, 1873-02-15
BEHIND THE CURTAIN.
An Interior View Of italian Opera
Management.
Interview with MIR. Max
Maretzek,
History Of His Difficulty with
:. Lucca's Agent.

.
The Ex-Iond0n Managers Career
in Amorico
"
The attendance ut MoViokor's Theatre during
the recent season shows tho interest tolt in
opera az IL Ia obaervod ernerDctaliy. OF tho urt-
yase life Of operatio people but little ia apparout
to tha 9eneral nublio. Tho eineor In on1y aoou
vArblno l,ia ooHt1y note. In the forooround Of
silk. purple and flpe linen, His history il yotlod
in obuouritv; bis business oonueotlons
With tho troupe. hls loyes, bones,
fears tealoualeg, arc as sealed
book to tho spectator who occupies the
hish-priced seat In tho parquet or droas-olrole.
E1aotly how the tenor 1g transformed from 4
ling, duke, bandit OF peasant to al ordinary
citizen. no one knows, How tho prirna donna,
vho onaorooa 1,non the ntapa r,,e brtter1v frnnn
su.o1s.s aes $4,000. s 49, .e' T.,
the simplest attire, oooly soliciting tho bone TOR
her SOUP, or tho Joint for tho prandial roast,
ia q matter ot Indifference 30 long
A. her last cadence ungora svoetly IN
tne ear. oporatlo people nave INC
riQhta md privileges, and little Jealous Of
their associates: humofs Of thor differences o., .,
oeesa1onau5 1oaon tno pupnc' ana aoH anu .uvu
when there is a contretenps, when IN opera is
changed for tho alleged Illness Of an artist, the
curtain raos just attie, and common people 4
s, get sa" smpss Ssa Ss n1s az ' eas esaa @ b.
In pulling the most carefully concealed wires.'
'operato managers do mob rest upon
peos OF Roses' 1unols naso. peon S"s, w. ,.
aoe aooue tnD c'tS 1oi eouo ua'r "
.fhs eject that all was not peace and harmony N
rndnfsterine to tho pleasure OF our oitizens,
n.1 s1e,,,s, T., 49, a,io,,,.1 ,,rno-nr,r,a hevo
ee'esa, caaueu1 ~ .ao
causes cause Of ths difleulty., INDUCED by those ro-
noxa. and desiring to leorn something from 90
s.os1ont MI, an ion1eaario AZ MnretzoE' what ba
e1oeons ~ nv 40 a' ~ tsa "1s. ~
Enbtect Of operatio managemohtt ~ q
reporter called upon that gentleman yes-
teSdsy Ut the Gardner House. He found him
IL ono Of tho handsomost rooms IN The hoatolry,
Nhe windows looking down upon droary gaou.
1rn b. the burnt diafrlct. Matetzsk is atp tho
same kind, pleasant, genial soul aa whom he aret'
commenced his cereer in this country, nearly .
1,r ct qp5g aaeggsd go F. @ hgs
features, or to make his atep loss elastic. AZ he
has borne lis successes wifi humility, so he has
takep his diaappointments mildly.
119 reporter 1Q0Qu GQ6 uauABcf 8C2C66l0l6.
he looked out OF tho window and commented
On the dreariness Of tho aceno.
tsYes," said Meretzea, with just the slightest
and most agreeable German accent, tho prospect
significant look, and : light touch upon the
alssvs Of hfe audttor1, two didn't come to CHI
eaKo to 500 the city"
The social otvilitfea having been observed, the
subject.
Repozter-What Is tho usual manner Of organ
istng ~ opera troupe2
.Mr. Maretzek-We arc about 1900 miles from
attempt season OF opara With any dagraa' Of cur
tatnty, unless you havo. double troupe That
means about four prima donnas, two first ton
two " .1"d E0n tan
spp3{ating the pab!ia n Europe The diiical-
s arc aqn t aa ~, sges e.
graph, musicians are 80 numerous in Continental
cities. This CAUSES one Of the greatest difficult
ties that manager has to encounter, Singers !
X know that they are Indispensable to him, and
country Of liberty. !Tho manager la always in
Aos watsE; There are nlWays inside troubles,
ies, th9t Qutsidora know nothing about. 4
~. di@5at o pslma oonnaa no" haTe an agent OF
~. N.:-Yes, that is awhecl within q wheel,
which = = N endless source q Of perp1euty. !
A:-HoW long mas II oeon onstom Tor Sing
sfs TO have z separate agent?
Nj. M,-The custom is Of recent origin. For
many years, In Europe, great singers have nego-
dated for q small per cont with managers for
The service OF prima donnRH, but TINT has been
The end ot tho. matter. Thoy never travelled
with them It is only tew ~yeara since mana
gers n America have discovered this new kind
Of industry. The agent Who negotiated the on
fegenent Of tho ARTIST With tho manager oomoa
aYerywhere with the troupe; watches over
her With tho caro- shown by hen for one sol
itary chickon, md makes no end Of trouble in
me troupe: Inns Is according to tho rocent o1-
peIienca OF all American managors.
H.-When did you make the contract with