April 26, 1919 AM E R I c · A . MUSICAL ~ 1 ~ , Internati.onal Ideals to Rule Programs, Says Monteux,: .-_t New Conductor of the Boston Orchestra·

Music of No Nation Will Be Exploited at the Expense of Another's, Declares Director in An­ nouncing His Artistic Credo-French School Needs No Propaganda, He Avers-Admires Russians' Art and Pays His Respects to Wagner's Genius-Finds Puccini "Second-Rate" -Wants Europe to Give Hearing to American W arks

By CLARE PEELER

0 two people could be imagined more the Thefl.tre des Champs-Elysees, Cov­ et Dalila.' It is to me his greatest different in type than Pierre Mon­ ent Garden, Berlin, Vienna and Buda­ work, almost pure melody.'' the new conductor of the Boston pest, he gained operatic experience, to "There has been no great musical which he added at the Metropolitan Op­ work growing out of the war, in France Orchestra, and Henri Rabaud, era House, where he has conducted at least,'' M. Monteux said regretfully retiring conductor. Except for the French opera since 1917. As conductor in answer to a question. "Nor will Gallic courtesy . that dis­ of the Russian Ballet on four tours he there be for some time, I believe. Men's them both, they seem at op­ has specialized in ballet music with minds have been on other things. One notable success. writes you know, to an occasion and one mental poles.. Rabaud is tall, cannot be equal to the occasion as it grizzled; Monteux ·is short, Prefers Symphonic Form has been in France these four years.'' plump. Monteux is vivacious to "Of all, I prefer the symphonic form, "Have you ever composed, M. Mon­ sparkling point; Rabaud, reserved in that it is purest music," he said. "In teux?" opera, you have what you call the acces­ All the gayety left his dark eyes. and the utmost. The one suggests the sories-not? But the symphony, it is amusement dominated them. He learied by his stoop, his dreamy grav- music and only music. toward me confidentially, finger up. ~ 'No," in response to a question, "I the care with which he brings out Own Works "In a Box" is the man of cannot say to you which or whose works I prefer; Bach, Mozart, Saint-Saens, "Yes, indeed. I have composed · many musician, the Beethoven I have played and I love all things. And do you know where they man of family, the man who knows and their . I like all the good are, those compositions? In a big box, his fellows; the man of enthusi­ music. That is why I c·are less for op­ tied up tight with string. And they will asms that are yet balanced by good era; because so much of the opera music never see the sun, I promise you.'' caters to the popular taste, for example, "But why?" it was demanded. sense and that are rendered especially like 'Pagliacci.' A-ah !" "Because, I tell you why; I play too attractive by a most winning manner. He shuddered dramatically; then much other people's music to write any - P ho to © Mishkin One could not imagine M. Rabaud as laughed at himself. more my own. Not since fifteen years , Newly Appointed Lead.er enemies; one could not fancy "Puccini? Mais oui;· second rate, ago, when I composed for the last ti~e, of the Boston Symphony Orchestfa; eux as making any but friends. also. Facile;_ you kno\Y_ what I mean'! have I written anything. For I believe The warmth and grace of the South of Easy to play; easy to listen to; easy to that a man can only have one career., Formerly Gonductor of French Op ~ r·a France, from which he derives his de­ ·have applauded. It is music for the and that mine is to conduct. I will . at the Metropolitan scent (his parents are Marseillaise) in­ public; me, I like music for the musi­ always be conductor.'' form M. Monteux's ready smiling speech cians." The little daughter knocked at the after I have seen them I come to Bos­ with a spontaneity all their own. "And shall you hold to that idea in door just then and was dismissed with a ton, in September.'' Yet is he ill described if you think your programs? few gentle words and a smile. Another whispered colloquy at the one without strong views, one who "But I have not yet planned; so many "You find the personal equation a door. "Have a heart,'' ordered the ; to the wind of others' opinion. things have to be considered. Only one very strong factor in , do you scribe to herself, and tried to make her him what he thinks of "Pagliacci" thing is sure-the public is not the same not, M. Monteux?" he was asKed. adieux at once, though the courtesy of or of the works of Puccini and see the for concert as one has for opera, and "What is an orchestra, a democracy or M. Monteux denied the slightest incom­ devotee's indignation in his musician's the Boston public is well used to the an autocracy?" moding by these conflicting claims. But eye. But if you expect any chauvinistic best. So I shall hope to give them of He laughed. first- prejudices to narrow his kindly and the very best, of all countries.'' "Both,'' he responded. "It must seem "Is there anything you would espe­ broad view of life and of art, again you "Wagner, for instance? You like his a democracy but really be an autocracy. cially like to say for publication, M. will be mistaken. Ask him what he music?" You must-be altogether en rapport with Monteux?" thinks of Wagner's works and see what "But yes!" His face glowed. "Yes, your men, but they must really look to this man, French to the tips of his art­ madame, immensely I like his mustc. you absolutely. Only to draw out their Not Making Propaganda ists' fingers, has to say on that subject. I have often given it. Perhaps for a best from them, you understand. One "Yes," he said, unexpectedly and It was most unfortunate that the while yet, if the feeling of the public is does not love to give orders for the' or- earnestly. "This: In playing French scribe's arrival had coincided, "through against it for other reasons, it Jftay not -ders' sake, but only to get resu)ts.'' music I will not make French propa­ my forgetfulness," M. Monteux said be best to do so; that is all to be ascer­ He seemed as he spoke an epitome of ganda. You understand; Rabaud, Mes­ most amiably, with that of some in­ tained. But it is great music; it will that remarkable nation whose foremost sager and I, we have been brought up timate friends who were gathered to do always be great music and as such it quality has always been the ability to in France; it is our country; we nat­ honor to the Boston Sym,phony's new will one day again take its place.'' influence others, while always respect­ urally love and we play the m)lsic of conductor at a luncheon. And yet it "You gave concerts in Paris exclu­ ing the individuals' liberty. So one our country. But not to make propa­ was fortunate, too. For one gets a sively of mt>dern music at one time, did could not imagine this smiling, vivacious ganda for it; that would be stupid. view, perhaps otherwise unattainable, of you not?" little man ever descending to be auto­ French music is great enough not to a man's capabilities in the line of pa­ "Yes, and I am very fond of it in cratic; but one cpuld readily perceive need any; and you Americans know and tience and tact in dealing with others some forms; but there the conditions how his personality could arouse in love the French music already. I shall when he is measuring up to the task of were different. , There were five orches­ others enthusiasm for that music which not play French music because it is keeping his friends pacified as they tras in Paris at the time, all drawing so evidently rules his life. French music, you understand, althoug-i-'2 great houses. · On Sunday afternoons, wait for their congratulations and their Admires Russian School I love it. But I shall play the best mu­ lunch, smiling on a little daughter who figure to yourself, five great orchestra:. sic of every nation." comes to the door with an emphatic if played in different halls at two in the Presently we spoke of the Russian And on a note so high, so broad, so low-voiced, "Mais, papa, le dejeuner de­ afternoon. So, -one of them, you see, school and Mr. · Monteux expressed his free from artistic or other prejudice, it ment froid!" __ appe~sing a lady who de­ could make its program just only of the admiration for the works of Rimsky­ was most fitting that the interviewer manded him "at the telephone" for the modern. Now, with the Boston orches­ Korsakoff, of Borodine and of Strav­ with one who seems so thoroughly to obvious reason of conveying the same tra it is different. It has what you call insky. represent what is finest in the French information; and giving his views on monopoly; so its pregrams must be "So many material difficulties ha,ve nature, musical and otherwise, should certain current musical topics, all at broad; they must not only be ()I modern interfered with presenting Russian op­ close. ' one and the same time. These be such but of classic; not of French music era," he said regretfully. "People won­ times as try men's souls; and M. Mon­ alone, nor of Italian, nor of Russian, der why more are not given; but you teux came out of the ordeal as amiably rror of American. There must be soine · see it needs more than the and Sistine Chapel Quartet Will Visit United unruffled as when he first smilingly of all.'' the librettist; more even than th~ arti­ States Next Fall ists. Not so with the giving of their greeted the scribe in his hall. Nor did His Friendship with Saint-Saens Four soloists from the Sistine Cha.pe' anything in his simple, gracious man­ orchestral music; I look forward to choir of the Vatican, Rome, will ,make ~ ner indicate exultation over the fact An excellent signed photograph of that.''. concert tour of this country next season that he has wqn the $20,000 prize for Saint-Saens, on the that takes up• His eyes were bright with pleasure a t Alexander Gabrielle, soprano; Luigi Gen­ which half the orchestral conductors of all one side of the conductor's study, at­ the thought. ., tile, contralto; Izio Cecchini, tenor, anc the United States and some o{ Europe tracted the writer's eye just then, and!. "It ~ will be my hope • to inclUde all Mariano Dado, bass, will make up th1 have been striving for mont hs past. we spoke of the .aged _composer's great kinds of good music, even ·American,'' quartet and Albert Ca:r;nmetti, one of th( That he was pleased with the avenue attainments and his strong personality. he added with a laugh. "France ought precentors of the choir, will act as accom opening before him was obvious; but no It appeared that M. Monteux. and the to hear some of your , by the panist. 'i'he tour will begin with a con assumptions of any kind disfigured his "Grand Old Man" of French .music are• way; you have several that should be cert at Carnegie Hall on Sept. 14, ~m attitude. intimate friends, as well as associates in known in Europe. Loeffler, Carpenter, its bookings are being made by the Wolf Two impressions remain strongly art, and the younger man greatly ad- four or five others' are well worthJ to .sohn Musical £ureau. The venture ha: with one after a talk with M. Monteux; mires. the older. , be heard; some have been. Then I will no connection, it· is · announced, with th' the one already referred to, his charm . "I conductP..l his last concert in Paris,. seek out and bring over some good con­ proposed visit of the whole Sistin' and kindliness of manner; the other the just before-t'.;&'e war," he remarked. "We cert music from Italy. That is a . side Chapel 'choir to this country. catholicity of his musical outlook. Out- gave his 'La Lyre et la Harpe;' and of her musical developm~nt that has side of reasons of personality pur et _Saint-Saens was his own organist. He• been so much ignored, for the operatic simple, this catholicity obviously has its was not at all satisfied with the organ­ ·always receives the emphasis. There Vera Curtis Sings at Bridgeport , Ch,urci rise in the versatility of his artistic ex- ist chosen and he said, 'I will play the are a number of young ' Italian com­ perience. • . orgarr myself., .. me.. .. but _who shall con- posers of whom I hear good things said, BRIDGEPORT, CONN., April 14.-Ver: As he remarked yeste ~I suppose duct?' So (it was at rehearsal) a as well as the older ones whose works J ·Curtis, who has again signe_!l a .contrac that I have conducted ..._,~ ~ o kind of friend of mine said, 'Monteux is in the• · shall hope to bring forward.'' with the Metropolitan Opera .Compan, music there is to conduct."· As con- audience/ At once he demands that I Wie spoke of his departure for F_rance· for next season, was the soloist . at th ductot of the Colonne concerts and of - come to the stand-I conduct. V QtlaJ -on May 1, to see his aged ·parents. "My United Church l;lst night, when she san. the Casino at Paris, he directed the giy- I have conducted much of, Saint-Saens­ father.,,is eighty-four; mY ~other . sev­ La Forge's "Before. the Crucifix." _ Mis of symphonic and oratorio music; 'La Princesse J_eune} 'Phryne,' 'Henry enty,"-he said, with pl'ide and the true Curti s is the 'daughi.er of !\irs. John ( ·-French ·touch· of filial devotiOn. , l'Then Curtis of this ~ity. # "' . s.a;rv:' ·;'~~ety at the , VIII.' But of his operas I l~ke 'Samson " ', . · - ' ., '·· ' ' -- · ·-· - . . . - •