, 1874-01-25
OPERATIC FINANCES.

terestiag facts concerning tho inside workln9 OF
the svstem, especially in the matter OF expenses
Tho figures which are furnished satisfactorily |
explain why the opera is e luxury, and why I'M
are compelled to charge what seem to
be e1tortionate prices. Take the contract with
Adelina Patti for instance, the full text OF which
;s civan IN the article referred to. Her noble
husband, tho Marquis dc Caux. stipulates that his
melodiouB wife may give one hundred perform
anccs Ut opera in this country, commencing next
fall, at the rate Of $4,000 per night, this sum to
bo paid Immediately after each representation
In addition to this, rhe Messrs. strakosch must
pay the travelling expenses Of Nine. Patti -Cau1'
the Marquis, and four other persons, two OF
whom are stated to be first class and two second
class. whatever that may be. To secure tho
the Messrs. strakosch have to de-
posit $250,0o0 with the Messrs Rothscbnd, to
remain until the end Of the season. This ID
only one item Of expense out Of many Tho
others may bo family imagined. As it is doubt
full however, whether Adelina Patti will come
to this country until she has squeezed the Eu-
ropean orange dry, and time has begun to put
an edge on her voice, opera-goers will not have
tn vor1y themselves about the Patti prices. She
can better afford to pay her yearly forfeit OF
81 500 than to give up her yearly European
stipend and the valuable perquisites 1.-THE shape
Of Jewels and diamonds which she could not e1-
pect to have in this country.
Nilsson is not asshigh-priced singer as Patti,
although Nilsson is a great artist. She is sing
ing this season, for 81, 900 per night and Incl
dental expenses, which is q reduction from her
nsnal price. made On account Of the financial
stringency; but, even at this figure. the e1-
nenses here have footed up very largely. The
total expenses for tho two weeks have footed up
ss3, 100, or sl6,55o per week. To meet this e1-
traordinary expense, & nightly receipt Of 92,75S
WAS necessary, and Chicago filled tho bill. put
tine into Mr. Strnkosch's strong boz 915,593
the first week, and $18,101.51 the second,
or q total OF 233,694.50. These figures
are taken from Mr. Strakosch's own showing;
Init in his schedule there are evidently some
items Of expense which ought to be credited
to other cities, so thst his real profits
have undoubtedly been larger than the sum We
have mentioned. The gross receipts OF the
Lucca season last spring, which was an unprece-
dented one in operate annals, wero but S37. 600.
Compared with that, md making allowances for
the stringency OF the time, the present season is
o,,i.a ~ remarkable, and the two combined
nIoca Chicago in the front rank as an operate
centre.
Great Us the expenses Of opera are, they are
not necessary The 'star Rystem is directly
RESPONSIBLE for them, and when the managers
break the "star" eystem the expenses Of opera
will be- so materially reduced that almost every
one can afford to go. II it is not done, the
opera, especially Italian opera, must sooner or
later cease to be d profitable Investment At
present. indeed, the margin OF profits ia SO small
and the risk SO great that there are very few
man who have the courage to invest
their money in it. There are signs, how
ever. that this "star" system will not
last long. The impresarios have COM
mencod to rebel, and two Of them at least have
taken the initiatory steps towards declaring their
;ndcpopdance Of tho s.etars." Mapleson, OF
London, has announced his determination to
employ young and promising singers hereafter,
with the view OF compelling the recognized and
high-priced artists to abate somewhat in their
terms. Maurice Strakosch, who at present man
ages tho 1ta1icns in Paris, has commenced an
excellent system of securing promising young
singers, placing them under Gourmet for d
term OF years, and then educating and
preparing them for the stage. He is also in
communication with the managers in Vienna and
St. Petersburg for the purpose OF forming a
combination against the Il stars"
This will accomplish great deal, hut the pub
lie itself can do a great deal more. So long as
people have their present absurd pzejudices
agninat the .'ofr nights" and run only to
the nights when the "star" sings, the
system will continue to have life and Gu
couragement It has happened this season, as
it has in others, that some Of the performances
of the "oH nights "have been among the best
in the season. The performance OF - Martha,
for instance, Was one Of the most tlnlhhed repre-
soutations that has ever been given here, and
vet popular as this opera is, it drew only small
| house, whereas il Nilsson had appeared IN IT.
the house would have been crowded to overflow
ing. Tho public therefore has itself to blame
somewhat for the high prices Of opera. II the
public aud the manager would combine, they
could deal very effective blow at the star
systen, which neither Of them can accomplish
alone, q. least for some time to come.
| Devout Mormons are hoping that Brigham
| Young will have new revelation Against
uolYeamv in the future. The Is twin relic OF bar
| b.rism is doomed and it would be well to have