Bob’s
World of
J. Massenet

Reviews — The New York Times

From the New York Times - April 22, 1913

A PSYCHIC MYSTERY EXPLAINED.

     It is easy to attribute the apparition of Jules Massenet, in his habit as he lived, attending the rehearsals of his posthumous opera at the Municipal Opera House in Paris to the invention of a press agent. Undoubtedly if the impression could be fixed in the minds of credulous persons that the spirit of the composer of “Panurge” has returned from the shades to observe the rehearsals, perhaps to infuse in the performance something of its own essence, the charm of the premier this evening would be greatly enhanced. Assuming that there is a veritable ghost on the stage of the Gaiété-Lyrique, however, the ghost is certainly taking his chances. We have seen and heard performances of the operas of dead composers which would have measurably increased whatever burdens of annoyance they might be compelled to carry in the beyond, if they had returned to the scene in spirit.
     The press agent theory of the opera ghost, however, can only be entertained by the unpsychical. No experienced researcher would let it bother him. If such rude theories of the materialists were to be considered, there would be next to no psychology. But in discarding the press agent theory, we must also discard the ghost theory. Le revenant is quite out of date. Ghosts belonged to the age of superstition. Any true psychic will tell you that if he has any one dominant trait it is his freedom from superstition. The persons who fancy they have seen the living figure of Massenet on the stage have merely entered one of the famous composer's surviving mental states. This is so simple that no further explanation is necessary. Give any acute psychic time and he will be able to set down all the details of that mental state of Massenet in his lifetime which now survives. It is related, of course, to the melodies and harmonies in the score of “Panurge” which belong to the mind of Massenet. Musical scoffers who declare that some of Massenet's music really belongs to the minds of other composers cannot destroy this theory. If that is true, Massenet knew it to be true, and a sense of his obligation to those other composers would be a part of his surviving mental state. Therefore if the statements of the scoffers are veracious they might see other dead composers besides Massenet at the Gaiété-Lyrique if they were allowed to go on the stage. But that branch of the subject is not worth pursuing. Scoffers are not tolerated in the theatre.
     The psychic condition of the singers and musicians who have been rehearsing “Panurge” is now clearly accounted for. There is no other reasonable explanation. to be sure, the Paris correspondent of THE NEW YORK TIMES was unable to see the figure of Massenet at the rehearsal, though he was on the stage with others who saw it. But psychic newspaper correspondents are very rare.

Last updated December 30, 2006