, 1874-01-25
ITALIAN OPERA.
Max Strakosch on the Wit
ness-Stand.
i Morning Hour in a Managers
Room.
How Engagements Are Made
with Singers.
Efforts to Stop the Monopoly Of
Prima Donnas.
What It Costs to Bun an OPERA.
Receipts. for the Last TWo
Weeks.
The Pay, Perquisites, and Whims Of
Pri1na Donna.
Trials and TribulationS with Pro-
fessional and Amateur
Agents.
Rank Of Singers~"-1he Most Success
full LadY-kiilers"--The
Chorus.
The Pay, Perquisites, and WhimB Of
q Pri1na Donna.
Trials and TribuIationS with Pro-
feSsiOnal and Amateur
Agents.
Rank Of Singers--The Most Success
full Lady-ki|lers"--The
Chorus.

lHUFuS.
Jealousies Among Performers.
Rival Managers.
The opera has gone. and TIE wonder what oul
next esthetic treat is to be. We have grumblee
at high prices. and wondered why it ID that ir
what are popul2Cly termed slight times people
will spend SO much money on Italian opera
1.-The prices are too high. has been the popular
cry fo- months. The same cry Was Justly
uttered when tho great easy-going Ea5ent OF the
nerye.css Maretzek came here. You must re-
duce your expenses, We cried, for We have re-
duced ours. Now ia the time for retrenchment
suppose you set q conspicuous example, This
Was what ne wished to tell Maretzek, but he
did not come here to give us the opportunity
Strakosch overheard our remarks and lowered
his prices about Is per cent. He has gone
awny happy. because, while he Las
taken our dollars, he is moro popular
than ever. He has given US ou1
moneys worth, and paid his expenses, beHides
t1otting oil with comfortable little margin to
assure him that re do like italian OPERA and do
not mind paying for good quality OF it.
Aside from the enjoyment Italian opera affords,
1t is an interesting field for investigation by the
public Few people have an idea OF the manner
in which a colossal operate company II conduct
ed; few people appreciate the magnitude Of the
enterprise or the requirements Of s. successful
manager. The present season, which has been
disastrous to the dramatic nnd. lyric stage
throughout the country, and especially go in the
East, is good opportunity for inquiry into the
management Of Italian opera. The chance is
better, too, to-day than ever, for we ere able to
vrito from study Of one OF tho best operate
companies that ever travelled through the
United States. and can form, by contrast with
that which hns just left US fair opinion Of
others.
MAX TIE GREAT.
Max SErakosch, the manager OF the Nilsson
combination, is now in the zenith Of his popu-
lerity, having vcathered fnnncial storm which
has wrecked q rival company, and he, therefore,
dorerres moro than q passing notice at our
lands. He il in many ways remarkable man.
lie has been engaged in the business for twenty
years aud moro, and has anassed handsome
fortuna. This no one grudges him. because he
has earned it. and that, too, By shrewd manage
ment, 1air dealing, and high sense Of the moral
he is man in the prime Of his manhood. He is
as years Of aga but looks not more than 80. He
is Of medium height, good figure. has remark
ably handsome face, very pleasant manner,
and finely formed head There are not many
men III tho United States who can compare with
him in activity Of brain, courage, enterprise. or
promptitrde. Ho is man who by his natural
gifts, developed by an excellent education,
could shine in nny vocation. French, German
English. and Itnlian are equally at his command,
and, for all we know to the contrary, other lan-
guascs also. He is essentially OF nervous
temperament. but possesses ono Of those hope
ful dispositions which, as Mark Tapley says
''come out strong" when the prospect is the
loast promising. Keen-w1tted and Eagacious. be
oan adapt himself to all circumstances. From
(ard womankind) he can appear to advantage
to everybody. He would have made mark as
Statesman as commanding officer he would
have been brilliant, Indeed, the army has lost
one Of the mos: gifted officers Of the age.
4 MANAGERS TINE
During IN Interview Of some length. which will
be enlarged upon hereafter, q reporter Of this
paper had good opportunity to study him IN
his dealings With men and women III that time
some thirty people must have presented them
Of his attention. Miss Cary expected = package
by express from St. Louis. Mr. Strakosch
tapped his bell and sent down to the express
Offices 10 find out whether it had arrived. Nile.
A1aresi wished to discuss somo matter OF busi-
ness.-stndying part, and a host of other tri~ |
dcs,-whilo one of the agents had something |
else to have done-the payment Of bill. In |
Two minutes, without interrupting the thread OF
alr- Strakosch's narrative. both parties we're at
tended to mud went on their .-wny
something explained; the explanation was
IN the tip OF the managers tongue; two uewH-
'aper-nen wanted passes, and were aceommo-
lated in the twinalng OF an eye, the manager
tipulating, with the most remarkable clearnesB,
yhen they should be available, and where the
eats should be. 4 card from h lady down
iaira, who crared tae privilege OF having Alr.
;trnkoschs opinion Of her voice, Tas sent in;
LIE managers Secretary was dispatched to attend
G her. a clamberuaid wanted pass.-it WAS
drertiEing was read, and check tor the amount
romptly signed; 3 waiter wanted q pass, and
ot it and a pleasant bit OF humor, and went out |
Z high gIee. The writer does not pretend to
al the wants which were attended toin
ce course Of that interview. He only knows
hat Mr. Strakosch did not once forget the last
erd he addressed him. OF break the thread of
il owa DISCOURSE He spoke the four Lam
uagcs mentioned above according to the needs
the person addressed. ana always With pleas-
1T renlari.. which found response in the smlIe |
IL: Ma, sure to follow
Marvelins greatly at what he saw, the reporter
.ntured to suggest that he would have made .
sod general o:iice5. :" an g. On ts the high road
Mt me . Captains commission one day. | did
IT know what TO do with it, and wrote to him to
at effect. Keep it. replied my friend; You
o. NY staff, and you do not know how soon
u 1nay be General yourself.' Yon see,' he
ded, ''that am . SOLDIER now even though
l only paper one"
q Aud how long do you expect to live under
is pressure of e1citemcnt?" queried the re-
rter.
!. have lived comfortably foc twenty years !
in wav." said he. .'Nhen I an we.l. I enjoy
Int IRE been troubled with neuralgia, ze- (
. Yoa ought to be gray-headod, at least" said
reporter. :
re made good beginning in that direction,