The New York herald., 1876-10-15
ITALIAN OPERA.
An Interesting Chat with Its Parent
in New York.
Maurice Strakosch on the Future
of Opera.
1t Is Dependent Upon the Stock
holders OF the Academy.

NJ Maurice Strakosch's views on the prospects OF
opera In this cityprospecis which just now appear
dismal indeed-are OF great interest at this time Is
he not in measure the father OF Italian operai
Has he not tenderly nartured and codded the weak,
sickly infant with tho love OF true devotee OF art
sntil Italian opera might well be thought to have
attained a sturdy Development Alas the operate
infant Is still weak and sickly ever-he squeas
and screams under the crushing difficulties that stunt
his growth Everybody is astonished, but nobody
feels certain as to tho true cause Why Is It that In
she boastfu metropolis OF the western hemisphere, In
this great rich city, which emulates London ana
Paris splendor and il said TO surpass Vienna and
Berlin, cannot maintain an opera equal In excel
snce say TO that OF Moscow Madrid MiIany Some
say II Is the managers who a fAnlt that IL Is they
who lack OF nberaliy and enterprise, will not
give good opera to the public. others blame the peo
pie. and place q stigma upon the New York public, by
declaring that it will not support art that It will not
MAINTAIN nrst rate OPERA but content with the leg
drama and the dress play.
WHERE RESPONSIBILITY Rxsrs.
But Mr.. Maurice Strakosch, In the interview which
follows places the responsibility exactly whore 1t be-
longs-upon tho stockholders OF the Academy OF
Music. Mr.. Strakosch, who Is an amiable, Just
minded and ccar-h headed gentleman has unriendly
feelings toward the Stockholders He took the great
sst pains to the writer that he had the pro-
oundest respect for their high character and social
'tanding and that his relations with them had always
been OF the peasantsst character But he made clear
this point, which is the nutshell OF the whole din
guilty. that tho stockholders resign PRIV
lcge OF retaining thor seats Italian opera could
be maintained on . permanent and liberal basis, and
thai only '.nevtable ruin" stared tho enterprising
manager in tho face
sHavo you read the HHRALDs Paris gossip In to-day's
issuef" the writer asked
..In which Adoline Patti figures SO prominently ?"
Mr. Strakosch returned. .'Certainly. was OK
ceedingly interested by its perusaL Do you know
there's something curious about the array OF dis
snsuishod artists figuring in this article the
OF tho European opera houses Nearly every has
been brought by (meAning himself and his brother
Maxi TO this country. To begin with Patti We did
not bring her from Europe to be sure but brought
her out here. Do you know what we paid hsr here
$50 q night; and even at that she not financial
succesa Why Because the American public will
only recognize article who has colossal European
reputation. Then Nilsson. Abani, Capoul, Aorsll,
Carpi, Nanetti; We brought them all here ~
FINANCIAL SUCCESS
"And were not nil those first rate articcs-nnancal
successes, Mr.. Strakosch 2"
tBy no Nilsson the only great financial
In the last twenty -fve years. and then only
during her FIRST oporA The second artsti-
caly great success, pronounced success, but not
financially. Albani, that great artistic recognized
In Europe star OF tho FIRST magnitude did
pay expenses here. We havo now here a magnificent
singer, Nile. Belocca. Let me show you telegram
which have just received from Paris, and in which
should return at with Belocca and let her take
PATHS place in ST. Petersburg
Mr. Strakosch exhibited the telegram
.'BcloccA n splendid success in San Francisco.
Her benefit night gave her So. 500 Hero Is article
certainly worthy OF the liberal support OF tho New York
"Bu, as to Patti Mr.. srakosch now that she is not
gong to Russia, is she coming TO American"
PATTI IMPossBLh AT THE ACADEMY.
'sShe is under positive engagement with rs At
81, 900 gold per night Whenever she comes 10 this
country she, win como under our engagement But
you see, that Patti in hrst ratio opera Is impossible
the Academy, where we have TO pay reat OF over
$1,000 night DO not be astonished. i do not mean
81, 600 In cash. Tho nominal rent is very moderate
varying from 500 to $3.50 night, bui, as you are
hware the stockholders retain 200 of
that the rent In seats alone amounts to ST. 600 night
which NO manager con afford 10 pay. and which simply
to the public and the stockholders poor weak
opera, and to Che manager, inevitable ruin. y
This 10 indeed pitiatlc state Of thnga"
A TELLING CONTRAST
Mr.. Strakosch, who seemed to feel the situation
keeny, paced the floor sa.d:-'lt indeed. Just
CONTRAST situation Italian opera
In New YORK with that OF our London or Petersburg
rivals The prce OF scat (of the class retained hero
by the stoekhoders) at Covent Gardcn Is ir $50
500 guiucas or season OF iorty nights In ST. Peters
and OF box seat ten 10 niteon rouhles In London
tho price OF seat Is guinea aud OF box six guinsas
However, lot US return 10 the subscription prices.
the stockholders OF the Academy the most cmi-
nent, she most distinguished, the richest and
to support art OF high order They ali have travelled
Abroad-many OF them are abroad now, and hey ask
tor the very best opera. such as they have seen in
Europe Ther shares at a fair valuation now worth
about 81, 50o which makes SO, 900 Tor box Al i've
per cent this should yield $500 per annum which is
eco and yet they expect ECO forty nights of first
rate opera, for which tho London patron OF art pays
from f250 TO f50O! You that, to supply such de-
nAnds tor such prices, Is an utter impossibility.n
THE RESULTS
Sand the present state OF things is the result ?"
Exactly. The stockholders arc dissatisfied with
such opera can be gwen under such circumstances
They talk disagreeably, and not only disgust other
people, but also inJure tho manager And Yet rs TO
be taken into account that artists must DO better paid
here BY tho manager than they In Europe Not 10
speak OF the greater prices exncted by the stars the
shorus and orchestra ara paid three or four times
here than they are IN Europe For ali tnesc
II is manifest mpossibility for the manager 90 sat-
hiy either the stocknolders, tho public or himself"
"And what remedies would you suggest"
Mr Strakosch's complaint was evidently not an idle
one for he ready to suggest the practical remedies
TVE REMEpIKs.
sThere are two remedies sald he ''The stockhold-
tho richest people OF New York, they
sreign in themselves let them initiate The example or
the sristocracy o Europe IN giving the Italian opera
subvention. This Is one remedy, but sll better one
would be Tor the stockholders to resign their privileges
seats and rent the house on the usual business
principles The properly ut the present
Of real Is worth about $300000 Let them exact
fair rent which will cover tneir insurance, &c, and
yield them i've per cent net upon their investment
That should suffice them, they did not build the
Academy for speculative purposes but desired TO do
something Tor art Under such conditions | should
bc happy to lease II for number OF years
suls feel convinced, would be gratifying bo.n tho
stockholders aud 10 the lovers OF arIn
'Will the Academy, IN your opinion, long continue
70 remain the home OF Italian opera"
DOOMED.
sNo; and that Is another why the
should feel inclined make these vital Tho
Academy 10 doomed anyway i. is TOO lar down town
During tho lew years which still remain the Acad
cmy is not better 10 have Italian opera the best
styIe doom and tho manager TO irrerievabio
ruinY The public nowadays ~ excessively fond OF n
splendid mise scene and doe ballet. and II We had
the Academy permanently we could graiify this want
No manager supply these features In u house whch
he only rents by the night"
sTRARosCH
sswhat is your brother Max doing now, Mr. Stra-
koschf"
.Hs has gone West with splendid opera troupe, in