The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-01-04
NEW YORK's NEW OPERA.


New York Tribune.
After negotiations for three months Mr.
Henry e. Abbey has signed a contract with
the stockholders of the new Metropolitan
Opera house, now building at Broadway and
Thirty-ninth streets by which he is to have
absolute control of the house for one year.
The house is to be completed on the LIST OF
August and Mr.. Abbey will take possession
OF il on Oct. |. The opening will take place
on Oct. %. A Tribune reporter called on
Mr.. Abbey, at the Grand Opera house last
evening, to hear something about his plans
Il have finally succeeded" said Mr.. Abb
hey, in perfecting a plan upon which
have been working for some time ! have
already engaged two sopranos, Nine. Nilsson
and Mile. Valera. Del Puente will be one
of my baritones.
At this moment Mr.. Tillotson, Mr. Abbey's
business manager, entered the Office aud
handed Mr.. Abbey a cable dispatch from Sig
nor Campanini. 1t read as follows:
MILAN, Dec. 30.
Accept terms for seven months engagement;
sing ten times monthly. CAMPANISL
That makes one more" said Mr.. Abbey.
Il shall send my agent, ]. II. CoplestOn, to
Europe in about week to make other en-
gagements. ! have several persons in my
mind, but do not wish to mention any
names, as that may interfere with my plans.
l shall have three sopranos. | shall also
have full corps de ballet, although l have
not YET lliiue any movement toward securing
principals. My contract with the stock
holders provides that they shall give
me absolute control of the house
and shall pay for the complete production
of twenty operas The scenery will be
painted here and the costumes will be made
abroad. The scenic effects are sure to be on
a large scale, as the stage will permit US to
have drops 100 feet wide-the largest ever
used In this county. The stage is ninety
two feet deep and $50 feet ide from wall to
wall The house will seat 8, 100 persons. One
season will be divided into two parts, the
fall and winter season lasting about ten
weeks and the spring season about five. The
former season will begin with the opening
OF the house and the latter on March II. In
January the house can be let for balls, etc.
| am not restricted TO Italian opera, and shall,
therefore, give German opera at some time,
and probably French and English. The
house is not adapted to theatrical perform
ances, being too large, or | might give some.
Here is a telegram l received from Nine.
Nilsson"
The message read as follows:
Mime. Nilsson sends her congratulations to Mr.
Abbey on his securing the greatest opera-hOu5e
in the greatest city in the world.
81 intend" continued Mr. Abbey. "to have
a complete operate organization. | have not
engageda conductor yet, although l have one
in mind, and have already begun negotiations
with him"
will Nine. Nilsson sing on the opening
night?' asked the reporter.
II said to her johingly when l last saw
her, OF course, you don't care about sing
ing on the opening night; that will take care
OF itself She replied, III do not sing on
the opening night l do not sing at all. >"
Work on the new building is being rapidly
pushed, and the stockholders have not the
slightest doubt that the house will be finished
by Aug. l.