Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-02-24
ALBANI LEAVES AMERICA.
Her Mana gers Contract with the Strags osch
Boys lis Amicabiy Cancelled.

ALbANI LEA Els AM EKlyA,
Her Managers Contract with the Strakosch
Boys lis Amicabiy Cancelled.
A Cincinnati paper says: The public
will be surprised aud disappointed to
hear that Mdlle. Emma Albani, the
distinguished prima donna of the Stra-
kosch italian Opera Company,
departed for New York on the 7
o'clock train last evening. She was
accompanied by Mr.. Gye, her
personal manager, and lady
companion. The patty will sail for
London next week. The Mr.. Gye re-
ferred to is son of Mr.. Frederick Gye,
the manager of the Covent Garden
Opera House in London, to whom
Albani is under engagement for a mum
Der of years, and from whom the
Messrs Maurice and Max Strakosch
secured her for this season in America.
This sub-contract was to extend to April
next, but it has been amicably cancelled
for purely business considerations.
Up to this time Albani has sung
forty-two time in the United States
For each appearance she received ESQ
sterling, and Strakosch paid her travel
ing expenses. This made each of the
Albani nights cost him about 5000 in
| currency. Her singing has been greatly
admired in all the cities Of the
Union visited by the troupe,
but there was nothing but steady
financial loss for the manager un-
der these stiff terms. He had the
rest of the company to pay in addition
to the immense cost for travel hotel
bills, rent, advertising, etc. Brilliantly
as Albani sang, and cordially as she
was applauded, there wasn't millions in
it for the enterprising Strakosch
brothers.
After prosecuting losing campaign
III New York, Philadelphia and Boston,
Mr.. Max Strakosch, who is the head of
the American branch Of the musical firm
M. Il M. StrakOsh, wrote to his brother
Maurice in Paris, detailing the financial
failure of the Albani season at the price
stipulated in the contract. A PROPOSE
ton for reduction to $500 in gold q
night was made to Mr. Gye, but all
negotiations in that direction failed.
Mr.. Gye preferred to annul the contract,
which has been done without explosion
OF amy exhibition of ill-feeling A tele-
gram from Paris, dated Feb 4, signed
by Maurice Strakosch and Frederick
Gye, announced to Max the end of Al
banl's present engagement in America.
Our reporter called at the Grand HO-
tel yesterday afternoon to see Mdlle.
Albanl, but she was not visible. He
had a conversation, however, with MI.
Gye. This gentleman preferred not to
discuss the business relations of the
lady whose interests he is guarding
He said that Mdlle. Albani and him
self parted on excellent terms with
Max Strakosch, and he expressed sym
patny for the latter's heavy losses this
year. Mr.. Gye thought an affair like
this was not properly a subject for
newspaper Investigation. The London
newspapers would not dream of touch.
ing it. In company with Mdlle. Albani
he will take a Cunarder for Europe
next week. The lady will be a leading
attraction at Covent Garden next sea-
son. He thought perhaps "Lohen-
grin y would be given to the Londoners
for the first time next fall at his fathers
establishment. He liked the American
winter climate (even this winter's), and
rrejoiced in the a essence Of fogs. In
short he didn't Care to talk business,
though he made it apparent that no per-
sonal grievances entered into this pre-
mature end of the Albani engagement.
Max Strakosch was next interviewed
at the Burnett. We found him looking
extremely we'll, and vivacious and elias
tic as usual. He doesn't look like a
manager in distress, although he has
sunk S75, 1000 this season. In fact, he
has no cause to despair, for he has
splendid reputation as faithful, liberal
manager, and he will be certain to pros
per in the end. He gave us the main
facts alluded to above, and referred
to Mdlle. Albani in the most friend
ly language. She had nothing to
do with canceling the contract That
was the work Of her London manager.
Mr.. Strakosch attributes his losses this
season to the results of the panic, and
to the exhorbitant salaries exacted by
sin gers of distinction. For instance
his receipts on the Somnambula'
night were $1,000, of which amount
5000 went to Albani. Last night the
receipts were $4,000, and Albani re-
OOIfCu HouI111o. AoIG is LuS WuOlG
thing in nutshell. The figures of the
contract with Albani were disastrous.
Mr.. Strakosch goes hence to Pitts
burg and Washington, and then he may
quit opera for while, and wait for BET
ter times, enjoying relief on his farm
near New York from the woes of a man
ager. He says he will never consent to
give opera badly, nor go beyond his
depth in contracting debts. We think
the public appreciates the fact that
he is by long odds the bes Of the line
of American impressarios who applied
their energies to the herculean task of
making opera pay. He has the conf
dence OF the people, to whom he always
gave their moneys worth. We sug-
gested that he could get even by bring
ing Patti over, but he says she is not
inclined to come. We hope that Max
will speedily work out of his troubles.
AS an operate manager he can't be
spared. The magnificent representa-