MUSIC.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1289, 18 November 1911, Page 9

MUSIC.

CBt TnißLi Clef.l Opera Royalties. A Puccini boycott, it seems, is tho latest, operatic move on tho American side of tlio Atlantic. This news is indeed surprising; but it is alleged that tho fees charged by his publishers aro too high, and : iu consequence his operas' nro to be omitted from the repertory at the Chi-cago-Philadelphia Company. According to a leading article recently devoted to this subject by the "New York Sun," Andreas Dippcl has refused to accede to the terms of Signer Puccini's pnblishors on tho simple ground that their goods aro not worth tho price asked . for them. He maintains that tho popular success of these operas depends on - the artists engaged in representing them. When Geraldine. Farrar. went to Chicago to sing "Madame Butterfly" and "Toscn," thesetwo works were worth whatever their owners might, demand for them. When there were other interpreters in tho leading roles, however, the result was different. It was mentioned, by way of further proof, that "the three performances of 'The Girl of the Golden West' in Chicago were accompanied by such n sharp diminution in the amount of money paid for tickets that tho opera might not have been repeated but for the visit of Signor Caruso, who assumed the part of the outlaw, and attracted an audience larger,than any that had heard tho work." A statement by the same authority that the popularity of the Puccini oneras is on tho wane at the Now York Metropolitan may ho taken with several grains of salt.

Tremolo and Vibrato, It seems to mo that some confusion exists in the minds of many as to the meaning of tho term "vibrato," which is often used to designate the "tremolo." Even such an eminent authority on the voice as Mr. Henderson, of the. Xow York "Sun," says on paste 211 of bis book, "The Art nf the Singer": "It is probably finite, hopeless to make a plea for tho abolition of the cheap and vulgar vibrato in the delivery of these old nip." There is no doubt in my mind ('writes Gnido Ferrari, in "The Elude'') that ho meant Mm "tremolo" when he wrote these lines. "Tremolo" means tremulous, trembling, id est, to shuki: involuntarily. It denotes want, lack of ninsti.-ry of !lie"vocal organs. If cm-tain muscles Hint ni!;;hf to reianin passive during tono emission are contracif'll, inducing a stiff neck and inflexible, larynx; and if, in. addition to 'his condition, tne sinner Iμ;. no unntrol over tho all-iinpurfant breathing, 'hen (!>•> rc.sii!t is a tremolo. But "vibrato" comts from "vibrare," which differs essentially from "tremolo," "tremolaro." "Vibrato" means resonant, sonorov.?. A voice mav be said to vibrate with omotion. Therefore it means a certain colouring of tiip voice induced by I fie .-.rlis!'* feeling, and is very far removed from a shaky, irembliiu; voice. ]t is said of Eubini n"M----155.1i thai: no one scins ever to have equalled him in emotional vncal expression, and the adjective "vibrato" was first implied to his sincrintr. So please remember tli.il vibrato is (he "tiiril!" in the voic?, and tremolo its unsteadiness.

Notes. liichard Strauss has signed the contracts to tour Fouth America, conductim: I: series of orchestral concerts. He will visit Brn7.il, T'eru. Argentina, and Chile. It _is said there is littk- chance of hi;, visiting the Tnifed States for some lime to come, a.« he is sere over the failure of Salome in this- country. An amusing letter of Mozart's was sold in London the other day for "10 dollars. It i* to lime, de Waldstetlen and was written at n time when Constance. "Weber. Mozart's future wife, was her guest. Mozart informs her that Constance's mother threatens to send the police if her daughter does not return homo at once..

Massenet, the French opera composer, has completed two new works, a "Panurge" on Maurice Lena's poem, "Jongleur do Notre Dame," and a grand opera entitled "Koma."

During his holiday in Norway the German lCniser. one evening after dinner on his yacht, the Hohenzollern, seized the conductor's baton and directed the cflncerf.

It i? stated that Tlsius liichler. whoso life lias so long been identified with 7'iiglish musical afVairs. and who enjoyed the intimacy of Richard Wagner in Bayreuth days, has definitely decided In open a school in Bayreuth for opera students.

It is reported that Mascngiii !i:is lieen invited to write two new opera.?, ouo In I>!> produced on the upeuing of tho l'anaina Canal in .1915, and the other to bo stayed in Japan.