Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-05-15
AN AMERICAN SCHOOL OF OPERA.

, AN AMERICAN SCHOOL OF OPERA.
OF late the papers have been almost
overburdened with stories about Maple
son and Mile Nevada and their quarTels.
From an-interest in their affairs at first,
the public have come to look upon their
pickering with disgust; and properly SO,
too. Mile Nevada's course has been al
most as blamable as that of Maple
son, and were she not an Ameri-
can, all interest in her and
her voice would long ago have
ceased. The trouble in part, if not
wholly, has arisen from the fact that
when American girls have had superior
voices it has been necessary for them to
go to Europe to have them trained With
the usual European maestro, singer is
looked upon as an inferior creature, who
is to be used merely as means of making
money. Nevada's quarrel with Mapleson
will suggest to every one the treatment
which Marie Van Zandt received in Paris
but recently. This also was the result of
American girls being compelled to 60 to
Europe for vocal education for opera or
the concert. But it is pleasing to know
that soon there will be in New York an
American School of Opera, where all can
receive the best of instruction without
being subjected to insult. The
new school is being started |
by Theodore Thomas, who will be musical
director, Chas E. Locke, manager, and
Arthur A. Vivian. AS these gentlemen
say America presents the spectacle of a
nation enthusiastically appreciative of
real excellence and culture;' and vet
America has no school where this vocal
excellence and culture can be had. "But
the School and the Incentive have
alike been lacking heretofore. The
time, it is considered, has arrived
when a movement may and should be
made towards supplying both," and the
gentlemen above named have under
taken to supply them. That our public :
may know what are the plans and scope
OF this undertaking, we shall tell it in the
language of those who have started the
movement.
First-The Academy of Music has
been leased for a term sufficient
to admit of fifty representations
of opera being given by native-born Am
erican artists. These Representations will
be commenced on January the fourth
next.
Second-The spontaneous offer of his
services by Mr.. Theodore Thomas without
emolument of any kind, is a proof alike
OF his own warm appreciation of the {
scheme, and of the invaluable as
sistance it will receive. .
Third-The management has been con- ?
Stltuted with view to the highest at
tainable efficiency in every detail of busi- ,
ness and organization.
Fourth-Prizes will be offered for the
best Libretto and the best Opera. the
competition being restricted to candidates
born in the United States. -...
Fifth-The Associated Artists of New =
York will be entrusted with all that ap- i
pertains to the mise en- scene.
Sixth-The best known, and other
4rtists of American origin. are 70
icing communicated with. Teachers Of -
landing will be invited, periodically
recommend pupils whose abilities indi- n
ate special aptitude for musical career.
'uring the present year, such accented
uplls Will be placed from the first of Sep 1T
'mber under the best masters in vocal =.
m, dramatic acting, fencing, dancing. =
I'D all that contributes to the formation -
an accomplished artist. No charge w
III be made for the tuition of any appli- W
mt
observation-disclosures should be in New -,
ork by September 1st. 1t will he nec- y
'sary that they should defray their own i
expenses other than those of tuition until M
le following January. After the fourth "'
that month a regular salary will be
ald to them; formal contract will ba
ltered into; and, in the cases of those
nose talents shall be found to warrant =
an opportunity viii be at once offered -
the assumption of important roles.
The following are some of the Operas
cluded in the repertoire of the Schools
st season: Faust, Oberon, Figaro =
ylng Dutchman, Martha, Orpheus T"
erry Wives of Windsor, Lohenprin
1genots, ETC." -
This shows the aim of the new school to ii
d II carried out successfully, which it
doubt will be, it will give us national 9
era In America, such as the Grand
era is to France and Bayreuth is to .
fmany; Milan to Italy and Madrid to ca,
on' Musical talent is almost uni M o0-
sd In America, but is latent for want
proper training, and the want of
per training has arisen from the want Nc
proper school in which If could ha iHu
l. This want is now to be supnlieJ
IN few years America will have No
q 70 import artists to render in Doo
per manner the works of the oroo+ Mai