New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-25
THE OPERA HOUSE QUESTION
OPINIONS FOR AND AGAINST CLOSING.
TALKS WITH HENRY CLEws. LUTHER KoUNTzE'
We COMMON AND ELBEIpeE T. GERRY.


pouse will or will not DO closed next season is
still omen. There is strong sentiment on the
Affirmative side and an Enthusiastically powerful
feeling on the negative but there is still large
number Of the stockholders who are yet undecided
rs to which is the wiser coursue to purse, and
these apparently represent influential an Gle
ment as either of the other two classes. This
complicatcs the situation and makes 1t impossible
10 predict what the outcome will be.
Inquiries similar to those published in this
paper yesterday continued among the stock
holders last evening by TRIBUNE reporters, with
the result Of obtaining the most divergent and
opposing views on the subject
MR.. CLEws STRONGLY ,GAINsT CLOSING.
OF those who bnd fully decided that 1t would
be better to lave opera next season, Henry Clews
and Luther Kountae may serve us representatives
Said Mr.. Clews,
Oh we must not think OF taking such radical s'cp %
that involved In closing beautiful opera houSe'
would be going far-too far entirely IL is NOV
1t would be unwise for various reasons tna' nav r,
time to specify at present There are o'nef a,
ean be done which will ,emedy matters IN my judgment
What for exsmplei Well, In the first places o0''o
these great German operas are TOO long 1no' "H ~.
there till after midnight 1t Is Ike gong ~ "
witness one OF them For this reason they deies' IN
measure the very object Of their eustence-that Vi
nent Let them DO cut down so that we can get ou =!
say II O'Clock Secondly 1t might DO wen 70 introduce
l
This In depreci the magnificent operas we nave WI"
messed am simply urging that the management keep In
accord with public taste and wants hnother Poinlu
METROPOLITAN Opera House Is unQuesuonaoy grea'
National school, the finest II the world us innucco
A unmistaksbe as 1t is widespread and benehcent aha
% 40 Il would be great 1t being SCHOOLS
hold that 1t should be treated such by the state I"
the extent exempting 1t from taxation ms "ouu 70
material assistance that we should appreciate ano
ought 10 be extended Surely 1t is worth something 70 ho
such n
omen TO ALL is It mott Why, It Is one Of the great at
fractions OF New-York -,
Fourth let there be more enterprise displayed In the
management Let the place be used more for entertain
nents Let some such Mr.. McAllster De secureu
and let him opportunity TO display ms eAoepono
abilities for getting up those splendid and varie1 eh
tainments the public always appreciate anu
There Is constant danger OF every Individual anu WIZ
ration getting just like the STOCK marhe. nov"
, a % s,,r ,hinos IN, nut new and strike out
In new lines The Opera House is one really hreprooi
building. We can let our families go 'hefe i , "a
they will be perfectly safe IL "ouiu W WV 49,
6enrved OF IL, even for year.
Mr.. KoUNTzE SATISFIED WITH WHAT HAS BEEN
DONE.
Mr. Clews's feelings against closing the place
were shared by Mr.. Kountze who took q Droau
view of the question, saying: ,.-o,,..a
The effort and represented by the Meuopoii'ai'
Opera House large and important u DC 'leu "
narrow way Let not do so. For my part 'eei en-
a. 20, ,hint we have much to complain Of thus far ana
have great faith the future as have IN the puo
house is gaining in favor every year 1t "ou,u 10 -
pitv 10 interrupt its progress for the reason that Is
~, such a step We all aware OF the mhuehoo '"'
,,o nlca s exerting upon whole country In
yay There Is abundant evidence that the PUBIC apre
eiate IT, II there Is little falling on In 'he ro0ep
inst now why that must be expected by every ~ NJ
undertakes to cater the amusement OF the puoo' "
-, 80, ~ meet the wants OF people TO the utmost OF
on, .h,tv and trust them come TO the rescue ha'o
considered the whole question carefully anu "i ."'
oupb,v and heartily Of keeping the house open
" = CoSNoR TAKES A DIFFERENT VIEW
German opera has proved dismal failure
and if we keep on with it we snail 90 lhUo p"nf-
nptcy.n This is the way in which washington
T. Conner summed up the situation. MT. Ooh"ot
IOno had the lugubrious position Of Chairman OF
49, Enonco Committee of the American Opera
Comnanv and what lie did not learn OF the hnanciai
toorinc % matters operatic during the throes OF
oooIv through which that corporation as WEI,
os IL successor the National Opera COHUaany
~ jnitedC passed can well he imagined wien
n Gonnor was asked yesterday If he had gwen
the subject of Metropolitan Opera House dlain n'
and their relation to German opera ca roit%
sidcratiOn since the CIRCULAR W '"'
WAS issued he replied: ~.
I have We have had enough OF German opera o"o
,,orh,e ia tat the stockholders have not hah cea
abatement what the opera cost 90 NOT ",iA ~
n,onery managed. would like to see uet"'cu s'''0
. hs exnenses Of the opera Too high salaries nave oeo"
maid to German singers and is doubtful nthe oe' st
have been secured thew want young An" pi'
,ng IA ept do not take pas'e singers as some o
.mn,y oil here are. believe that German opera oo" 10
,un at los. OF pense IT has been stu IL mas oeen
and people are of it. lam not prepare' 10 say
I rould prefer English or Italian opera ~ SUI
.,,rte There should be detailed estimates H's''
So far as English opera Mr. Thomas furnished " 80
GOOD AN orchestra for tho American Opera Company as 'ho
metropolitan did for tho German opera ana inc
Of American Opera Company Tne
oronar which has been sent the stockholders presents
amply two alternatives German opera or ltaan ope" "
increased price Now believe that Itahan oper" ' 10
,nr,.bed At cs expense than German opera has been
oh IN saa detAiled estimate that am told ths' MI
ounan,n ia ready to furnish italian opera company
less cost than German company VIII ih'e'e ioAp
10 have his figures In few days ana then 'hsIe " 20
thing definite to base estimates on shoui" nNo SOC
Cannpanin give italian opera az inc "o'oP
House next season
Mr. Conpor went on to say that he thought the
management Of the metropolitan had Deeh 700 mu0n
Germanlzed. He added:
r shonld hold itself alol prepared TO give
whatever opera the stockholders desired whether
English or Italian everything Sc 10 nave ooo"
,,an over To the German Now IL vs. had ec'Ved 'he
support from citizens which we we're promise" mo
might have been some palliation ior 'hi' e'''' "
things But We have received It, II see inc
stra seats houss above the galleries neu nm
content Tor that the right kind Of opea oc
ing gwen You cannot Judge at all from the ooAes'
neve that the Metropolitan Opera House can DO maAH ~
as 10 bring in Large revenue for rents shou'u h'nA "
In the summer like the Thomas fopuai N'o''
be given aud thew the wings OF the louise ought
10 produce gre tier rentals.
MIR GERRY WOULD TRY ITALIAN OPERA.
Elbrdge T. Gerry, another stockholder' salo
that he favored decidedly the plan OF giving 10
opera next season, laying the $1,000 assessment
proposed and then producing Italian opera IN the
following season lilo SAID;
holders win have and they will save enough TO FOOT
Die bill for italian opera the following season. even at al
increase over the expense for German opera DON
believe going with German opera with an asseSSeh
OF a.. 200 box German opera costs TOO much And
then II Is heavy; IT costs great deal 20 mount It, do
think we have had much Wagner Well DON
know do know that German opera heavy and that the
boxes are tired OF H. The parQuet ants German opera