The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-08-05

would se the best MEANS In his opinion OF prcssnsng
Il In America Mr. eyes answers brief and TO
the point.
CoRREsPospExr-How many years. Mr. Gys. have
you been connected with the management OF Italian
opera England and America
Mr. GrE-rhirty years in England Alone not having
taken any operate enterprise across the Atiant'c.
CoRREsrosDgxr-what have been your opporsuni-
ties during that period Of forming judgment ss 10
the best means OF rendering IL self-sustaIningr
Mr. GyE-Masagement. sir; management One
caanot be IN the managerial business thirty years
without learning something. What one does not
know a, the beginning he quickly lcarns by expert
cnces, good and bad.
CoRRxsroxpENr-Is IL commonly supposed that the
failure OF italian opera in both hcmisphercs rs due
mainly the high salaries exacted by the axrsss Is
that impression corrects
Mr. GYE-ADout America can Of course say moth
Ing; but as regards my own experience must say,
on the contrary, that the highest priced artists ara
the ones that draw tho best. Tho high prices de-
nandcd by and paid artists for the simple reason
that they have themselves created the demand In the
mind OF the pubic. only need to instance Miles.
Aibani ana Patti.
CONSEQUENTIAL subventions an indispensable
condition OF success Italian OPERA commonly
serted?
Mr. GYE--State subvcntions not essential FIX
perience and management enable one to do without
them
ConaHspoxDRxr--Picase explain how 1t is that Of all
European Italian opera houses Govent Garden Is the
ouly one that 10 selt-sus;aining
Mr.. GYK-Thcre again l must say management
There Is no other explanation. Management, sir,
management.
CoRREsPoSpxxr-How Is It that the ltaiiens, In
Paris, CITY regarded the centre OF civilization aud
refinement which house, until the last few years. has
always enjoyed q subvcnton, has never been profit
able, and 10 now ruinous, concernr
Mr.. GYg-The same answer my dear sir. Greater
artists would draw larger audiences Mile. AibAni
hed tho house whom shc sang there short time ago
CoRREsPoxDESr--Can you explain why tho opera
houses OF ITALY, the cradle OF art. arc reduced 10
nearly tho Same ussasisfaotory condittonP
Mr. GYE-To answer that question satisfactorily
would require chapter In the volume spoke about.
Italy still tho best field for operate study. know
OF no better than Mr. L., only he is growing
old and he has married young wifc. which does not
make him any younger.
CoRREsPoxDENr-How does It happen that whilo
Italian opera, with the single exception ind Gated is
every where Improbable III a pecuniary sense, ma
tonal opera Is not only seli-sustaning, but often
muneratvs " the direction, rs IN France and Ger
many, Tor example?
Dir. GYE-lt is an impossblhty to enter into the
history Of single opera houses Subveutions may or
may not be indispensable 10 operate development
In the Continent Covent Garden. subscriptions
Tor tho season play an important role assisting the
management 10 command success
There were other questions which l should have
wished Mr. eye TO answer, bur since the distinguished
manager has never had experience In America
could not He could not say, therefore,
whether the Of the Of Italian opera
in Europe and the United States were
identical or otherwise. II obstructive
influences wcre modified entirely removed
there would be . reasonable prospect OF rendering
Italian opera successful and permanent institution
Ia tho United States Mr.. eyes experience has been
IN fact interesting ono, but al the same time
fined within narrow limits He has taken moro in
tercst In looking after the OF his house
than in nding out she OF the non-success OF
other peoples This 49, doubtless, as should be. 1t
il necessary, however, 10 add fcw words about
Covent Garden and It's management, in order show
how I. Mr.. Gye unable 10 pay large salaries
and still reap rich reward.
A STUDY OF CONVENT GARDEN.
The Alpha and Omega OF Mr.. eyes opinion about
Italian opera IL management, together with the expo
rIeuco which management brings. But 1t must be
left OF the count that Mr. eye did not create the
present Covent Garden institution; II may be
said with, greater correctness that Covont Gar.
don created him. Tho Itslian opera was
the fashion before SIR eye was born, and the dis
tinguishcd manager has had during long career to
cater 10 public whose have advanced htte II
ALL and still roman what they were quarter OF
century ago. Italian opera has fourished and must
have nourishcd In London under management good or
bad. Italian opera, and especially Italian opera at
Covent Garden belongs TO the neccssites OF London
season, and Covent Garden is still, though not to SO
great an extent formerly, fashionable gathering
place for the arstocracy Tor the display Of brilliant
wardrobes ana striking headdresses. and the boxes
convenient places for recev ne calls from those
who have time 10 attend 10 social duties At other
than otherwise by listening intcn,ly to any opera
An Aibani Patti comes In refrerhtnely now and
's ~ass so int. as vel Il
II were brought into fashion and favor
NAJEsTys OPERA HOUSE,.
A house totally different from Covcnt Carbon in
every respect is the one under the management OF
Colonel Naples on Her Majcsty's Opera House Ia the
Newmarket occupies tho position Italian opera held
up TO n season or two ago by Drury Lane. The fame
and good OF the old house has been transferred
10 srea. measure to The new one or rather i to the
years, BY Earl Dudley. AZ Covent Garden the star
system IN Italian opera is developed 10 IT'S full ex
eurated tho aIIaround system. together with prime
DOME who, though not receiving the enormous sas-
pao 10 AlOant ana fatt arc htnkeTB OF the
rapx A. Her Majssy's We find Mile. Minnie Hauck
and Nine. EtcIka Gerster, supported BY company Of
excellent artists, good chorus and q thoroughly
trained orchestra and enjoying The further advao ags
OF beng provided with good scenery and costumes,
not siaringly inartis,ic and inaccurate
COLONEL NArLEsoS's coMPASy
The success OF the negotiations with the magnates
OF the New York Academy al one time depended. so
far 90 Mr. Mspeson Is concerned 10 securing Patti or
Nilssen or Albani for the American seasop. But
Colonel Mapleson was unwilling 70 conclude
arrangement under the above conditions, s0d be con
tan .A nah hat ha mn cnn htc
way clearly TO engage one or two more prime dome
whose principal advantage above his ovn is chiefly
that they nave larger regulations because they have
beca longer before the public. Coloacl Aapcson did
not think Il worth wbilc TO engage Mmc. Nilsson r
the present season at the figure she dcmanded-
namely GOO pounds per evening-sspec.ay In view
Of the fact that he lost money with her during
the last season at Drury Lane. Colonel Maple
has indeed an excellent company OF
artists, inc.uiing Mile. Minnie Haucx Nine
Etolka Gerster Nmc Trcmcii and Trcbclli :
aud either OF the two former, supported by strong
castes draw houses little VI anything Inferior 10 those
attracted by the fame Of Ab3ni and Patti rhc nu-
denccs NJ Her Majesty's superior In musical Gu