New-York tribune., 1882-03-10
RIVAL OPERA MANAGERS.

MR.. ABBEY TAKES UP THE CHALLENGE.
HE DIsAGREEs WITH Mr.. MAPLEsoN IN REGARD TO
THE PUBLICs VIEW OF OPERA.
In q recent interview with Mr.. Mapleson in regard
to opera and its presentation In this city, the man.
ager stated his desire to have fair and candid dis
cussion of the subject in the press. To prevent Mr.
Mapleson from being disappointed, reporter Of
THE TRIBUNE called on Henry L. Abbey TO obtain
his views. "Mr. Abbey" said the reporter have
you seen Mr. Mapleson's challenge to discussion Of
the opera question
"Yes," said Mr.. Abbey; al have seen it, and /
suppose you have come to get me TO accept the
challenge"
The reporter dreading the possibility Of blood
shed, said In soothing manner:
mo; have come to see il you, rs manager OF
opera, have any opinions to express upon the ope-
ratio situation"
The situation, so far as l am concerned is
comfortable one,o said Mr.. Abbey, land does not
call for any opinion on my part. II you want an
opinion on Mr.. Mapleson's statements in The TRID-
UNE, which are wide Of the situation, have no OBJ
lection to giving 1t to you"
Then you do not agree with Mr. Mapleson
IL don't even understand him, to begin with, He
says the time has como for the American people to
decide upon what form Of italian opera can be pre-
sented to them in satisfactory manner and be suf-
ficienty remunerative TO the managers. Now
don't think that the time has come The time al
ways was here, and the American people decided
long before Mr. MaplesOn came TO this country that
it would always pay for the best In the
market, whether that best was prma donna or an
ostion to invite discussion this question Is very
Characteristic of an Englishman who IL stubbornly
ignorant of the fact that the Americans ever dis
cussed or settled anything to their own satisfac-
~ hnfO ha
command. However, it is not difhcut to
answer these questions. He SAYS there are three
public to decide between them Now, it strikes me
that the public has decided upon this or else Mr..
Map esOn would not be rushing into controversy,
for it happened this season that there were not
only three modes of giving Italian opera.
but three companies; and as only one
manager of the three has seen At to arragn the
American people, 1t Is not difficult to guess which
mode they would not have"
"Do You then agree with Mr. Mapleson that there
three modes of giving Italian opera =" asked the
renoorter.
"YOu are talking to me a manager, and not as
an art critic. and If as manager am to agree 70
cdc should say 'eV there were re only two modes One
mode is to give opera with pTima donna and the
other mode is +? give it without one The The
without a prima donna of celebrity. Clever
and versatile as is Minnie Hank he has been COM
PEELED to cast her in operas which the press Of New
York unanimously declares are unfit either for her
voice. or her talents. 'Mignon' Is an example of
that" ,
people want all stars he will produce them" sug-
gested the reporter.
.."Mr: Mapleson IS more generous, than Just" re-
piled Mr. Abbey. "One viii do, and one, who may |
be within his means. he has failed to produce His
remark If the American people want stars shows
that he knows nothing whatever of what they do
want; but If he could have condescended TO look at
the history of italian opera in this country before
he came here he would have discoyeredrwhat
everybody else In America kn0ws-that Italian |
N \ instance succeeded Amert-
without star. AS to his benevolent proposition
to bring as many lyric stars rs the Americans want
whenever they decide the question for him. that is
pure bragsadocio. Who are the two or three prom;
inent lyric stars of the world | think yon will
agree with, me that they are Patti, Nilsson
any one Of them, and II go which oneio THE con-
undrums coming in suddenly the reporter suggested
that he wonld give some one elSe chance.) Il
MIR Mapleson complains said the reporter. |
that Americans object TO paying European prices
Yes" said Mr. Abbey, and he wants to know
why 1t is that Americans who do not object to pay
ing dollar for q cigar growl about paying SO for
opera suppose the reason is that they are sure OF
getting their dollars worth when they bny cigars.
have recently heard and presume I It isl is true that
opera right through a season, without complain
ag.Ty ~, do. w. u,n,..on ru.,n hon b. r.t.,.
II haven't the slightest idea. II can't mean |
Patti or Gerster for Mr. Mapeson Is too sbrewd |
to show his pique at these successful and
popular prima donnas. And besides, so far as am |
concerned, it would be an ungenerOus alluson. |
You must remember that l did not bring Petit |
to this country. There a general de-
nand for opera, and | determined to present |
her on the operatic stage before she returned If
that reason has horne something Of the character of
an extemporized reason il was unavoidable. The |
result has shown that the American people pre-
ferred such opera could furnish them with PATTI
In it, to such opera Mr.. Mapleson furnished with
out Patti or any other celebrity.
"To all intents and purposes then consider that
tho American people had answered Mr.. Mapleson's
questions before he asked them. However, if he
has any more to ask, and can throw any light on
them, you are at liberty to come TO me, when am
not too busy"
In regard to the report that ho had leased the
Grand Opera House, Mr.. Abby said that the report
was true " do not intend" said he, " to change |
at all the policy of the house and there will be no
crease over the present prices under any circqm-
stances except, of course, for the opera Mr.
Gould will spend $25, 900 in repairing the Opera
House, and it needsit. While in Europe last sum
mer made contract with Christine Nilsson and
,yiI hrinn her here hext fall TO sing in Onerap