New-York tribune., 1884-02-27
WHOWILL SUCCEEDMRABBEY
THE MANAGEMENT OF THE OPERA HOUSE.
ERNEST GYE THE FIRST AND LEADING APPLICANT
PROBABILITY OF HIS SUCCESS.

PROBABILITY OF HIS sOICboo'
Mr. Abbeys determination TO withdraw from
the management Metropolitan Opera House after
this season. although positively announced only yester
day. was formed over month ago In fact, his mind was
pretty well made up before the close OF his fal and
winter here That he had arrived at decision OF
this kind well known TO those Immediately Interested
early In January. When Mr. Abbey reached the West ho
did not take any trouble TO conceal his state OF mind
the subject OF possible renewal Of his contract. Mr.
Mathews, the OF the company declared that
Mr. Abbey would not take the Opera House next season
for a gift. The fact ia that Mr.. Abbey would not
assume the management for another year un-
less he guaranteed from loss The di-
could not their way clear arrangement
of this kind, and Mr. Abbey theeupon said that he was
not applicant for the house. The dissolution
attended by the strongest feelings OF friendship and re-
spec on both sides. Mr.. Abbey expresses himself
much pleased with the way in which he has been treated
by the directors OF the Opera House. and they moro
than satisfied with the way in which he has performed
his part of the contract. Mr.. Abbey's influence
is such that the gentleman whom he recommended 10
the favorable consideration Of the directors will In all
probability be his SUCCESSOR That is Ernest Gye.
Through this action OF Mr. Abbey Mr. Gye the first
applicant for the house. He became such five six
ago. and negotiations by letter and cable have been
going on then with every prospect of conclusion
favorable to tho COvent Garden impresario. About
two weeks ago the Opera House people re-
ceived q written offer from Mr. Gye, outlining
the contract into which he willing to enter. This
accepted with several notifications memoran-
dun of these returned to England Whether or not
these notifications will be accepted at once or form
basis for further negotiations remains to be seen. What
the general character OF this contract cannot be learned
but 1t stated that It is altogether from the
which exists between Mr. Abbey and the directors
Mr.. Gye, who was the earliest I'm the field has proved
the most formidable competitor. The truth Is
that the applications of Charles Mapeson and
Maurice Grau were not seriously considered. Tho
directors believed that the younger MaplesOn simply
of straw put forward by the willy Colonel. who d.
the fortunes of the rival house. aud no amount OF
proestaton argument could convince them that the
leader of the Academy forces did not purpose to capture
through sraegem what he could not secure by Siege or
destroy by voleys OF carefully cOnned Campa-
mini treated with more consideration During his |
absence he was represented here by foreign nobleman
and the report lndustrOusy circulated that his ap
pication seconded by prominent continental man
ager, whose name was withheld.
1t is conceded by every familiar with the mat
that Mr. Gye Is so far ahead IN the competition hat
is not worth while to say who is second Mr. AbbeY's
opinion that Mr. eye was the best man the directors
could get had great weight win then Dut ifher man
this, il that Mr. eye has been able TO present
claims for decision In his favor that cannot Oe dsre
garded and which no other manager so iaf as kho"n
can match. As the manager OF COyent Garden IN
London he would be able, should he succeed In obtaining
the Metropolitan Opera House, to oheI TO al artists en-
gagged by him continuous season OF seven or elght
months out Of the twelve, the London season 0f two
months and half directly following the season OF hVe OF
months here. Under conditions like these he would
for the American alone Moreover the song birds
of Italian Opera prize London engagement above every
In their world OF art. Three years ago Nine Sembnc
was playing what are protest. onaly known as = snap
1oS yyd snccess sbe was abe 70 Sc.
cure engagement in 81. Petersburg Mr. Gye stands
Tnf o and M qIfr snnjis for the Meropotsn Opera
him on equal terms. II is stated that Mr. Mapleson
|
years. Hence importance IA attached to tax
House now in process of construction on the
Thames Embankment The best he can do it IS loudly
declared by the oOonS OF the Union square ana fouI
teenh cafes pilot opera company through
he provinces, which mean Liverpool Manchester Hnii'
Mr. eye stated when he was here last year that the
scenery properties ETC. owned BY MN ana m now & az 20 ~
vent Garden, were estimated ny ex ert 10 DE worm al
inside figure $4,000 or $4,000. He Is able prop
" do this either on one side OF TIE Atlantic
Or the other. by comparatively smm expenditure lOr
the directors OF the Opera House. who have al
ready expended nearly $l2OoOQ Ior iheH splendid @ TGt
has played with much favorable effect the promise
ompSseT Gnie I'M emitted TRe LIE Of the car w1ch
will be produced at Coyent Garden during the spring
Gough Mr. Gye would be the winner recalls the
asst year he was Mr.; A6bey's principal
nnounced, MI Gye said that the Meropoi-
an Opera House directors had treated hlin with mex
,cable business dscouresy He represented tnat when
preference given TO Mr.. Abbey tho negotiations
which lie had been conducting at point
he looked himself the future manager and
supposed the directors regarded him. The action
II the directors. IL is explained nOw arose from misdp
,rehensOn been noted that the Gye Maple
sph5 dates the former Failure in TINS pegotiaon
Mr. Mape5On has written 10 New York that ne VIII be-
,u his season April 10. How he has induced
me Patti to 20 with MIN Francisco IS the hardest
the musical gOssps have had 10 solve Tor
ong time is certain that Mapleson himself COM
uncated with Francisco and said tnat he could not
possibly bring Nine Patti and TIE California people made
III their minds to do without her. c
About sixty OF MI AbDey's people. orchestra and =
hOrIs arrived here yesterday. Baltimore and Washing
on where the opera is this week, DO not furnish sui
lent accommodation the stage and III the space ap
OrtiOned TO the whole OF Mr. ADbcys n
are company. The report goes that Campannl was gar
oied IN Cincinnati and robbed OF valuable watch and
hahn. "
one of the directors Metropolitan Opera House
aid last evening: There are four applicants Tor the
ouse aud their have been printed Nothing has d
cen settled yet We want good opera and the man who
an satisfy best the character of the performances
g viii give will be tue successful man. We had good i
DeTa this year. We want better opera next l.
ear. There was meeting OF the directors O
eserday. The FROM the circulars calling for the
idtiOna subscription OF $4,000 from each stOckOlder
ere examined and IL found that many more than q,
ne requisite fOur-fths had responded favoraby. In
lct, the response was practically unanimous