The New York herald., 1872-11-24
ITALIAN OPERA.
THE ROW OF THE SINGERS SETED.
What Max Knows About
Management.
AN MPRESARIO INTERVIEWED.
How Artists Become Fay0rites in
Spite Of Opposition.
THE "ENSElGBLE" DIFFICULTY.
Little Lucca Overshadowing an
Entire Company.
OLD TIMES ROCKS MUSICAL MEMORIES.
Ungrateful Gotham's Record Of Twenty
Years-A Cry for Eight Luc-
cas- from Cuba.
Murderous 'Muicus," vengeful 'viator" and
Frantic Free Lance Slashing Each Other.

040A uOAVup &0ueAOuob vNA6OAoA vA0s0A "AA~
Frantic free Lance" slashing Each Other.
AS the subject OF Italian Opera and Its critics has
excited considerable discussion and diversity Oi
opinion this season, and rum0rs OF rings and COM
binations are more plentiful in the neighborhood
OF the Academy Of Music at present than they
were in the classic precincts OF the City Hall in
days Of yOre, q representative of the HERALD
called upon Mr.. Maretzek yesterday to ascertain
from him his views on the operate situation.
The welEknown impresari0, who has stood the
brunt of twenty-five operatic campaigns and
still survives was in his sanctum at the
Irving place Opera House, deeply immersed in a
pile OF documents, both bills payable and bills re-
ceivable Cards of visitors were laid before him
by the dozen, and once he was obliged to tear him
self away from his desk to answer the summons Of
the fascinating little prima DONNA Madame Pauline
Lucca, who awaited him in the lobby. A Saturday
afternoon during the season is the busiest portion
OF the week with an impresarlo, as the instant he
relinquishes the baton after the matinee he is
obliged to take up the pen and endeavor to bring
order out OF chaos in the multtudin0us papers that
litter his desk.
After some delay the reporter of the HERALD
announced to the vivacous purveyor OF opera his
desire to be accorded an interview in relation to
the important subject which SO many pens and SO
many tongues have been discussing during the
present season, adding that the HERALD wished to
give both SIDES OF the question. Mr.. Maretzek ex-
pressed his entire willingness to tell all he knew
about the matter.
REPoRTER-What is the cause Of the quarrel
between the prime donne Of your company, to
which some Of the newspapers have alludedf
MARETzEK-I am not aware OF the existence Of
crvo1,u I hov mot hoA WITH 1n
with cliques or newspaper communications.
never authorized any one to write speak in my be-
half have kept entierey aloof from the small petty
warfare that has been going on since the beginning
OF the season. Understanding fully my RESPONSE
bility to bring out fourteen operas in season OF
ten weeks, have devoted all my time to renears-
ais and other preparations necessary in bringing
out an opera.
REPoRTER-But you must certainly have heard
the assertions made that there were rings Of
critics and ha6ituGs Of the Academy formed to
create spirit Of antagonism between Madame
Lucca and Miss Kelloggf
MARETZEK.-I have heard rumors to that eject, but
they appear SO silly in my mind that never gave
them q second thought. Ny candid opinion, how
ever, is that Miss Kellogg, whom consider most
admirable, conscientious artist, has suffered to
some extent this season from the mistaken efforts
VI OVeI-zcdlOuS lTleuuS. Suc uldy, Win JUSTICE,
quote Victor Hugo's wordsl-"Que Dteu me 0arde
des anais nsdladrOits.
REpoRTER.-What is your opinion OF the advo-
Gates OF your company, who have written under
the nonls de plume Of "viator" and ''Musicuss"
MARETzEK-Id desire no newspaper champions, and
never authorized anybody to defend my manage
ment or my company in the columns Of q journal. |
simply attend to my own business which is oner-
GUS enough to take up all my time
oG you snnd r 81 tre pc
MARETZEK--As said before, have kept aloof
from all this small, petty warfare, and have not
interfered once in regard to articles written for
against my company. Every one is at liberty to
form his own opinion and express 1t where and
that some Of my artists have not been SO successfli
their career In Europe would lead one to expect
but still hope that with the exception perhaps OF
REpoRTER-How can they succeed now when
their first essays on the Academy boards met with
MARETzEK| had similar experience before, and
succeededin the end. When l brought COM
ton. Sulzer, Mazzoleni, Belini, Biachi and other
great artists, strong opposition was manifested
against them for the first six weeks OF the season
by comparing them with artists who had appeared
before in Havana, But before the season closed
they all became the idols Of the public, and after
wards carried New York by storm. l can say the
same about CapOul, who was considered at his
debut here a complete failure although he became
afterwardst the pet Of the petticoats.
in public opinion about an opera c0mpany9
MARETZEK-For the reason that the more the art
lists sing together the better the ensemble becomes
think that new company, strange TO each other
and strange to the public should not be judged at
first as ensemble, for nwe opera company can
be really effective IN drill and discipline than
a newly formed army. General Mcclellan took
some time to bring the Army OF the Potomac up to
proper standard OF discipline and efficiency, and
certainly an inpreSdriO should be allowed little
time to consolidate his company.
REPoRTER-What do you say to the outcry raised
against the ineffciency OF portion OF the COM
MlRErzRK-These people would have every men,
ber OF my company OF the same standard OF merit
as Madame Lucca. 1t is my opinion that the great
enterprise displayed by the HERALD in sending an
expedition into the wilds OF Africa in search Of DR..
by Mr.. Stanley, were sufficient to discover half
dozen Lvingstones, but as there was only one, the
discovery OF q second was an impossibiry. And
30 as there is but one Lucca, could not find half
dozen artists like her. -
REPoRTER-But granting that Madame Lucca is
great artist what is the reason that her assistants
have not distinguished themselves more conspicu-
ously this season.
MARErzEK-Becanse she overshadows them to
such an extent that the audience have eyes and
ears for her alone. I'll tell you case in point.
When was in the city of Mexico had in my COM
pany the baritone Beneventano, who was great
favorite everywhere After the first two or three
months Marini, the renowned basso, joined the
company. He first appeared as Silva in "Ernani,v
while Benercntano sang the role OF Carlo QuintO.
In the scene in the second act, where Charles v.
threatens ole Silva with death unless he consents
TO deliver up Une OuildWeu ETUdul, Bene-
ventano Jealous OF the fame OF the great basso ex-
erted himself to the utmost to eclipse his new
rival. Marinj had no opportunity to
display his power vocally but at the end of Carlo
Quintos aria ne drew himself up to his fun height
and with single gesture, the refusal Of the old
Spanish nobeman to betray his guest, he brought
down the house, and the singing OF Beneveu tano
was forgotten In the grandeur OF his rival shown
In that one action. IN the same manner Lucca
her. Had the rest OF the company ap-
peared without Lucca I believe they would have
gained very great popularity.
REpoRTER-Will you, please give me your views
on the cnorus and orchestra OF Italian opera in this
cty2
MARETzEK-We pay orchestral players more for q
week than they DO in the principal opera houses Of