New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-10-11
NEHLG.
OPERA SUNG BY AMERICANS.


The official prospectus Of the operate enter
prise in which Theodore Thomas business manager
Charles L. Locke. and Mrs Thurber concerned was
is'ucd yesterday. 10 adds ttie to tho Information
which the readers Of THE TRIBUNE have received from
time to time but contains exposition OF the purposes
and aims the projectors ia addition full
the plan, Tor IN" aud brief sketches OF
the artists ami others engagei-ust such Information
as those who contemplate subscribing for seats agd
boxes desire TO have. IL Is perhaps not without slgud
canoe view OF some OF the criticisms that have found
way into pr.nt that the pamphlet speaks OF the in
st,utlou rs Opera sung by Americana" instead Of
the American opera" heretofore. Tue amended
phrase somewhat clumsy. but t avoids the objection
all the operas TO Dee given tho works Of foreign
comvoser and that several Of the persons concerned In
the different department, 81 the enterprise
Americans ON thi, point the announcement says:
For tucs, representations number OF American sing
cls most % whom we're born IN the United states
have been gagged IhSy have been selected Tor tner
musical training, their experience In opera. and their
0litDty Ion the rors "i the repertoire chosen ~ tNe
Singers not born "a America II NAV fairly be- said that
bJ education ncd nf labor and length of residence thoy
arc a> truly American a. M eluA hHn"er ot me ior'
most AmeIcdu-burn ,lr ger, 10 %" company who have
lived abroad unrhaf OF their lives. /, has been doomed
only desirable bat 10 has boon FELT 10 be Just ta1t
broa ly American srt should animate the "irc, ton ot
we have above made. The plan upon which its based
IL 80 thoroughly national ant rs rNreuton ~ chrac
nuruce.
undertaking National character auJ " conupc, with
a training school, looking b tho uiyaucc-
mcnt OF American music Ia the rrt OF
creation well - Interpretation Is thus discussed IN
the prospectus:
while recognizing al that we owe to European artists
mas been strongly felt that the has Tor
America herself from that absolute Deepen
dco upon forri talent which has marked her musical
hitherto. THIS dependence large prevented
her from taking that rank ~ the musical world which
son.c of her dignity aud knowledge Of the ex-
msht have aDundantiy Justified That In the MY NIL
lions OF hcr uhabi ants there should not he found sui
c-nt untIyc talent 60 warrant the establishment OF
Nuuona tousrINatOcy or even Of National Opera, Is.
upon the 'acc OF a. absurd fet both nave remained In
abryuucc 100 the grcvols OF the whole community
7rNu'oP ol hu7' America mas none anu u Inc plle
which In other lands Sor's IN the tai n, each produces.
ana si1y ana POuIy Affords u every L''Iilty Ior us
drNt.Ophtht' We nave opposed IN apa'hy ana lhHcr-
rucc. II - tmrutab.c that, Iu the absence of all
loual encouragement. Americans should have had TO
seek am p'H 'h' ,oH'hIH 3i career denied 10
them at home, and 90 strive. under toIoin ruc', to
closed 10 th'Ih lh tAr'r naive IhI. All houor To ie
muuy who. In the face OF these difficulties have tr-
unphsd over every Obstacle. aud hyo nIdo for them
, ,, ',, i, - , Wi, ' mn, "fc 10
abundance OF the most admirable material for tho
production al Opera. no ona at all conyerssn with the
subject can doubt
To the names that appeared I'm tho preliminary an.
uonuccmcnt Published several weeks ago. have been
added those Of Miss Kate Bcnebcrs. OF ~. LoIj-
prtno; Nttmldo Mullcubach, formerly Of Cincinnati
coutrtito; and Edward J. Mthoucy ard William II.
Hamutou. bt-ses. The list %, operas from which
rcpcrtory OF ten works VIII be chosen remains
changed The subscription representations VII! consist
forty evening, between January and Apu H. l~O6
Forte wcck, hors viii 40 three subscription perform
each week. ana tor 1.-Two vcehs there Will De
each week. The performances ON saturday afternoons
viii not De included IN tho subscription. Al the same
tmc subscribers have th' option Of securing the boxes
aud the performance, NJ the subscription
price subscriptions VIII bc received the Academy OF
Music ouud after October % and tho following schedule
OF prices has boon Nxcd: