National Republican., 1883-03-30

! luB COuUINCtS' Keep inc Iafk Jneatcr IN
Boston, which property l recently purchased,
the Grand opera house, New York, and add
to the list the new Metropolitan opera house
in New York, and Mr.. Henry Irvings Ly-
ceum theator in London. My headquarters
are at present ut tho Grand opera house,
Eighth avenue and Twenty-third street.
where my business has been conducted since
the burning of the Park thcater last October.
| bring Mr.. Henry Irving and his entire COM
pany from London fora tour, md also ha, g The
new opera company to pilot through America
The Grand Opera house in New York should
not be confounded with tho new house now
building. At the Grand play combinations,
limiting the time of the best at two weeks.
/ This is the only first class theater in New
York where cheap prices rule. just half
the price is asked at the Grand
that you would pay on Broadway, and
for the same attractions. All successes are
brought over to the west side, and all are
sure of making money. Last season the
Grand was thoroughly reftted and redecor-
ated, at an expense of $4,000, by Mr.. Gould.
l tlink l can say it is commonly considered
one of the most beautiful theatcrs Of this
country. 1t seats over 1000 people, and most
of the seats are on the ground floor"
In response to a question as to his intention
with regard to the London season, Mr. Abbey
| said
MY taking the lease of the Lyceum in
London formed part of my contract with Mr..
/ Irving, who would not consent to come to
this country unless 1 undertook the manage
ment of his house, and put in very excel
] m hna | uat
and do my best to keep up the standard
which the theater has attained under the
masterly management of Henry Irving. /
am, therefore, paying great deal of atten-
tion to tho matter. Mr.. Lawrence Bar
rett and his company play there seven
weeks after Easter, and prior to that
my own company, with Miss Mary
Anderson at its head, and con-
prising some of tho rising geniuses of our
stage, will perform Miss Andersons repertoire,
all of which pieces will be produced with all
the attention to detail that has character
lied Mr. Irving's productions, which are the
most perfect | have ever seen. l will en-
deavOr to give London u better idea of
American actors and acting than they could
get from any of our combinations. In my
company there will be no star. Miss Ander-
son will be at its head, but not in that
capacity The organization will be adver-
tsed simply as an American company. Twill
have to get up all the scenery and properties
and wardrobe because all that are now in the
thcator will be brought to the United States"
"Does Mr.. Irving intend bringing his own
company and sccnery2"
"Mr Irving and his entire company, includ-
ing Miss Ellen Terry and other favoritcs, will
sail for the United States about Oct. 10 with
all the contents Of the Lyceum theater, and
will open the season at Wallack's Thirteenth
street theatcr, now called the STAR on Mon
day, Oct 90, probably in their greatest sue
cess, The Bells Their season will last six
months. After four weeks in New York, they
will make the usual tour, arriving in WASH
ington on the thirtieth of March, for week
ut the National theatcr"
Upon the subject of his new opera house
and the company for which Nilsson is en-
gagged Mr.. Abbey grew quite enthusiastic.
"My last venture and the most important
of my life" said he, is the new Metropolitan
hopera house in New York and its company
for grand Italian opera. The new house will
be completed by Oct. %, when 1 propose to
open it with great cast in Faust Nine.
Nilsson will sing Marguerite. 1t has been the
aim of the projectors Of the enterprise to erect
IL building that for operatic purposes should
surpass any other structure in the world. 1t
will be the largest and finest, and will
combine all the good points of La Scala
in Milan, the Grand opera house in Paris and
Covent Garden in London, without the defects
of either. Such house will give opportuni-
ties for opera which have never been equaled.
The taste for Italian grand opera will revive
under the influence of such performances MS
will be possible here. Whatever is done in
the foremost cities Of Europe can and will be
duplicated here. We will have grand opera
on the very grandest scale. / am hard at
work here, and my agent is in Europe getting
together such q company rs never has been
cqualcd in individuality or ensemble; and
If money will procure novelties for our peo-
pie, novelties they shall see. Nine. Nils
son told you yesterday that she had signed
with me. | am proud Of her name at the
head of the list, and she will surprise all the
country next season with her singing and
acting. You will see at her concert tonight
that her place is not on the concert stage.
She cannot help acting all the time. With
her will be Nine. Scalchi, whom you have
Just heard; Campanini, and Vallerla,
whom you know well; Kaschman, n
great baritone; AIaini, basso; and l
am trying for Sembrich, Gerster,
Stagno (agreat tenor), and Signor Faccio, con-
ductor of La SCALA, who, if / engage HIM, will
bring his entire grand orchestra. l will have
all the costumes made in Europe. l will inn
port chorus and ballet, and in fact do every
thing in my power to excel all former oper-
attic ventures, This company, asiwell as Mr..
Irvings, will travel by special trains over the
whole country, In fact, Mr.. lrvings com.
pany will be obliged to use special trains be-
cause of the quantity of scenery and equip.
mcnts they carry. The opera company IL
booked at the National thoater for the week
of Feb. % next, when you will see if my ex-
pectatiOns are realized.
"Mr, Mapeson has accused me of under
mining his camp and recruiting from his
forces in an underhanded manner. 1t i,
scarcely worth denying, l assure you; but
perhaps had better say that nearly all his
company applied to me for engagement, and
some of them l have accepted"
NOTES.
Mr.. Raymonds engagement at the National
IL pnl1 .,tp11