The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-08-15
Gossip About the Opera in Paris.

"a Few Facts Concerning the Grand Opera in
Paris, and the Salaries of the Artists" is the
title of recent article in the Neue Berijner
Musk Zeato,Bq, which is condensed by Dl1tghfS
Journal of MuSic:-
''The first managers wero the Abbe Perrin and
! Cambert, the compo-er, associated with Mar
quis Sourdeac, who, from love OF occupation,
was the machinist. At the end OF a twelve
month. during which the managers cleared one
hundred and twenty thousand francs, the ma
nagement was taken from them and given to
Lulii, Musical Director to LOUIS XIV. Luili
did Squte as well as his predecessors for he
maGe fortune Of eight hundred thousand francs
IN fifteen years. lie was succeeded by his son
in-law, Franclne, who leased the speculation 10
several capitalists, from whom he afterwards
took it back. BY the Kings command the
Dauphin's Master OF the Horse was received into
partnership with him in The year 1893. But
the newcomer ruined him. The enterprise
again passed into the hands OF capitalists; was
again resumed by FranCine; was then carried
on by farmer OF the customs. who was rulnei
and then once more PERVERTED to Francine, who
was again unable 10 retain it. The King, who
had himself hitherto been the principal director
OF his musical amUsements, was so little
4 edited by these continual changes that he en-
trusted the management 70 the chamberlaine
I OF the palace.
MATTERS then became involved in good
earnest. The Due d'Antln, brother OF the Mar
quse de Montespan, was appointed stage
5manager, but soon resigned the post. In l72S,
Va composer of the name OF Destouches obtained
[.the management, and disposed nt 1t Tor the sum
Bof 100000 francs, to NJ. Gruer, who was
granted the patent for thirty years: He was,
| however, deprived of it by peremptory resolu-
1 tion OF the Council OF State, and his previous
partners, the Count Saint GILES and the Presi-
dent Lebeni, became his successors, but after
the lapse OF ten months were sent into Danish
& ment. In 1882, Prince CavignOn was Head
4 Royal Inspector; in 1913, Captain de Thuret
" obtained Gruers patent, ana IN eleven years
! was ruined in health and fortune. In l744,
ont hn mo N NDa wi q
same result.
+ Next came NJ. TrefontaiDe, who in sixteen
months left the managers room for the Bastlle.
By royal command the munic tpahty now under
! took the management fresh troubles. In the
year l77S the Grand Opera received for the first
time a subyentior of eighty thousand francs, an
enormous sum for the period, yet, after twelve
months trial, the manager, De Vismi5, would
not retain the office In 1850 Louis XVI again
leased out the theatre to the municipality, and
! Berton, the composer, became manager. In
4 1890 the nun icIpallty again undertook the
Il burden, and in 1892 Franceur obtained the
patent for thirty years. He was, however,
deposed no later than in 1898, and replaced by a
j committee consisting OF the most violent sons
CuHotteS. Danton Heber, HenriOn, ETC., We're
now TO be met behind the SCIENCES once !requented
by crowds Of elegant gentlemen.
Zone evening" after Lainez had sung patriotic
a ode, man, who had been talking upon the
/ stage to the chiefs Of the Revolution, went up
= to him and said good-humoredly, Citizen
your ode is worth nothing. / know you did not
y II, i III,
n Offering the nation such stupid trash, TO show it
10 me; l will act as CENSOR Yes observed one
OF the chOristers present, and our good'natured
. censor knows all about s!asning ana cutting
LaineZ afterwards learned that his critic was
the EXecutioner of Paris, who spent his spare
time at the Opera. The affrighted artist tnen
perceived the hidden meaning of the chorister's
u words.
"After the Reign of Terror, a manager was
again appointed. During the Consulate, the
Grand Opera was placed under the supervisor n
of the Project or the Palace. In 1907, the High
Chamberlain was director of the theatres, and
"a Picard manager, which he continued under
A Louis XVIII also. In 1921 Habeneck was
manager under the Chief lntendant and Mi
# mister OF the Royal Household, Count de Blacas.
n After the revolution OF July, the opera was
4 made q private undertaking, and NJ. Neron
became manager In 1885 he gave up his place
# to NJ. Duponchel, and retired millionaire. tlI
:. Diable' and Les Huguenots were produced
After Duponchel came, in l840, Leon Pillet, who
in seven years, contracted debts to The amount
of $4,000 francs. Duponchel then agan un
dertook the management with NJ Nestor Rogue
plan. The latter remained as sole manager
after the events OF l848.
"On the establishment of the empire, thu
opera was once more placed under the conIIo
OF the Minister OF the Imperial Household. Th
:. last three Imperial MANAGERS have been:-Io54
NJ. Crosnier; 1856, NJ. Alphonse Roger; and 1867
NJ. Perrin, who is now the first private manager
Previously to 1889, the salaries OF the prnclpa
singers amounted to 5000 francs, aud those O
the dancers to 1000; during the revolution, the
amounted to 10000 and $1,000, with certal
state grants. Before 1883, 1iguTaHte receive
700 francs and during the consulate, 1900. L
the time OF Louis XVI the orchestra cost 46, 90
francs, and in that OF Napoleon l, 1872, 900. a
the present day the first singers cost annual
sums OF go OOO so, 900, 10000, or 10000 rranC
each. The other expenses. amounting befoI
17S9 to few hundred thousand francs, an
during the first empire 10 a million and q hal
have now risen TO four millions"