Grand in English Author(s): Francis E. Barrett Source: The Musical Times, Vol. 54, No. 850 (Dec. 1, 1913), pp. 806-807 Published by: Musical Times Publications Ltd. Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/907728 Accessed: 09-01-2016 10:46 UTC

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This content downloaded from 128.123.44.23 on Sat, 09 Jan 2016 10:46:06 UTC All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions 806 THE MUSICAL TIMES.-DECEMBER I, 1913.

GRAND OPERA IN ENGLISH. chorus (off), the sleeping soldiers are aroused and Mr. RAYMONDR6zE's SEASON. Philip, Dunois, and Joan,in goodamity, make for Rheims. The coronationof Charles is shown in a thistime Once picture, again the flag of grand opera in English is raised a movingone of great and circumstanceand of much in the this timeat Covent where on pomp Metropolis, Garden, quaintness. The next stageillustrates Joan at thezenith of NovemberI Mr. RaymondR6ze opened a shortseason of her powerand influentialto induceCharles not in the vernacular. The of sufficiently grand opera primaryobject to sign the armisticewhich shall relieve Paris. Joan's the undertakingwas the productionof Mr. R6ze's own ' voices' leave her,but fortified the of Dunois she historicalmusic-drama on the by regard ever-attractivesubject of goes on withher work as per historicalrecord. The scene 'Joan ofArc.' Otherworks such as Wagner's'Tannhliuser,' and the active of the close with mutual and with Gounod's part open opera ',' 'Tristan,' ',' confidencesbetween Joan and Dunois and theirsetting out Bizet's ',' Humperdinck's'Hansel and Gretel,'and for Tableaux show taken her a new are of Compiegne. Joan prisoner, ballet, features the scheme set forthin the trial,her martyrdomat the stake and her finaltranslation, Immediate of one of preliminaryprospectus. recognition and the adorationof her remainsby the people who have theweak spotsin theplan of operain Englishhas been noted ' alreadycanonised her. by Mr. R6ze, and he promisesthat Carmen' shall be given Mr. R6ze's music shows much resourcefulness.That in the new versionof the book providedby Mr. Hermann resourcefulnessis not self-contained. There are Klein and some time A less need is always published ago. urgent many effectivepassages. The choral-writingin particular representedin the promisednew translationinto English by is alwaystelling because of its excellentconstruction. The Mr. Alfred Kalisch of the librettoof Gounod's 'Faust.' instrumental is also admirable,and the score is of This was at all. The versionmade colouring scarcelynecessary by notablehomogeneity. The factthat the compositionof the H. F. Chorleyfor the English productionof the work in workwas extendedover twelve and thatit was heard stands later as one of years 1864 to-daynigh fiftyyears the best in its completedform four years ago accountsfor much of examplesof ' Englishing'ever made froma foreignlibretto. the music not of Good of the But at the time of to being to-day. knowledge going press, when most of the five requirementsof the stage is shown, and the Coronation weeks of the season have passed, no date is fixedfor the scene is carriedout to broad musical effectsthat create a of this new version. 'Tristan' and production Wagner's definiteimpression. There is dramaticimpulse in Queen 'Tannhdiuser'have been seen, and the restof the timehas Isabeau's for and the been taken withMr. own openly expressed contempt Joan, up R6ze's opera. scene betweenthe Maid and Philip is good operaticstuff. Elsewhere Mr. R6ze's matterdoes not always fit the 'JOAN OF ARC.' situation,although he never fails to indicate undoubted powersof eloquence. There is greatspirit in the scene at Originallyheard in a concert-versiongiven at Queen's Hall the Castle of Chinon,and the introductorychoral dance is fouryears ago, Mr. R6ze is announcedas havingspent twelve a notableexample of the composer'sadaptability. Generally yearsin composinghis opera. Like Wagnerhe is his own the style is somewhatlyrical for the subject,and in the an to librettist, arrangementthat has a greatdeal commend actualappeal of his musicMr. R6ze has ratherhandicapped it, sinceif anyobjections are to be made theyare not likely himselfby his choice of words whichapparently do not to be attendedwith blows. Save forits peacefulpossibilities always lend themselvesto felicitousmusical accentuation. the plan in this case has not been of great serviceto the Two casts wereemployed. The firstcomprised Miss Lilian composer. Two heads are generallypreferable to one, Granfeltas an appealingJoan, Mr. Charles Mott as a especially where a first attemptis concerned,and it is vigorousand impressiveDuke of Burgundy,Mr. Henry probablethat a secondhead wouldhave pointedout sundry Rabke as Charles, Mr. Raoul Torrentas Dunois, and defectsin Mr. R6ze's libretto. He does not follow the Miss Dora Gibsonas Queen Isabeau. The alternativecast Schiller design, but neverthelessadheres well to the included Mlle. Marta Wittkowskaas Joan,Mr. Raymond historicalfacts. The Maid of Orleans is happilyone of Loder as Charles, Mr. Harold Colonna as Dunois, those historicalfigures about which we are uncommonlyMr. HarryReynolds as Philip, and Miss EdytheGoodman well informed. There is actually in existence in the as Isabeau. In point of equipmentthe production is Musie Tour Jeanne d'Arc, at Rouen, a sketch of memorablebecause of the splendour of the costumes, her face made at the time of her trial five hundred its historicalaccuracy, and the generalimpressiveness of yearsago. the setting. The work has been given three and four Mr. R6ze depictsall the principalevents. He does so times a week since the season began and to growing eithervivd vocethrough his characters,or by meansof some appreciation. tableauxvivants. Thus, one way or another,the wholeof the story of her life is given. The battle scenes, the imprisonment,trial, and final burningat the stake are 'TRISTAN AND ISOLDA. shown by means of tableaux. The opera begins at the beginningat Domremy,where we see Joan,not tendingher When the new opera had settleddown, Mr. R6ze gave flockbut her flax,since she is shownwith a spinningwheel Wagner's 'Tristan and Isolda' with a cast that included outsidethe village church. She announcesher convictionsMlle. MartaWittkowska as Isolda and Mr. John Coates as implantedin her by means of the mysteriousvoices; and Tristan. Mlle. Wittkowskahas recentlydeveloped sundry herfather, a clear-speakingif not plain-speakingman, has highnotes in hervoice thatjustify her in attemptingsoprano visionsof his own. Next we are in the Hall of the Castle r6les. Her Isolda had plentyof vigourin its initialstages, at Chinon, where the Dauphin is holdingcourt. Aftera but strainsoon became obviousand the tunefulnessof her preliminaryballet Joan is announced, and makes her singingdeclined. Mr. John Coates gave a very notable appearanceso far forwardwith her mission as to have impersonationof Tristan. It was remarkableas charac- adopted male attire. Afterdue trial of her powers of terization,for its vocal effect,and for its power as an divinationshe is, on thestrength of her powers of perception,exposition of a much abused character. Mlle. Juiliette entrustedwith the commandof the Army. Living pictures Autranacted Brangaenawith muchskill, giving more point show her firstessaying the stormingof Orleans; herentry than usual to the part, but her voice lacks the necessary into the liberated city. Then the characters come to life weight for the music. Mr. Charles Mott showed himself again; this time in the camp of the allied English and as an artist of high promise by his work as Kurwenal, and Burgundians. Here there is a scene between the scoffing the music of King Mark was finely sung by Mr. Manitto Isabeau and Philip, Duke of Burgundy, followed by the Klitgaard. Quite a feature of the representation was the appearance of Joan leading a charge. Her sympathy for a direction of the orchestra by Mr. Hamilton Harty. mortally-wounded English soldier causes her to remain in Although new to the work of operatic conducting he was the camp. She makes the acquaintance of Philip, who able to express a great deal, and to show that with the introduces himself in the free and open-hearted manner of necessary experience he would have no difficultyin attaining the period by means of an axe with which he proposes to kill distinction in this branch of his art. The stage part of the the Maid. She persuades him to the contrary. Dunois, performance was disfigured by some freak lighting during who appeals to her as a lover, is rejected, and after Joan the duet in the Second Act which resulted in the lovers has uttered an Ave Maria with the assistance of a being bathed in bright red moonlight.

This content downloaded from 128.123.44.23 on Sat, 09 Jan 2016 10:46:06 UTC All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions THE MUSICAL TIMES.-DECEMBER I, 1913. 807

' to Carl True the Lord TANNHAUSER.' ; Mayor's and Lady Mayoress's to Dicksee and Edith the In this well-knownwork as his third prizes Phyllis Harrhy; Principal's mounting opera, prize,for promise of a publiccareer, to ReginaldHerbert. Mr. R6ze laid himselfopen to some severe criticisms. It A concertformed of the the revealedweaknesses in his Miss Bettina part proceedings, programme company. Freeman, being contributedby Miss D. Augusta Chilton-Griffin who appeared as Elizabeth, did not rise to any great (pianist),Miss Muriel (violinist),Miss W. the absence of extensivecommand Hay Jamieson, heightsowing to any of Miss Doro hy Waring,and Mr. ChristianObert (vocalists). vocal colour. Mr. JohnCoates, who appeared as Tannhiiuser, was artisticas usual, but could not conquer the difficulty arisingfrom the factthat the musicdoes not suithim save in THE MUSICIANS' COMPANY. the last Act, whenhe sangadmirably. The othercharacters A banquetwas givenby this Companyon October28, at were not of a highlevel, with the exceptionof Mr. Harry Stationers' Hall. The new Master, Mr. CliffordB. Reynolds,who gave a vocallyexcellent account of themusic Edgar, D.L., J.P., presided, and the large company of the Landgrave. Miss May Storiaas Venus, Miss Maude presentincluded: Mr. W. P. Fuller (the immediatePast- Garnette as the Shepherd Boy, Mr. Henry Rabke as Master),the Earl of Shaftesbury,Lord Marchamley,Captain Wolfram,did not sound any great depths,and moreover,A. C. Chamier(Senior Warden), Mr. C. L. Collard (Junior helped to defeat ratherthan advance the wholereason of Warden), Mr. T. C. Fenwick (Clerk), Sir Alexander opera in Englishby failingto pronouncetheir words clearly. Kennedy,Sir FrederickBridge, Sir Edward Cooper, Sir Mr. Frank Bridge conducted,but rathersuccumbed to the George Truscott,Sir Homewood Crawford,Sir Herbert manifold difficultiesof directing a much 'cued' opera Marshall, Col. T. C. F. Somerville, Lieut.-Col. such as this. J. T. Phillips, Sir George Martin, Sir William Gibbons, FRANCIS E. BARRETT. Sir Edward Letchworth,Mr. Landon Ronald (Principal, GuildhallSchool of Music, who earlierin the eveningwas admittedto the roll of HonoraryFreemen of the Company), 'GIULIANA': A NEW ENGLISH OPERA. Mr. Ian Malcolm,M.P., Mr. J. Boyton,M.P., Dr. W. G. Dr. W. G. Dr. T. L. Mr. At on November the Alcock, McNaught, Southgate, Cheltenham, 19, Moody-MannersS. Ernest A. Mr. W. W. to the listof native Palmer, Major J. Stretton, Opera Company added produced Cobbett. Afterthe usual loyal toasts,Mr. Fuller proposed by them a one-act example entitled'Giuliana,' composed the toast of Mr. David Knox. The E. 'The WorshipfulCompany of Musicians,' by libretto,by Signor Golisciani, coupled withthe name of the new Master, and in an tellsa of Italian love, hate, and in story summaryvengeance, interestingsurvey of the operationsof the Companyduring which hapless women,a villagelover, and a wicked Count the months, the three Mr. music is with past twelve mentioned that are concerned. Knox's highlycharged Company's Scholarships at the Guildhall School of thequality styled a 'sense of the stage.' He conveysit with Music (which were Mr. and Mr. a deal ofconfidence in the matterof orchestration,and given by Carnegie good Ernest Palmer), were now filled up. He reported with fluentcommand of melodic phrase. There is good differentiationbetween the variouscharacters and emotional the unveiling, by the Duchess of Abercorn, of the windowpresented by the Companyto the new Guildhallat phases of the story,and the wholeis a workof undoubted Londonderryto commemoratethe formerassociation of the promise. The composerhas the rightstuff in him; all Musicians' withthe in the he wants is in it. Few first Company Fishmongers'Company experience conveying operas Plantationof Ulster. Miss Alice Prendergasthad given have carriedso much convictionat their initial hearing. in of her late Mr. ArthurH. D. The all of them weretaken Madame aR500 memory brother, parts, prominent, by (a Freemanof the to be investedfor Susanna Salvani (Giuliana), Mr. Frank Christian(Paolo), Prendergast Company), Mr. FlintoftMoore the purpose of apprenticingCity choir boys to musical (Count), Miss Olive Westwood(Marta), instrumenttraders. It was that this trustwould and Mr. Hubert The hoped Dunkerley (Lorengo). composer expandinto a largescheme. He offeredcongratulations to conductedin excellent style, and the opera was well on received. Aldermanand Past-MasterCooper his receivingthe honourof knighthood. He welcomedthe new Master,and said he was knownin and out of the Company,as an ROYAL ACADEMY OF MUSIC. accomplishedamateur musician; and he referredto his civic and musicalwork On December and two lectureswill be at the eulogistically. 3 Io, given Mr. Edgar, in a brief stated that there were Royal of Music Mr. Oscar The reply, Academy by Beringer. thingsin connectionwith the Companyof which it was subjects are 'English clavier music of the I6th-i8th could confer but centuries,'and 'French and German clavier music of the justly proud. Kings to-day charters, centuries.' they could not conferantiquity. The Company was I6th-i8th increasingin usefulnessand strengthand unityof feeling The George Mence SmithScholarship for a non-student its members. voice and musical is for amongst displayinggood aptitude open The healthof the new HonoraryFreeman, Mr. Landon competition,the last day for receiving entries being December io. Ronald, was proposedby Sir Edward Ernest Cooper. He said the Musicians'Company had one importantdistinction A chamberconcert was given by the Academy in the -that it a Duke's Hall on represented livingArt which was a universal November3. Movementsfrom concerted He referredto the abilities of works and were language. distinguished byBeethoven, Mendelssohn, Dvorak, played, Mr. Landon Ronald as a conductor,and said he was a aid a song 'La Rose' by Mr. Adolf Hallis, a student,was heardfor the firsttime. composerof melody,an importantmatter in these days. Mr. Landon Ronald,in responding,made an optimistic speechas to thequality and prospectof Britishmusic. His THE GUILDHALL SCHOOL OF MUSIC. sympathieswere stronglywith the youngergeneration of composerswho were strugglingfor recognition. But even The annual prize-givingand concert took place on they must rememberthat the now well-knownmusicians, October 25, in the presenceof the then Lord Mayor (Sir such as Mackenzie,Parry, Stanford, had infinitelygreater David Burnett)and Lady Mayoress. An address,reviewing difficulty in gettingtheir early work heard. This change the year's work of the school, was givenby the principal, was owing to there being manymore orchestralconcerts Mr. Landon Ronald,and the Lady Mayoressdistributed the thanthere were. More thanby any otheragency the cause prizes,of whichthe chiefwere as follows:-The gold medal of Britishmusic had been servedby the greatAcademies of to ElizabethWeiss; the Knill challengecup and Bechstein Music and the ' ErnestPalmer' Patron'sFund. While we Scholarshipto Eric Zardo; the Musicians'Company silver shoulddo all we could to supportthe Britishmusician, we medal to John E. Hope. CorporationScholarships were mustnot shutthe door on foreignartists and music, because grantedto Louis Godowsky,Rebe Kussmann,Nellie Walker, thatwould tendto stultifythe art. In this century,there Gladys Broxup, and HerbertY. Templeman. The Melba was no talent, no genius, that was hidden--all had a chance. Scholarshipwas awardedto DorothyM. Waring; the Knoop He to concluded by saying that he hoped to make the Scholarship Mary Critchlow; the Mercers' Scholarship Guildhall School one of the greatest, if not the greatest in to MargaretHarrison; the MerchantTaylor's Scholarship .

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