The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1885-01-25
A tour BEHIND THE SCENES.
srs-FittinG Over Worth Dress-s-A Terra
Cstta Vase Made 60 sna~ sk-V-avy Armer
-Mahsss che naas Ter wetaa's Chavtes.


Board OF Directors OF tho Metropolitan Opera
House. as he sat In his Office the other day dis
cusslng with o Sun reporter the expenses
which season Of opera involves, think that
q packed house on tho first night OF new
opora means already good margin OF profit to
the management. But II takes a number Of
representations to crowded houses TO cover tho
outlay. Lot us consider, for instance. the pro-
duction OF The Prophet There we had In
addition to tho fixed charges. such as $3.50 for
the orchestra and tho percentage OF singers
salaries which each performance is supposed
TO bear. extras like new stage properties cost
Ing 5000. skaters STE. children $25 supers $780,
ballot and pages 4125. and stage band Sl75
The canopy under which John Of Leyden walks
In the coronation scene alone caused us con-
siderable outlay. It Is Historically correct
copied from that borne over Charlemaane
whom he was crowned The original In now In
a European museum. To construct the copy
usud hero wo had to purchase numerous silver
and gilt trimmings. yards OF satin and Canton
flannel. twonty yards Of lace. and dozen o.
rich plunies."
Then from the various operas you have
produced this season you must have costumes.
armor and 30 on. enough to ut out an army?"
said the reporter.
I'VE have about $3.50. 900 worth OF scenery,
costumes. and other properties behind the
scenes" was tho reply. II you would like to
see them and observe the system on which al
fairs are conducted in that part OF tho house
shall be happy to show YOU over tho building"
Such n tour being one OF discovery for the
reporter. he assented. and n few moments later
he was cond cted down Il narrow flight OF stairs
to a floor on a level with the stage. Proceed
ings there" said the guide are regulated on
tho Quaker meeting plan. Tho building on
this THE Fortieth street. side of the stage is as
signed to tho female employees; that on the
other side. barring the portion devoted to the
dressing rooms. 10 the male employees This
exits to and from tho stage. 30 We have space
only for the elevator shaft and tho miscel,,
lane2us propsrty room Here ID the latter.
As the reporter entered the room he STUN
bled over big terra Gotta vase 1t fell and as
four large pieces. As the Secretary seemed
uneoncerned, the reporter called his attention
You see how well they re adapted to their pur.
pose. That's one OF the Jars which Is shivered
Saturday natinis in tho explosion scene of
The Prophet 1t stands on n PEDESTAL and
when the Sxposion occurs some na g onr poke, mt
s9p i SON" In this room Lohsnsrin's swan is
nr scene Of PIT the Prophss and is npparenty
about to make u dash for the str ng OF sausaxss
in tho same scene. when not ilgnring on tho
stage, suspended from the point OF tho stan OF
one OF inc banners WHICH grace the DdckgTOuuu
at, the Contest of Song at the wartburg. in
"Tannhauser."
On tho next floor there is at ono side OF the
hall a large anartment called the linen room.
In which number OF women are usually busy
sewing toIether strins 81 canvas IVA, Tor scenic scenic
for the female chorus. Hanging hooks are here
reserved for each member. upon which she will
find tho costumes for the evenings or after
moons performance arranged in their order.
Above these are the ballet rooms. similarly ar
ranged. Another flight OF stairs brings the Wis
itor to the first Of tho two floors reserved for
Ina costume department.. In room to the left
OF the department. Is constantly epgnged with
some tnit'y assistants making now costumes
ara the the ras the
c"sets d amd % this
to the costumes Of tho chorus and ballet. the
latter latter to thois of TIE p,pcpas. There Is
tSe ana ef Tns Miss Berg
eraliv by 4 O'clock has had the costumes for
the evening sent down stairs in the elevator
and hung on the proper hooks in the chorus
dressing rooms OF the principais: .After the
The next morning each costume is inspected.
mended II necessary. and then put away. Miss
These" said Miss Berg in quick response.
opening two drawers and spreading out a pro-
and des worn 'h last sss
son respectively by Sembrich and Nilsson
a s SS by
company ?" querisd the reporter. -,
As lar AS possible we reft them We could
were made by Worth while the eostumss for
the maze principals came from Milan. But it
these German singers. They seem II stronger.
NOR more sta wart race than tho Italians. Here for
IoIe,.griin and two f"irana,J Costumes. One One
setwas for Campanini and Kaselman last year.
the other for Schott and Blum. We have to
make everything new Tor them she contip-
ned. with an air OF cheerful resignation. !" In
this drawer" 3nenijng aRolhsr keep AL the
solves, 80 that they won't exert their evil infiu-
ence between performances
have all the costumes historically correct.
whereupon Miss Berg made dash with one
Raaea on se Of so"Taa pass .ns
come Tor every opera When new work is 10
calculate how much OF the materials required
need, and give my orders accordingly" She
added that there was now already $50. 900 worth
OF costunes under her charge.
From the costume department the SECRETARY
led the reporter down again TO the third floor.
Passing through large carpenters room, the
flies. the gallery IRON which the drop scenes
are worked was reached, The view from here
puileys. Gagged gas jets, and so forth The re-
porter could lust catch a glimpse of DR.. Dam
rosch leaning back in the conductors chair
and beating time to n rehearsal OF the ballet in
La JnIVa." whie now and then ballet girl.
W. IN T Ssnxy SkT sranxSy con-
bonnet. was disclosed 10 view
The flies on either side of the stage are con-
necteu ny mo paint DflnEe AT the btck. ms
bridge. from which the drops are painted.
moves up and down ike the platforms on
which house painters stand. A good view Of
the grdiron-the frame work directly under
the roof aud 100 feet above he stage-is had
from tho bridge, Directly after leaving the
bridge. on the Thirty ninth street side of the
house. the modelling room is reached At the
time the reporter visited it one OF the ON
ployees was modelling the rams which draw
the chariot of Hotdn in = The Waikyre." and
another was At work on huge rs-plnce Tor
general use. Further on was the scenic art
lists room with small model of the stage on
which he projects the scenery in miniature. to
DO afterward transferred to canvas. graduated
on scale prorortoned TO that Of tho model
In another room large thick leather gloves
We're being sewod into hand nrmor. The
sup"rs a. the performance Of The Prophet
last night" explained the reporters guide
tore the gloves out Of the gsuntlets and
walked of with them so We have
TO sew new gloves IN for the next
representation OF the opera. A chamber
full o! artificial plants was adjoining
and then came the armory. which looked like
adepartmeDt in European museum Brightly
polished helmets; breastplates swords, Ian oes
ahuin md Int. Itrn 4 Ito