand Officer of the Order of Leopold; Pierre House, Frankfort, August 1st. Benoit and Franz Liszt, commanders; Auguste Dupont, Burbure, and Ed. In personal appearance Mr. Candidus is tall, robust and manly looking. Lassen, officers; and a number of other gentlemen connected with music* He stands nearly six feet high, and weighs over two hundred pounds. He knights. is as straight as an Indian, broad across the shoulders and of a graceful carriage. His breadth of chest indicates a pair of big lungs and great powers The committee of the Paris Conservatoire concerts have presented Miss of endurance. His black hair is brushed carelessly back from his forehead Emma Thursby with a medal of honor. and temples, and a moustache of the same color curls up naturally at the The deaths are announced—at Trieste, of Filippo Danziger, secretary to ends, while a small imperial is worn just below the lower lip. His voice, the Opera House; and at Gorizia, aged 38, of Leopoldo Mugnone, com- which is a tenore di forza, is of a sweet, sympathetic quality, and, at the poser. same time, of phenomenal power and compass. His natural register extends From the account given of a conversation between the Prince of Wales- from the A below to the D flat Above the staff, while the exquisite method of and Madame Patti, it seems that the prima donna is still in the same mind vocalization he acquired from Ronchetti enables him to sing up to the G, on about going to America. Madame Patti told the Prince: "It is settled. I the fourth leger line above the staff. This is as high as Gerster herself can sing, shall go to America, and on my return with my earnings, my little castle ia and one full tone above the highest note written in any score for a tenor, South Wales and the rest, I shall make my last bow to the public." It is which is an F natural in Bellini's "Puritani," written for the great Rubini. expected, however, that the next season at Covent Garden will be Patti's When this opera was sang last season with Gerster, Campanini took a D flat farewell, and as Mr. Sims Reeves will in the course of 1882 also take his fare- in this duet instead of the F. Mr. Candidus is to-day the most distinguished well of opera at Covent Garden, two matters of interest at least are already American singer in the world, and I am glad to hear that his countrymen, settled. who are proud of his great success as an artist abroad, will have an oppor- Mile. Minnie Hauk, as the English papers call her, recently appeared tunity to hear him at the May Festivals, given next year, under the direction at Her Majesty's theatre in London, and received a most enthusiastic wel- of Theodore Thomas, in New York, Cincinnati and Chicago. come from an immense audience. According to English judgment, and in J. TRAVIS QUIGG, Philadelphia Sunday Mirror, June 26. this case no one is willing to dispute it, Miss Hauk is the one vocalist upon The staff of the Folio, Boston, Mass., is very powerful ; it now consists the operatic stage that can impersonate Bizet's Carmen to perfection. All of Earl Marble, Editor, C. A. White, Editor Musical Department, Hezekiah other efforts are contrasted with hers and suffer, at least, in the estimation of Butterworth and George Russell Jackson, Editorial Contributors, and Louis London opera patrons. C. Elson, Musical Critic. We fully endorse the remarkable opinion of the A new operetta, "Noah's Ark," by M. Jules Coste, has just been Boston Saturday Evening Express, that under the new management the Foliobrought out in Paris. Among many attractive features is mentioned a is sure to shine, sparkle and ring. Why did not the Express add that itchorus of animals of the period, " in which the public are invited to take will also be sure to corruscaie, scintillate and bang. part." J