The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-14
The HIGH PRIEST OF OPERA.
What M. Maurice Strakssrh Says About
the Coming Season.
WATCHING BY STAR" CRADLES,
Belocca, the Russian Prima Donna's Story
Her Repertoire.

Mr. Maurice strakosch after sixteen years. absence
In Europe has the public knows already, returned
these shores the high priest OF new prma donna
who Ia TO give New York next Monday night oppor-
tunty Of being enchanted In 1851 Mr. aurce srakosch
put out from Now York for Europe with rising
that SINCE decked the armament of song In Short
he took away Adclina Patti. and he brings back
Me de Belocca, like wizard that always has u
wonderful music box under glass Pondering
these pretty matters HERALD representative called
~ the Everett House and asked for Mr. Strakosch.
(which Mr.. Strakosch ~ said the genlemanly clerk
with unusual alacrity. maurice or Maxi"
maurice, the long absent one" said the HERALD
man. .Max we havo always with us'
With reverent steps tho stairs assembled. Was
about stand before tho High Priest whose happy
duty has been for untold years lead the worship at
the shrnes OF the goddesses of song High priests
tho operate stage always wear long white boards
and long white gowns, sing rousing choruses with
their hands folded upon thcr breasts They made
up so much dozen and are bogus article for the
initiated know that neither their boards are
their own and that their tasso protdo alteration oftho
Cast0 Diva fades utterly before their devotion to lager
beer Perhaps vague idea that such traditional
embodiment was about to meet his oatcd through
the HERALD mans BRAIN but the bodily presence OF tho
High Priest dispelled It,
NpREsARio.
A man above the middle height and beyond the
middle age, alert in manner nervous in movement
Had in black, with piercing eyes keen nosc--kcen
rot so much in cut as in expressona fair mustache,
high forehead merging into bald crown, which was
edged with fringe of crisp, black hair, answered
courteously TO the name of Mr.. Maurice strakosch
The books say that Mr.. strakosch born in 1925 of
Hungarian family and received his musical educat ion
II Buda Pesth and Vienna; but who would trust
book rs to mpressrios ages Did he not
MT az In all hepr andv ain from
her the secret Of her song and the fire of her draat
cationf True, Pasta sang long past the date in The
book, but men long dead have whispered that Maurice
strakosch was about when Cataian whom Pasta de-
throned and succeeded made her DEBUT in 1895 at La
Fenice in Venice Further back than this ncredu-
lous public might hesitate to follow the traditions
speeding Mr. Strakosch. II So 1t need only be whis-
pered that Life is short and art Is long," and he
has rocked the cradle OF many generations of stars
must be long lived
PRIEST.
This the High Priest OF the Divine art who sat
md chatted pleasantly for an hour 10 that
wonderful pot poarri of tongues which is acquired by
aone but your cosmopoite child OF harmony from
whose affections all languages arc divorced and to
whose ecstatic utterance word is snatched,
screechng and kicking from every land with the
impartiaty that the 'man and brother down South
selects his Eeghbors chickens for camp meeting pot
peoples heard many tongues, been entranced by
many songs that he knows how hc says
things they said He has fixed ideas upon OPERA
he has mmuabe canons OF art, and you listen tho
manner Is soon forgotten in tho matter. Tho teacher
Of Adelina Patti, Of Sess of Minnie Haack, and,
lastly, OF Belocca no ha much TO say worth trans
lating
OPERATE ASTRONOMY.
"a altar - said Mr. Strasosch ais tho first neccs
sity OF operate manager without IL he may have
scenery. chorus, orchestra and strong company but
the people will not come Whys Because all the
other lights OF this world Any with BRAINS
and money gather them. Every who has
violin, flute piano sing a few bars has u
light like them In his house; but the stxrah that Is
brilliant from heaven People will go that l
have got star
''Stars have different magnitudes. y
AS we them; it is the quality of the light we;
must judge. II VIC enough TO the smallest
IL would be large enough and bright enough Tor
ict US call our star diamond. Ask the public to
Aur diamond. II must DO or the purest and
without a flaw, or they will not come. Such star
such diamond, is Mile. de Bcoccan
"About male stars, Mr. Strakoschs "
NO they will not draw alone. Mario did It In his
rime, but Il Is only in the prima donna that the
tar viii shine l can count them up to hundreds,
Inc voices, marvellous actors, but unless therc Is
WIN star II is trouble lost managers; that Is my
conclusion on an experience OF thirty years q
manager"
'You have watched the growing fires OF many
stars''-phe High Priest idea would not down.
.Yes, but tell you frankly have of all most pride
in two-Adelina Patti and Mile de Belocca. One OF
them you have heard but her coming VIII justify
my praise as In her short has been done. PATTI
goes without saying She is rich fresh ever to-day
worth million and making saoo, 900 year. Belocca
10 not ambitious for money. She lives In her and
for her art.n
The rwo SIDES TO THE QUESTION
sYou see the artist whom tho managers present as
. star. What must she be- A divine singer en-
raptured with her art young beautiful aud good
actress That is her side. The managers side is to
see that all these points presented. you show
\ diamond In all Its lights"
THE COMING SEASON.
"Then we may speak Of your season hcrcf'
"We show Belocca in four lights during the short
DeAson commencing next Monday She shall open
IN the Barbierc,' the rich warm Rossin light
A RgrERroiRS.
Then shall give Mignon,' the fairy like Am.
broisc Thomas light; then Favorta,' the brilliant
Donlzetti light, and 'Sonnambua.' the mellow Bel
lin light But look at her repertoire bcsldes:'Cenc-
rentola' and .Tsncredi,' by Rosslni; Don Gio-
vanni and 'Nozzc di Figaro by Mozart; ssapho,
BY counod; Prophete,' by Mcycrbeer; La Vie Pour
Tsar,' by Ghnka; Na,rimonio scgrcto by Lima
rosa Aida, by Verdi; Carmen "a delicious work. by
Bizct Tristan ct Isolde" by Wagner and-havc I
missed because It should be the Understandable
All these she shall give before she leaves America Ifmy
expectations in the musical culture and appreciation Of
America do not misiead me-aud why should they p
shall return shortly Europe and bring out COM
pany 70 give all tho works named IN a manner
bcnsting the central hgure.n
s.fe.occa's voiccf"
1T marvel; II can only be compared to Nall.
bran's or Albonrs. II Is Of rich resonant quality In
toned without effort With perfect articulation. lma
zosoprano-contralto, pure a crystal bell she
has notes that Aiboni had not Her middle register Is
grand, full aud purcr In brlance OF execution she