New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-17
TROUBLE Nv A coSsERrAToRY OF MUSIC
A RUPTURE OVER THE MANAGEMENT OF 1T
BETWEEN MRS THURBER AND NJ.
BOUHY THE DIRECTOR

There is trouble, lots OF IT and serious at the Ma
onal Conservatory of Music. In ore aspect Of the
case IT seems to have arisen from conflict OF
authority, but is usual in such cases II is more
than likely that shortness Of funds has something
10 do with H. Mrs. Thurber and Monsieur Bouhy
are out The latter nominally the director of
he school till last Friday. What he is now is not
.lesr. There has been a tender OF a resignation of
. provisional sort and Monsieur Bouhy tails of sail
ng for Paris December 20. Meanwhile the Opera
Class which is under the immediate care Of the
director, threatens to depart likewise If the director
goes. holding that The contracts between its mem
bes and the school compel them TO recognize Monsieur
BOuhy as the director.
One version of the difficulty which came TO a
climax last Friday states that though under the
organization of the school, evidenced by all the
printed announcements to pupils, Monsieur Bou-
by is endowed with fun and sole authority
as director. Mrs. Thurber has proceeded If her
authority supreme, has engaged teachers,
Mr. Josefy, for instance without consultation with
the directors, and done many other things to embar
the workings of the institution The most artis
tic and promising feature of the school is said TO be
the opera class already mentioned. 1t is fifty or
sixty strong, and nearly all the members Joined 1t
under the plan which gives the pupils tuition free for
the time being they in turn signing contract agree
ing to pay the treasury of the Conservatory 20
per centum of their earnings above $1,000 year
Is paid The class has number of talented members
who are within six months Of graduation. and 1t Is
thought that their employment Will yield handsome
sum 70 the Conservatory In the class is not
broken up
Another agreement between the members OF the
class and the Conservatory is that they are not TO
sing in public without permission Of the directors
II vas this regulation which caused rupture between
Mrs Thurber and Monsieur Bouhy. MOI
man and wife, came TO the director
and told him that they had been offered an engage
ment sing at concert, and that they were III
gctual need OF money to pay their board Monsieur
Douhy gave them permission 10 sing, and they ana SO
successfully. Then Mrs. Thurber wrote note 10
Mons eur Bouhy, in which she took him to task ior
permitting the pupils to sing, and Informed INN tEet
She had made arrangements with Mr.. GeHche 10 give
the whole class a public hearing at once TINS itd
20 a meeting, at which Monsieur Bouhy urged MS
right know OF such arrangements and asserted MS
rights as director An unpleasant controversy iOl-
lowed and Monsieur BOuhy sent In his resignation.
His legal right retire from the school is contested
II Is said that he cannot go with his work with
dignity and that Mrs. Thurber does not want him
TO Meanwhile the pupils sadly broken up al
the turn affairs have taken and refuse TO be com
forted, though Mrs. Thurber told one pupil that the
German Opera at the Metropolitan Opera House need
ed his voice. and, in fact would go 10 pieces without
H. and encouraged another 10 seek employ till
next fan, when he could return and resume his
studies under a director, who would be none
other than Monsieur Charles Gounod, the composer
of Faust