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Miss Fanchon Thompson, mezzo-sopra- nishman. At seven years of age he was a PITTSBURG DOINGS. no, is a Chicago girl who has had the train- chorister. His professional debut CMIL PAUR and his Metropolitan or- ing of two years at the Paris Opera Com- was made at Albert Hall, London, in a *-' chestra packed the houses at the Ex- ique. Miss Thompson made her debut performance of Sullivan's "Golden Le- position auditorium and delighted the there in December, 1898, as Carmen. Last gend," under the leadership of the late Sir music lovers immensely. Nahan Franko June she sang Siebel, in "Faust," at the Joseph Barnby. He was engaged for the appeared with this organization as soloist. Carl Rosa Opera Company and made his The sixth season of the Pittsburg Or- operatic debut as Capulet in "Romeo and chestra will consist of 18 evening and 18 Juliet." He created Marcel in the first afternoon concerts, beginning Thursday English production of "La Boheme." evening, November 1, and Saturday af- Mr. Clarence Whitehill, basso, made his ternoon, November 3. The orchestra will debut at Brussels in 1898 as Friar Law- number 74 players. will rence in "Romeo and Juliet," and then be the conductor. Kunits will again be the went to the Opera Comique. His first concertmaster. The place of first violon- appearance there was at Nilakantha in cellist will be filled by Henri Merck. Merck "Lakme," and since that time he has sung had contemplated signing a contract many of the leading roles in the repertory. in Brussels, but was relinquished to Marengo, Iowa, was the birthplace of Mr. Pittsburg through the courtesy of Ysaye. Whitehill. The first horn player of last season, Mr. Leslie Walker, an English basso, is Anton Horner, has also been re-en- a graduate of the Royal Academy of Mu- gaged. Alexandre Scotti, from the Metro- sic, London. His first professional experi- politan Opera House forces, will be the solo- ence was gained in the company directed ist for the first concert. Other soloists who by Mr. D'Oyly Carte, where he sang in will appear during the season are: Mad- comic opera and musical comedy. His ame Schumann-Heink, Lillian Blauvelt, debut in was made at the Teresa Carreno, Clara Butt, Maud Powell, Ernst Dohnanyi, Hugo Becker, Fritz Kreis- ler, Fanny Bloomfield Zeisler, Julian Walker, Arthur Whiting, Luigi von Kunits, Henri Merck, the new first violoncellist of the orchestra, and Pol Plancon. The Musical Association of Allegheny LEMl'KIERE I'RINGLE, HASSO. will begin rehearsals for the first concert, Covent Garden, London. She then re- which will take place in , turned to the Opera Comique, where she Allegheny, on Thursday, Dec. 13. The has been singing the role of the Prince, in program arranged consists of part songs Massenet's "Cendrillon," with considerable and Sir Julius Benedict's cantata, "St. Ce- success. cilia." Professor W. A. Lafferty is the Miss Phoebe Strakosch, soprano, who the director. made her American debut on the opening The Metropolitan English Grand Opera night of the season, is a member of the company of Maurice Grau and Henry W. celebrated Strakosch family. She was born KATE CONDON, . Savage will appear in repertoire for a week in Stockholm, a brother of Maurice and Drury Lane Theatre, then under manage- in Pittsburg, beginning Monday, Jan. 7. Max, famous in the history of opera in ment of Sir Augustus Harris. Then he Adolph Carpe, the well-known pianist America. Miss Strakosch studied with joined the Royal Carl Rosa Opera Co. and author of several important works on her aunt, Carlotta Patti, and later with & musical subjects, has opened a studio in Sbriglia. In 1895 she made her debut JE3SICA DE WOLF. at Trieste as Marguerite in Gounod's A N acquisition to the musical circles of "Faust." **• New York is Mrs. Jessica De Wolf, whose magnificent dramatic soprano voice Miss Strakosch sang Marguerite, Elsa has gained for her no end of enthusiastic and Hero at Covent Garden last year. praise from English and German critics, She also created the leading roles in "Sa- where the greater part of her singing has pho," "Andrea Chenier" and "Fedora," been done. when those works were produced in Milan. On a field where there are so few really Miss Elsa Marney, contralto, is of Ger- great as in oratorio, Mrs. De Wolf should man parentage, and first appeared in pub- be hailed with joy, for she is not only very lic when eight years old. At sixteen she experienced in this work, but she is thrill- toured Germany, Russia and Finland in ing, impressive, and her voice is one of concert. Her dramatic ability impelled great beauty. her to study for the operatic stage with Whereas she is not to be discussed as a Mme. Marchesi. Among her best roles pupil of anyone, yet it is interesting to are said to be those of Amneris and Or- know that she studied long and thoroughly trud. with Fred Walker, of London, who was Miss Ingeborg Ballstrom, coloratura so- regarded as one of the greatest authorities prano, was born in Stockholm. She made on oratorio. She has also coached with her first professional appearance there at Henschel for quite a lengthy period of time. the Royal Opera, singing Filina in "Mi- Mrs. De Wolf sang with Van der Stiicken gnon," and remaining there for three sea- at the National Teachers' Association in Des PHQCBE STRAKOSCH, SOPRANO. sons. She then went to Berlin. Mr. Moines this season, with very great success. the Bissell block. An extensive work on Philip Brozel, tenor, was born in St. It is to be hoped that she will be heard in "Rhythm, its Nature in Art, and its Value Petersburg, but was educated in England. New York soon and under conditions fitting in Musical Reproduction," has just been He is a graduate of the Royal Academy of her importance. published in Leipzig, and has been en- Music, and made his debut in 1896 at Cov- Jt dorsed by Reinecke, Hanslick, Jadossohn ent Garden as Canio in "Pagliacci." Puccini is to make a two-act opera out and others. Carpe is now engaged in a Mr. William Paull, baritone, is a Cor- of Belasco's Mme. Butterfly. translation of this work into English.