Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-02-26
NEWS OF THE WORLD.
A Grand Plan of American
Opera.
TROUBLE IN CENTRAL AMERICA
Some Chance of the Wickersham
Murderer Being Delivered to
California.

Murderer Being Delivered W
California.
Special 10 the Herald bvthe Assocfdfed fTes'
New YoRK, February GA bus
ness meeting of the stockholders oil IN
American Opera Company was heid
the National Conservatory oil MUSIC
l2S East Seventeenth street, this even
ing. There was great enthusiasm. AM
it is the purpose to give. opera in Eng
lish and by native artists. Abundan
Indie ations were afforded that the new
enterprise was already an assured finan
cial success. Reports were presented
showing that responsible parties IL
leading cities OF the country have asked
far contracts for operas at fixed rates ex.
tending for q year from the end of thii
season. The details OF closing con
tracts, forming definite plans for the
next two years and the election of per
manent officers Of the company
was referred to special committees
to report at an adjourned meeting. An
address explaining the history and
purposes of the organization, prepared
by Mrs. Jeanette M. Thurber, was
read and placed upon the minutes. The
address is as follows:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.-Our pros
pectus states that while we recognized
all we owe to European artists, the
time had come for America to free her.
self from absolute dependence upon for
eign talent: that national conservatory
and national opera remained in abey'
ance, to the great loss OF the entire com.
munity; that while every petty State
of Europe was in possession of these ad.
vantages, our land had yet to make the
first steps towards the possession Of
either, and finally that as consequence
of our seeming apathy and indifference
the most musioally gifted OF our
people had seen abroad, under
foreign names, tho commencement
of careers otherwise denied them. This
was painful admission, but as true as
painful. Well. we made the first steps.
History demonstrates that if people are
to be impressed with the value of any
thing they must see 1t, not in theory but
in practice. Hence the simultaneous
origin of the national conservatory and
American opera" The opera is but
the presentation in part Of what lies be-
yond itself, and in this sense is the out
come of the school" The sympathy
between the two things, though they are
entirely distinct, is perfect. The school
is designed to offer to the best
voices in America the best training we
can give them. But such q school,
without an outlet. in which the best
pupils that it trains may, at the termina-
tion of their studies, commence with
honor the career for which they have
been educated, would be thing un-
heard of in the history Of music. The
American opera supplies the need thus
indicated, though its advantages are by
no means restricted in this. IL is and al.
ways must remain in the power Of the i'm
pressario to gather together all elements
from whatever quarter that may con-
duce to the success OF the enterprise he
directs. He il in no way limited to the
resources furnished by the school,
but he is bound to ignore no real
talent that it offers, and 10 assign
to the possessor OF such, the roles at his
disposal when not imperatively claimed
by the superior ability OF others. Thanks
TO the genius and ability of Theodore
Thomas, to the energy of his able mana
ger, Charles K. Locke. and to the assist
ance Of few public-spirited citizens
whose generous sympathies were supple
mented by financial aid, there has been
gathered together from all parts Of the
United States within " single year the
material for Grand Opera Company.
This more or. less crude mate.
rial has been, with infinite time,
patience and judgment, 50 trained
that the results have been frankly hailed
by the press and people with expressions
OF astonishment and delight. The mise
en- scene, costumes and accessories are
acknowledged an artistic success. They
are of American manufacture, from work
shops established for the express pur.
pose, which have furnished employment
to hundreds. The orchestra is unri-
vailed, the chorus exceptional, the
ballet graceful, and finally, the
star system having been discarded
as opposed to the educational principle
upon which the opera is established,
the solo artists are, II not of transcend
ent excellence. at least deserving Of
every encouragement for the talents ex-
hibited and the results achieved.
Enough has already been accomplished &C
to demonstrate that many things which
q year ago were considered impossible
were in reality feasible and are to-day
fact. 1t is evident that with moderate
encouragement the American opera will
become permanent, useful and benefi-
cial institution. This has Induced
some of its most active supporters to
advocate its incorporation with a
capital of $750,000. Tho desirability of
interesting large number of persons in
an enterprise Of this nature with liza
bility limited to the amount OF stock
taken would be evident in any case, but
considering the spirit and purpose of the
entire effort such incorporation assumes
a character almost Of necessity. 1t is.
therefore, with a sense of the deepest
satisfaction that am able to
announce the consent Of Messrs.
Thomas and Locke to the transfer
of their interest aud services in
the enterprise. With this we have the
qualification of knowing that more thsn
half of the capital stock has been taken
within the last four weeks and the bal
ance will be placed as may be required.
1t is gratifying also to note that finan-
cially-though this has been an after
consideration = the venture has every
prospect of proving successful, notwith-
standing that the only open dates at the
Academy of Music were opera nights at
the Metropolitan, and that German
opera, admirably rendered, drew de.
servedly large audiences. Still
the reception that American opera has
met upon its first appearance has been
even more generous than anticipated.
Assurances are already received by
Messrs Thomas and Locke to indicate 3
yet warmer reception throughout the
States. The scenery being used and in
preparation is constructed with view
TO transportation. The public every.
where warmly favor the enterprise, and
exceptionally liberal support is in many
places already assured. 1t only remains
for me now to earnestly solicit your per.
sonal interest and hearty cooperation in
the effort to establish permanently and
worthily the two great works that have
been brought before you. They are un.
dertaken in spirit as broad as that Of
music itself. advocating no special policy
and being the slaves Of no special school.
We wish like these United States to ex-
tend the hand Of welcome to all. We
aim in producing the best works Of the
best composers Of every land. We are
convinced that so doing we shall assist
more efficiently than by any other
method the evolution Of what talent
and musical genius may exist among the
60,000.000 of our people. America
holds to-day her fitting position in the
domains of science and letters. We be-
lieve she only needs such help as we are
now indicating to do herself equal honor
In the domain of music,hy pursuing this
broad policy. We appeal as strongly
to the patriotism Of our adopted
fellow citizens as to that of
those born upon American soil. In,
deed, the passing Of a single generation
makes Americans of us all, and ii is for
our children, and our children's children.
- A