The New York herald., 1879-09-29

| means. and each is supposed to carry a lady com
you exact for this privilege So in addition to car
riage hire it becomes expensive luxury to attend
the Academy which he is not likely to repeat often
On the other hand, II prices remained as formerly
| this class OF patrons would attend two or three
| times week. Still, there may be great deal OF
| business sagacity the part of Mr.. Mapleson IN
advancing his subscription prices inasmuch as ne
creates an incentive on the part OF regular opera
to seats for the season rather than pay
the increased transient rates. as
While the writer conversing with Mr. Kings
land he received number OF letters from gentlemen
| asking him to secure boxes for the season. "a
"But can't do ii, said Mr.. Kingsland, "for all
the desirable places in the house, two or three.
have been disposed Of think this is an indication
Of an exceedingly prosperous season.
"Do you know whether Colonel Mapleson will pro-
| duce any new operas ?"
| II have not been advised. or course much will
| depend on the manner in which the old operas are
| received by the way. he will produce .'Traviata''
the Goth of October, with Mlle Ambre as Violetta
| sgnor Runcio as Alfredo and sienor Galassi as
| Giorgio. He has not yet determined the order IN
which he will produce Others
"What IS your impression concerning the effect of
other operate organizations on the success at the
.If you refer to strakosch, I DON'T think he cares
to risk any rivalry In fact it can't exist He opens
in Philadelphia, ana comes to New York in March.
when Mr. Mapleson has gone. Strakosch in moving
westward leaves wide gap OF several weeks, and
therefore the two interests do not clash.
From your long experience can YOU say that
musical culture is increasingly
Undoubtedly. and never more so than within the
past five eight years. There has been. especially.
great increase OF teachers and of American girls
ambitious to initiate the performances of operate
and concert singers; their name is legion. This is
the class who patronze Theodore Thomas Carlberg,
Strakosch and Mapleson."
An engagement requiring the attention of Mr..
Kingsland ut this moment the reporter took leave
of him.
A CHEERFUL BUSINESS VIEW.
Mr. A. A. Arment is a gentleman who was last year
chosen by Colonel Mapleson to superintend the
work of securing subscribers. and. as it sell
ing the house" for the season in advance. His in
dustry then was we'll rewarded that he was
tanned in the same position for the present year;
consequently he is in position to know by actual
figures, representing many dollars and cents,
more than any other person. except the manager
himself. the real money value of the situation The
reporter accordingly made visit to his quarters in
Fourteenth street. and introduced the nterrogative
probes as follows:-
of the prospects Of the approaching operate season,
they appear to you through the medium Of your
subscription Department."
''In general way, yes. with pleasure; but you
must not ask me to enter into details until have
the authority of my chief. Here is birds eye view
OF the subscription department it stands this
ment," and Mr.. Arment produced one Of the da-
| grams of the auditorium of the Academy. "You
observe" he continued pointing to long array Of
has been sold; that nearly if not one half OF the
| seats in the parquet have also been disposed Of;
and that the first of the balcony circle has been
TAKEN together with many seats in the second
Those red crosses like certain signs of your
weather MAPS indicate which way the wind blows"
"But don't quite comprehend YOU"
Well. each or those boxes represents S400 in cash
for a eae Of
seats in the parquet and around the balcony circle
| represents $780,
excuse me, sir, but that is information which
| have right. to communicate. 1t is enough that
every subscription is Legitimate and represented by
| well known society nsme."
..What do those blue marks on your diagram
mean p land the writer pointed out goodly num-
| ber)
'srhey indicate the boxes and seats Of stockhold-
ers."
league with the SPECTATORS and holding these
boxes your and their interest Is this true2'
. nn dn 90 m,i, ttar y tS %
Mr. Mapleson when shall receive his instructions.
assure you that there is nothing wrong The sub
scriptons have all been legtimately made, and the
directors. who have been trying to obtain from
the information you seeking yourself, will finally
the result to their satisfaction. Itel you again
| that am simply the agent Of Mr.. Mapleson, and,
like any other confidential bookkeeper, aust render
INV account to him alone Come to me after his ar.
| rival, and with his consent will give you a COM
| plete list of the subscribers whom have secured
| For the moment. regard my hands as tied"
isn't it possible for party to buy box for the
| season and resell it?"
Certainly; but that's private matter. Yet I
| know of parties on my list who ut this early
| stage have engaged in such a speculation
| ''Then you do concede that there is q chance to
make money from the rental OF the Academy seats
| and boxcsY'
Certainly. A box at tho opera is property, and
owning it. you may sell it to whom you please. pro.
vded always it is to unobjectionable party. and
| GAIN
| from obtaining possession OF these places"
"By the simple rule OF gentility. No reputable
person will dispose of his interests to disrepuable
person. There is too much at stake. Social power
| is too autocratic to be trifed with"
How do your subscribers regard the advance
that has been made in prices?
'In few instances objections have been made.
but rather than lose their place they have accepted
the situation and paid the new prices fixed by Mr..
Mapleson."
How long have you been connected with Colonel
Maplcson?"
.Since his first season, and 1t was the experience
then gained that has enabled me to secure the hand
some success which shall report TO him his ar
rival in New York. commenced the work Of can
yassing among the subscribers soon after he lett
and have steadily progressed in the work until
the result in that diagram. Just now business
| is quite active"
ITO what do you ascribe this great improvement
| in business?"
ITO my personal endeavors."
A TALK WITH DIRECTOR.
The reporter next called upon Mr.. I. D. Musgrave.
wh% hs,w wo 81 W IN the & Sansg d
leisure and pleasure in overlooking the affairs OF the
Academy OF Music. He represents what may be called
the active interestthat is the few who are willing
bend their shoulders to the wheel and do the work
that would otherwise be left undone by others He
was extremely to reportoria inquisition but
neyertheess kindly gave his opinions in his quick
| sententious. Wall street way.
my idea of n successful opera season. he said
'is which comprchends gathering of the best
social forces of the metropolis and its surroundings
The opera is distinctive place. 1t cannot live in
| this country on the common material that exists
abroad. 1t requires nourishment from the font of
fashion. As Max Maretzek has remarked to me, give
It the influence of culture, make 1t college OF
fncment, Introduce with 1t the best OF people. and
| then you will have an institution. That is what we
\ are trying TO do. Our arrangements with Colonel
Mapleson acceptable TO him and agreeable to u.s.
He has promised to bring back to America excellent
artists and give season in which we shall enjoy
not only the old favoritcs but several others who
| are better known abroad. have no fears for the
| result. The outlook Is favorable"
what about the spcculators?'
sXo urpf frea ifip i
| say nothing until the return OF mr. Mapleson."
''What about the seasonY'
II believe 1t will prove TO be OF the most salts
factory we have known for many years..
"Do you know rything about the new artistsY
"Nothing more than 1 nave road in the foreign
newspapers, but am satisfied that Colonel Maple
son will take risks with American public for
our audiences are quito as severe and critical as
any that he has encountered abroad"
'What do You think of his advancing prices?"
''rhey not comparatively high Seats were
more valuable in tho time OF Nilsson and Lucca