The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-01-29
FRENCH GOSSIP.
The Outrage on Strauss by the 0rches.
ira Of the Grand Opera.
PREPARING FOR THE OPERA BALLS
Mile. Albani's Triumph at
the Italiens.
REMARKABLE PHOTO-ENGRAVlNGS



PARIS, Jan. IL, 1917
The OF the week is tho outrage passed last
evening on Johann Strauss, the composer by the
orchestra OF the Grand Opera. mentioned in a
former letter he had boon engaged for nights
conductor for the balls Mosques the large OF
$500 night You that the orchestra OF
the Opera OF the finest, If the very in
Europe, and tina, comprises all the best performers
OF the orchestra OF the Conservatory Whether from
jealousy mat such should be given foreigners
or from sentiment that they should be called upon
play under the baton Of foreigner ALL II is certain
al the rehearsal last night Strauss only met
with chilling reception from the musicians, but
when his compositions rchcarsed they were
played with such manifest intention to pcrvert their
melodies and destroy their effect that the unfortunate
composer was nearly driven wild. TO mark this in
hosptable and ungcnerous disposition stu more when
their compatrio Oliver Metra, took strauss place
tho conductors desk he received with the warm
est applause, and his pieces played oihand with
precision and Drllllancy which, however nattcring
to the French composer, must bavc panied him from
tho undissused character OF the aront offered 70 his
friend Strauss, to whom he Is sincerely attached.
JusrIPyING THE OUTRAGE.
Some OF the journals this morning denouncc in un-
equvocal the conduct of orchestra but the
musicians TO whom have spoken to on the subject
SO tar from regretting IT, exult in II profess
sIona grounds Curious to say, Ullmann, old New
FORK impreslro, is one OF those who think that
the orchestra perfectly Justified in the course
which it adopted. IT is absurd" he said 10 me
ito attempt 10 impart TO this affair a political or.
national significance The truth oil tho matter Is that
the orchestra which is composed Of the rst perform
crs in the world, clt outraged at being compelled TO
rehcarse three or four times pieces Of dance music
which require no rehearsal at all and which band OF
any average merit could play perfectly sight You
remember that when strauss arrived In Now York 10
lead his music admirably played at short
by an American orchestra that he could not help
pressing publicly his satisfaction at tho fact Why
should orchestra OF the titte among Continental
players be treated differently and made to rehearse
pieces OF no technical difficulty like the members of
village bandg Then, to add 10 the general discon-
tent, II is arranged that while strauss pieces are
being played there Is DO no dancing:
dancing is to be rcsLmed Oliver
Metra assumes the baton, thus plainly intimatng
to the puohc that strauss music too gooa
for the dancers, aud that they must be satisfied with
Mctras. Is 1t to be wondered AZ that French artists
should take fire at such treatment and that they
should publicly express their OF II? The fact is
that poor Strauss has been made the victim IN this
matter. He is one Of the most modest and amiable
living, ana would be the last pass a
s"s"' ui'o" mo o'V'"e' 'u'''''""' esPeo'""y ia
foreign country. The whole difficulty is due to
lucddlesomc man. the proprietor of one of the Paris
.., ,.....,. ,., ~. ., -
'N''''' 49, ''' ~ $500 ~ ' "eS' :" e's''
PIE, and who has contrvcd Tor poor Strauss
OF the most unpleasant and uuenviablc positions
possible. The French musicians have acted perfectly
right aud II rs only TO be regretted that It is to
like strauss that The lesson haa TO DO adm
1t is TO be hoped when the night OF the opening
ball arrives no further trace OF this unpleasant state of
tbinps will bs pcrccplible From the care taken bv
49,, ,,. -, -, ,,, :, =, .,, ,..,
'"0 ''''" '" ~ ~ " P"''' ""''e""s
and that no national prcIudces or ipathies
ut the bottom oi H. there IS reason to believe that
we shall hear no more oil IT,
While ON the subject OF the Opera balls must not
omit 10 state that The preparations Tor these amusing
entertainments are ON scale ol lavish expenditure
such as has never been hitherto attempted For tue
last three months the best scene painters Of the capt
had upward Of loo men working undsr Their direction
THE STAGE WILL In rkhfhcr FLOWER YER GARDEN,
In winch the orchestra, composed oil lZO picked per-
formers, VIM DC periectIy empowered, and upward Of
5000 additional gaslghts, reflected IN innumcrable
most gorgeousy decorated ballroom IN the world. 1t
Is stated that upward oil s24o 0Oo have already been
expended on the preliminary preparations, but this
appears TO me to be out OF all proportion 10 the poss-
Bile receipts aud mas been put torth merely To stimu
late pubic curiosity. Every box IN the house has boon
taken Tor The hrst nights, the prices ranging from
$50 Tor tho boxes on the lower tier to $40 on the
iourth. III this statement be correct the pro.
ceeds oil the hrst nights tSaturday's) ball
will not DO tess than IRON $4,000 to SIS, 900.
The beneht which these entertainments con-
fer upon the trade OF the capital is incalculablc.
For The past fortnight or three weeks they nave
kept the tradesccopc Oh inc capital lully employed.
Tho following are Tie dat vi the three other balls oil
the same description whcn are 20 follow thai OF satur
day :-January 10 FEBRUARY III, March D. Inc success
OF AibanI at the lta'ens one oil those events winch
are unfortunately becoming rare on the operate stage
For one such TRIUMPH now many hundreds, nay
thousands, Vi aIures nave we not 10 RECORD FOR ths
artist II was inc great oruea Whlch was TO decide her
exact position IL has gwen her the prestige which
she rcqureu anu mas q. once paceu her az the 'op OF