In September 1894 Bantock embarked upon a world tour with George Edwardes’ Theatre Company; the same year saw the publication of his opera The Pearl of Iran (based on his own libretto) and the piano arrangement of his symphonic overture Saul, plus three scenes from his project The Curse of Kehama in vocal/piano score: ‘The Funeral’, ‘The Curse’ and ‘The Recovery’. Wallace's article ‘Music and Pessimism’ was published in the February issue of NQMR, and his overture In Praise of Scottis Poesie was premiered at the Crystal Palace on 17 November. Newman married Kate Eleanor Woollett on 3 February, and in the same year was appointed President of the Liverpool Branch of the National Secular Society.

8 Granville Bantock to William Wallace

My dear Wallace.

At length I have a few moments to myself & take the opportunity of writing you. Ever since our arrival here, every minute has been occupied with work one way or the other. The production over here has met with a great success, so much so that we are assured a triumphant progress through America. I enclose you a list of the tour, in order that you may know my whereabouts. The orchestra that I am conducting here is an excellent one. All are splendid instrumentalists, & I find great pleasure in the work. I have just heard from home, that my new Opera “Die Perle von Iran” has been received from Breitkopf & Härtel, but I have not yet received a copy of it. I have engaged a room with piano at 236 West 25th Street where I am going to live next week, as I find Hotel life too expensive. Twenty dollars a week is rather severe. I shall not pay more than nine dollars in the other place.

I find the Americans a charming set of people & exceedingly hospitable. I have been made a member of the Lambs’ Club, the Bohemian Club of New York. Last Sunday I went up the Hudson River to West Point, & enjoyed the trip immensely. The scenery reminded me greatly of the Rhine, only on a larger scale.