The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-08-12
ITALIAN OPERA FOR NEW FORK.
Mapieson's Seventeen Lease OF the Academy
Of Music-IIi- Plans aud Strnkosch's.

Henry Fox, scene painter for Her Majcs-
tvs Opera House. London sailed for this city
on the Ith lie is sent by Henry J. Mapleson
the new manager Of the Academy OF Music to
puint scenery for that establishment Mr.. Fox
will be- the first visible sign of the coming man
agcmcnt Mr.. Maplcson is expected about Sept.
10, and on tho 9th the operate company will
start from Queenstown. The date for the open
ing Of the season il not exactly known here. but
1t will be about oct. 10.
The lease under which Mr.. Mapleson takes
the Academy was signed in London. Mr.. Clar-
enco Seward. one of the directors representing
the board The only copy in this country il
kept under lock and key and only its general
provisions can be learned. Mr.. Mapleson be-
comes the lessee for seven years. He is to pay
10 rent during the first three years. but the
stockholders are to retain their seats. These
number 900. In boxes and elsewhere. He un-
dertaLes to give two seasons OF Italian opera
every year nearly covering tho time between
the beginning OF October and the end Of Febru-
airy. 1t is understood that no definite promises
are exacted from him in the contract. beyond
that the performances shall be as good rs those
given in his London house. Some OF the direct
ors held out for guarantee Of either Nilsson
Patti. or Stoltz for the first season. but Mr.. Ma
peson refused to bind himself to bring over
any particular prima donna or TO produce any
specified number OF now operas. His policy IN
London has been to give uniform excellence
TO the productions rather thnn 10 sacrlicr gem
eral effect to cxcessi vey high priced prima
donnns. Several directors Argued that ony.the
ATTRACTIONS of n great singer would draw paying
audiences in New York but they were OYER
borne. The Academy's expenses Tor year had
been S3l $3.50. and the receipts s23, oj2. making n
loss of about ~ 42S. To- say nothing of interest
on the money invested. Besides. there hgd
been only twenty three operate performances,
nd hos af
so that the stockholders sittings had not been
very valuable Some decision rs TO the future
WAS necessary, NJ Mr.. hingslund. the old man.
niger, had been deposed. and new hoard OF di-
rectors elected as follows: August Belmont.
MILAN b DFs1 gst "2 o1 Pba LSnSo op
cnce Seward. Joseph Brandon. Pierre Lorillard.
II. 4. johnson. Charles L. Tiffany and Angus
The directors. when questioned Ms TO who
the singers md what the operas viii be,
reply that they know no more nbout it
than outsiders. II II almost certain. how
ever that Mr. Mapleson will bring over
his London company about MS u stands.
Its season in London closed as usual, in July.
and 1t is now on provincial tour. The prima
dOnnas are Minnie Hauck and Ethelkn Gorster.
Miss Hauck is the dramatic prina donnn, She
sang here eight or ten years ago. but nude her
reputation subsequently abrond. She has been
with Mapcson about four years. and is now n
little over 80. MADAME Gerstrr Is younger. n
Hungarian. sings I'm lighter roles and has been
two seasons In London. Signor Foil is the
basso. He is an Irishinan, with the real name
of Foil. and has an established European rcpu-
tation. There seems to be no certainty that
Marie Roze. the wife OF the Junior Mnpeson.
will sing with the company. She Is now In this
country with her husband. Frapolli Is tho tenor:
The London operate season begins with April
and ends with july. and the subsequent tour IN
the provinces ends with September. SO that 1t
will be handy for Mr. MaplcsOn to simply trans
fer his entire companies to New York for the
winter Seasons. and that is understood to Dc
his intention.
Mr.. strakosch says that he will leave New
York Ia Mr.. Mapleson. excepting from Feb. II
to March s. when hu will occupy Booths The
atrc. His company viii retain Kellogg. Cary.
and Comfy. The acquisitions will include Mile.
Marco Miss Smith. daughter uf the late Mark
smith, and NJ lie. Lntn. He Will begin u tour
in Philadelphia Oct. II, and possibly 20 as far
US San Francisco