The New York herald., 1875-09-17
ITALIAN OPERA.

CAUSES or IT'S REPEATED FAILURES IN NEW
YoBK-INrERvrEw WITH MAX sTRAKoscH-
VIEWS OF THE 1ArPREsARro on THE ACADEMY
OF MUSIC AND TIE TITIENs SEASON
The feeling OF dissatisfaction which exists In the pub
lie mind at present consequence Of the abandonment
of Italian opera at the Academy Of Music this is
intense and widespread representative Of the
HERALD called upon Mr.. Max strakosch at the Everett
House yesterday 10 ascertain his the subject
The well known imprcsario hara at work pre-
pairing for the Titiens campaign, and small army Of
agents messengers seemed to have taken possession
OF the hotel Tie writer apologsng for disturbing
the mprcsario the midst OF his business the
object Of his visto learn the why Italian opera
had been abandoned by Mr. Stakosch for the concert
hall
my dear fellow" replied Mr. Strakosch ~ will
state the in few words In every country in
Europe where Italian opera is given with the sole ex
ceptiou Of England the manager receives large sub
venton from the government Such is the case in
Milan ST. Petersburg Moscow Paris and other cities
In England the ars;ooracy provide the uhvention and
1t Is considered indispensable accompaniment OF
London season for all moving in fashionable circles to
be provided with boxes for the opera They pay for
these boxes literally, whether they there every
night or not and the manager therefore has always
financial foundation which build his plans for
scrption Of e 200 and Mapeson about the same
Again, the London season IS during the summer
months when the other European opera houses are
closed and the London houses have therefore, clear
fold without any rivals or course, this is immensely
10 their advantage and enables them TO make salts
factory terms TO themselves with their artists than If
they were obliged to outbid others In New York
the manager comes into competition with Of
the first houses in Europe, such as ST. Petersburg,
Milan, Paris Madrid, Naples, Venice and Vienna
Miss Cary receives this from the manager Of the
Imperial opera House 81 Petersburg double the terms
which gave her and other leading artists receive like
salaries IN proportion. Milan pays literally as
Russia and great artists expensive than ever
before. When American manager approaches them
they demand terms equivalent a fortune l paid
Nine Nilsson S360,OO0 during the three seasons she
was under my management
"But then you made great deal Of money by such
m engagement?
Mt sTRAKoscH-Yes, during the first two seasons;
but lost 81, 900 by the third You recolect what
company had that season TO support Mime. Nilsson.
There Torriani, Cary, Mares, Capoul, Campanin
Maurel Del Puente and NannetL As regards ensemble
there was not a better company be found any OF
placing hAidai and "Lohenrrin'i on the stage and
fulfilled every promise made TO the public | spared
pains expense that season, for wanted TO estab
lish Italian opera on permanent basis in New York
"How did you lose money, then when the houses
were the most brilliant ever known at the Academy of
Musc2n
portion of the most fashionable people in New York,
corresponding with the nobility in London stock
holders OF the Academy of Music. Italian opera being
expensive luxury, the manager must look first for
support to those whose wealth and position enable them
to pay for it, In place Of substantial money assistance
from those TO whom Italian opera is principally
directed l obliged to admit them free. The 200
seats which they occupied it in my power 10 dis
pose OF them would have added nearly 81 900 to my
nightly receipts do not wish TO complain Of the
stockholders for have always received every courtesy
at their hands but am stating facts | lost 10000
luefea I finn hat itin
Italian opera on such terms those and consequently
have withdrawn from IT, Any other manager that
desires 10 give opera Tor the love OF it, irrcspec-
tive of pecuniary loss is welcome to try it.
"rhen you consider that the principal cause Of the
failure Of Italian opera in New York is the unwilling
ness Of the stockholders OF the Academy to pay for
their seats Y'
Mr. srRAKoscH-Un They occupy the
best seats in the house. and leave the second choice
the paying public
What your arran gemens for the Ttiens season?'
Mr.. STRAKosCH-Mlle. Titiens has been engaged by
me for season Of 100 nights, at 1000 gold for each
performance, the terms Nine. Nilsson
ceived. She is the greatest living dramatic prma
donna of school of OF which she is the repre-
sentative and which Pasta Mabran and Grs once en-
nobled She will appear at Steinway Hall four times
week in concert singing the principal gems OF her vast
repertoire She will be assisted by Mr.. Tom Kari
and Mr. Bischoh tenors; and Herr Orandini baritone
M. Saveret, the violinist, Ia also engaged, and
gotiatons are now pending with the celebrated
pianist, Nine. Arabella Goddard large orchestra
and a carefully selected chorus under the direction
OF Max Marezek, will take part the Ttiens
You see the company is one Of exceptional strength.
"What do you think of Wachtel's chancesY"
Mr. STRAKosCH-I don't ike to speak Of the arrange
ments OF other managers except in friendly manner
One tenor cannot constitute the sole attraction Of
company, and the OF Mr. Neuendor will depend
upon the calbre of the artists he has engaged sup
port Wachel don't think that the tenor can achieve
the same sensation with the public he did when he
first appeared here. But nous ueYTonS
Here the writer took his leave after thanking Mr.
Strakosch Tor the frank expression of his views