The Fringe of an Art : Appreciations in Music. By
Vernon Blackburn. (The Unicorn Press.)—The author writes charm- ingly of Berlioz, Rossini, Don Giovanni, Parsifal, and other musical matters. Perhaps the most interesting study is the one entitled "Mozart at Munich," in which he gives an account of the splendid work done by the accomplished Intendant of the Residenz Theatre, Herr von Possart. This gentleman determined to free Mozart's operas from the accretions of time and prima donnas, and to give to the world these works with all the artistic sincerity advocated by Wagner in operatic production. According to Mr. Blackburn, the success has been complete. By the careful treatment of the stage, by attention to the meaning of the dramas, as well as the reconstruction of the orchestra so as to make it identical in balance of forces with that used by Mozart, a result of the greatest artistic beauty has been arrived at.
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