GRAND OPERA SENSATION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 14 November 1928, Page 6

GRAND OPERA SENSATION

CHARGE OF PLAGA RISM A(i A INST PUCCINI

SCOIU'

SI,STEPS WHO CLAIM TO Hl', TilK AUTHORS Was Puccinis posthumous opera, “Turundot.” a pliigarisin, copied note by note Iroin an opera bv two young women of Germany, who published the score of their work in Hamburg in 1906? This is tiie amazing allegation published in “Co-media.” the Paris dramatic and literary daily. "Cuiuedia.” publishing the story “with great reserve,” stales that it comes from a correspondent known for his accuracy. It will he remembered that Giacomo Puccini (the composer of “La. Boheme,” ".Madame Butterfly” and “To«ea ”j had not finished “Turandot” when lie died in 1924. The work was finished by Franco Alfano.

The story of the alleged plagiarism, which conies from Jerusalem, states that in 'Tel .Aviv, near Jaffa, there live the sisters Frida ami Goldina Rubmsolm, who earn their living by giving piano lessens. Before tlm war they lived in Hamburg, but when the family fortune was lost, after the war, they migrated to Palestine. As excellent musicians, cultivated and intelligent, they soon achieved a degree of local fame. The news of the first performance if the “Turandot” gave them, the- article says, some grounds for suspicion, and they had the text sent, out to them. “When they saw it,’’ the writer "ys, “they gave a cry of amazement. Puccini’s work was nothing less than an exact transcription of their opera. “A number of musicians of Tel Aviv were invited to the house of the Misses Rnbinsohn. The two scores were placed before the visitors, and the sisters played both on the piano, leaving no doubt as to their similarity in the minds of tne hearers.” F LUTHER INVESTIGATION

The article goes cn to say that toe director of the Conservatoire of Ji-u----sulem. Professor Sydney Siel, has given the Misses Rnbinsohn a letter in winch he declares that the “Turandot” of I'uecini is copied from the “Turandot of the Misses Rubinsohn published in Hamburg in 1896.” The American Consul there, Mr Oscar M. Reiser, who is a musician of talent, “called together an audience of all the musical people of Jerusalem, before whom the two pieces were played, and they were astounded to learn that they were identical.” Mr Reiser advised the Misses Rubirisuhn to- go to the United States (where “Turandot” .was first produced), and lie gave them a letter of introduction to Mr Morgenthau, the lawyer, asking him to take up the case. The sisters, however, have not the means for such a- long journey. They have forwarded a statement to the Committee of Intellectual Co-opera-tion at Geneva, from which (the article adds) they received the advice to go to Italy, and take up the matter with the heirs of the composer.