The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-02-23
FIEES no EuROPE.


FLEES TO EUROPE.
MILE ALBANI BIDS US GooD-BYE-A sU DDEN
CHANGE OF PROGRAMME AND WHAT 1T ALL
MEANS.
The Cincinnati Enquirer of the 18th inst.
gives the following facts connected with the
sudden departure of Mile Albani for
Europe: Those who failed to hear Albani,
the prima donna of the Italian Opera Com
pany, on Thursday evening, may never
hear her. She left last night for New York,
accompanied by young MIR. eye,
son of the famous London manager,
and will shortly sail for Europe. OF course,
the announcement Of her intended depart
ure created a sensation in musical and lash
ionable circles, among whom the season"
was the topic of the hour. Indeed it will
cause surprise everywhere throughout the
country. Rumors spread far and fast. There
had been great row; the pretty singer had
been in tears all day, etc, ad minimum. we
undertook to get at the exact truth OF the
matter, and through the courtesy of the
management have been entirely successful.
Young Mr.. Gye, it is true, refused to say
more than that the affair was one purely of
business, and that his relations with Mr..
StrakOsch continued to be of the pleas
ATTEST, and that be was perfectly willing TO
let that gentleman's explanation go to the
alone, as Ii NOulU NC = anu
reliable one undoubtedly. The fearful
prima donna-she did almost weep her little
heart out for a cause which will afterward
appear-we did not intrude upon, satisfied
that all the explanation due our readers
could be obtained from Mr.. Max Strakosch,
one of the most genial, polished, and best
hearted of gentlemen, as he is the prince of
managers. We were not mistaken, and are
able to present the history of the breaking
of the Albani engagement succinctly and
reliably. Mile Albani, as she is best
known, was engaged by the elder eye some
years ago under a contract, full statement
of which is not necessary to an understand
ing of the present case, but which involved
hen remaining under the management of the
eyes
FOR TERM OF YEARS
not yet expired. They manufactured
great success for her, and Maurice Strak-
osch, believing the success could be repeated
in this country, engaged her for sixty nights
for his brother, agreeing to pay the eyes,
her managers, for every night she sang two
nights per week. e150 and to assume all her
expenses, a contract which brought the
actual salary up to a figure not far from
81 900 per night, in currency. To be brief,
Albani did not draw the money. She was
worth fairly the sixty pounds per night,
which were found to be those ninety pounds
per night going to her managers 1.-THE Gyes),
but the $50 pounds she was not worth. A
delightful artist, she was not Christine
Nilsson. The last statement is our own,
not Mr.. Strakosch's.l Still Max Strakosch
struggled on manfullv, as he always does,
and by taking her out of the role of Elisa"
in Lohengrin (the opera drawing just as
economies, hoped to weather the year;
bound, at all events, to keep his contracts
He wrote, however, TO his brother Maurice,
that financial disaster was ahead if better
terms were not obtained from the elder Gye,
whom he must see at once. The answer
came by cable last week, signed by Maurice
Strackosch and the senior eye. 1t was re-
fusal to lessen the terms, but welcome
offer to cancel the contract, after it was two
thirds expired, which it would be on Thurs
day night last. The offer was at once ac-
cepted, and the advertisements of Albani's
appearance at the matinee to-day with
drawn. In order to keep faith with season
subscribers so far as possible, Aida was put
in preparation tor Monday night, to replace
Lohengrin, with Albani as "Elsa," as had
been intended, and not duplicate the per-
Torrance of last night.
"wHAT COULD I DO ?''
said Mr.. Straekosch, last night, at the conclu-
sion of the interview, during which. we OBJ
tanned the above facts. "You see for your
self that she does not draw the money. Last
night, with her, there were 81 ,45O in the
house, and it her first appearance here. To-
night, without her, there are $500. 1t is
the opera and not the singer that draws
and am more than ever convinced of the
correctness of the views that expressed
lact year in favor of the general excellence
of a presentation rather than the individual
brilliancy of a single singer. Our public
are becoming educated to it. OF course
/ have my share of complaint to make.
The public have not supported me
as they ought. 1 have sunk $4,000 on the
season, and my private means are
embarrassed, but never. like some mana
gers, run ahead until burst fiat. / can
make money and lose il and still be a gem
tleman. There shall be no scandal, every
contract has been and shall be kept. 1 may
be compelled to shorten the season some
what, and the closing six weeks in New
York NAV not be what hoped, but / shall
keep faith with everybody" Eyes, the loss
of Albani's name will injure business, but
with $1,000 per week less expense / can
afford to have S, 900 less receipts, but the
difference will not be that great" "Albani
is one of the most perfect ladies / have ever
known, as well thorough ar
tiste." "She would even now sing for
nothing for me to help the season out and
continue her artistic triumph in her own
country, and has been crying all day over
the turn matters have taken, She can not
and should not break her contract, however.
AS for me, can stand it. If can not make
money at opera / can 60 at something else. |
1 may be poor, but shall still be a gentle !
man,