Hermann Goetz, to whose life attaches a mournful interest, was born at Koenigsberg, Dec. 17, 1840.  He had no regular instruction in music until his seventeenth year.  At that period he began his studies with Koehler, and then passed successively under the tuition of Stern, Ulrich, and Von Buelow.  At the age of twenty-three he obtained a position as organist at Winterthur, and also taught at Zurich.  It was during this time that he composed his opera, “The Taming of the Shrew,” meanwhile supporting himself as he best could, sometimes struggling with actual poverty.  For years he attempted to secure a hearing for his opera; but it was not until 1874 that its great merit was recognized, for in that year it was produced at Mannheim with instant success.  Its fame travelled all over Germany.  It was performed in Vienna in 1875, and the same year in Leipsic and Berlin, and reached London in 1878.  It was not heard in this country until the season of 1885-86, when it was produced by the American Opera Company.  The composer did not live long enough, however, to enjoy the fruits of his work, as he died in 1876.  He also left behind him an unfinished score of a second opera, “Francesca di Rimini,” which was completed by his friend Franke at his request, but proved a failure.  His other works include a symphony in F, a suite for orchestra, and many chamber compositions.

THE TAMING OF THE SHREW.

“The Taming of the Shrew,” as related in the sketch of the composer’s life, was written about the year 1863, and first produced at Mannheim in 1872.  Its first performance in this country was in January, 1886, when the cast was as follows:—­

KATHARINE     PAULINE L’ALLEMAND. 
BIANCA        KATE BENSBERG. 
PETRUCHIO     WILLIAM H. LEE. 
BAPTISTA      W.H.  HAMILTON. 
LUCENTIO      W.H.  FESSENDEN. 
HORTENSIO     ALONZO STODDARD. 
A TAILOR      JOHN HOWSON.

The libretto is freely adapted from Shakspeare’s comedy by Joseph Victor Widmann.  The plot is very simple.  Baptista, a rich Paduan gentleman, has two daughters,—­Katharine, the shrew, and Bianca, of sweet and lovable disposition.  Both Hortensio and Lucentio are in love with Bianca; but the obdurate father will not listen to either until Katharine shall have been married.  In this apparently hopeless situation a gleam of comfort appears, in the suit which the rich gallant Petruchio, of Verona, pays to Katharine, in disgust with the sycophants who have been manifesting such deference to his wealth.  The remainder of the story is occupied with the details of the various processes by which he breaks and tames the shrew, and the ingenious ruse by which Lucentio gains the hand of the lovely Bianca.