May 15, 1915 MUSICAL AMERlCA 15 I DE RESZKEs suFFER BY WAR; EDOUARD LIVINa IN CELLAR I HE confirmed opera-goer who looks T back but a few years may feel again the old-time musical thrills pro­ duced by the greatest artists of their day, Jean and Edouard de Reszke, whose vei'Y personalities, on and off the stage, gave forth an atmosphere of generous luxury. The very name of de Reszke speaks of perfection of musical and the­ atrical art in its combined entirety. Who in the world of music does not know their name and its attendant history? Jean, the great tenor, possessing an as­ tounding repertoire, every role of which was individual in its magnificent inter­ pretation. And Edouard, big in every sense, especially in matters of lyrical expression and intellect! And so they were real gentlemen, fine in a broad, happy way. It is hard to think of them now as two human beings, suffering to the extreme, both physically and mentally. Jean de Reszke, who is in Par is, has sent his eldest boy, Jean junior, to the front with the French army, and he recently received the sad knowledge that Edouard is existing half starved in the ruins of their formerly luxurious estate, Bo­ rowna, three miles from Klomnice. I Previous to the war, which has made the country about Klomnice one of the chief grounds of confli ct, the de Reszke estate numbered 12,000 well-cultivated acres. In back of the villa was the forest-land, really a small private game reserve, in which the brother-s with their guests often hunted the deer, partridge and hare abounding there. Most of the la nd, however, was given over to potato raising, from which the annual supply of vodka was made. Happily employed were the 400 peasants with their allow­ used in the seventeenth century as a re­ ance of provender, their little homes and treat for the brother of the ancient pro­ a dependable yearly wage. prietor. It is no doubt being used in this twentieth century for purposes of Brothers Aid Penitents safety. Not far from t he de Reszke estate is "It is fearful to contrast things as the village of Czestochowie, of historical they were during my visit, and as they fame. It holds the famous "Miraculous are now-quite as fearful as it is to Virgin" in its cathedral. To this "Vir­ think of Edouard in his former environ­ gin"-a statue of the Virgin which was ment, and that of torment and privation supposed to perform miracles-came which now exists. And he will remain penitents from all over Poland. The there, too, to the last possible moment, whole day long they could be seen pass­ with his people, helping them, ignoring ing by Borowna, often being spurred even his own physical suffering." along their way by the financial assist­ A VERY STRAKOSCH. ance of the de Reszkes or their peasants, who always kept a supply of small coins -kopeks, worth about half a cent. Russian Symphony Orchestra at Chau­ Now there is a great change. Edouard tauqua This Summer is living destitute in a cellar, all that years. Entrapped with him is his for­ families and a patron of art and music. Arrangements have been made by is left of the beautiful estate which had mer neighbor, Prince Lubomirski, a de­ His estate adjoining that of the brothers which the Russian Symphony Orchestra, been in their possession for over twenty scendent of one of the oldest Polish included a palace called Kruszyna, huge, of which Modest Altschuler is conduc­ and dating back to 1630. This is now a tor, will give an extended program at mass of ruins. It is almost impossible Chautauqua, N. Y., in August. In com­ to visualize two such men, living quite bination with William Hinshaw, bari­ destitute in a cellar. tone; Ernest Hutcheson, pianist; Sol Dr. Holbrook Cu'rtis, one of the vice­ Marcosson, violinist, and other soloists, American Institute presidents of the Polish Relief Fund, and some of the great musical masterpieces an old friend of the de Reszkes, once will be performed. visited them at Borowna. Devotion of Their Peasants of Applied Music Couldn't Be Without It "I remember it as it was then, a beau­ (KATES. CHITTENDEN, dean) tiful peaceful home with an atmosphere To the Editor of MUSICAL AMERICA: unlike any I have ever known elsewhere. I enclose subscription. Thanks for View of Central Park from the Institute The night of our arrival was an espe­ your paper; could not be without it. cially auspicious occasion, being the an­ Sincerely, nual celebration known ·as the 'Feast of JESSIE NORTHCROFT. SPECIAL SUMMER COURSES the Crops.' In this the two brothers par­ Alpha Chi Omega House, ticipated, responding to the gifts of Lawrence, Kan., April 21, 1915. Monday, June 21 to Friday, July 30, 1915 fruits · and sweets, and to the stirring speeches and songs. The days following An exceptional opportunity fo r study in Vocal Music, Pianoforte, H enry Schradieck, I was shown about the estate, and was Mme. Violin, H armony, Organ, under the following noted teachers: the eminent violin continually impressed by the outward McCall Lanham (Voice); H . Rawlins Baker, Leslie J, Hodgson, pedagogue and au· signs of devotion shown by the peasants. Mrs. Sara J erniga n N ellis, Anastasia Nugent, William F. Sherman, thor of many They would walk shyly forward and sil­ Katharine L. Taylor (Piano); Henry Schradieck (Violin) ; Mrs. widely-used study ently grasp their master's .hands, and DORIA Nellis, Mr. Sherman (Harmony); Mr. Shennan (Organ). works, will teach kiss them. during this ses· "The homes of these peasants were sion. very interesting. The married men had FOR FU LL I NFORMATION address Registrar, American Insti· little individual huts, and the bachelors DEVINE tute of Appli ed Music, 212 W. 59th St., New York. boasted a long low building of simple neat lines. Near the entrance to Bo­ rowna stood a very old church, which be­ ~fat{ltt cause of its distinctive national archi­ of tecture the de Reszkes allowed to remain there. There were many interesting his­ ~inging torical places in the surrounding coun­ MR. MARK HAMBOURG try. The adjoining estate held an an­ The Famous Russian Pianist will hold a cient underground hermitage which was 1425Broadway MASTER COURSE FOR PIANO at CAMP QUISISANA, MAINE From July 1st to September 15th LILA ROBESON CONTRALTO METROPOLITAN OPERA COMPANY All particulars to be obtained from MR. C. A. MURRAY, 46 E. 75th St., New York CONCERT Address c/ o Metropolitan Opera Co. RECITAL Now Located In Ne'W' York Address: 601 West 139th Street, NEW YORK Formerly at 40 rue de Villejust, Paris THE KLEMEN. • TRIO Tel. Audubon 2320 ildeSALES Studio: 701 Carnegie Hall Bertha Klemen, Piano--- Isidore Moskowitz, Violin--- Victor Lubalin, Violoncello Available .for Concerts Season 1914·15 N 'Phone Circle 1350 A Teacher ol Singing .