Telegram-herald., 1889-05-10

TIE 4l4tlALF pl car Aulcl tcstu mi c7st4 - 70
fllll his engagement. IL Was ny own Aud
wIes dream 10 establish an Eugllsh opera
company Ia America, and during the rrst
three years cur novel experiment was siugu
larly successful Ia lsG0 80 veuturod L. take
our singers % California over the lsthmus ot
Panama, returning by coach across the CONT
nent We cOatrlYed - give thirteen con
certs during our tiresOmo journey,
reached Virginia City when the " Nhito
Pine silver mine excitement was aE
It's height and spent four days with
Brigham Young al the Salt Lake, The sea-
SONS OF 1871 aud lss2 were very exciting ones
in the States. Nilsson was there with an
Italian opera company there was ako a con
cert combination formed by Santley, Cum
mings Nine Patey and Miss Nynne and /
had organized a very strong company for
English opera just as the contest was on
the point Of commencing Wachtel, the great
German tenor, unexpectedly arrived, and II
became matter OF supreme Importance 10
secure his services. / persuaded him 70 sign
an agreement two hours after be landed, and
met Mr. STakosch, NilSsons agent, coming
10 see him Us | left the room in triumph.
AS Wachtel could neither sing IN English
or Italian, | found him practically white
elephant, 50 formed German company
which played at the Bowery theatre, while
my English troupe was performing at the
Academy. A little later put all my forces
together, and organized an Italian opera sea
son with immense success. In lS12 l was Of
fered the post Of conductor at the Imperial
opera in ST. Petersburg, but | preferred TO
accompany my vile 10 Cairo. La the course
OF my eight years travels | came scathless
out Of a railway accident and collision at
sea. On returning 10 England we first tried
our fortunes with English opera IN the prov
inces, and, encouraged with the success We met
with, finally prepared 10 produce 'Lohengrin
at Drury Lane. The death Of my wife put an
end 10 the project, and 1t was not till Sep
tember, 1919. that l opened and with very
satisfactory result concluded seven weeks
season at the Princess. This was followed
by tours in the provinces and seasons at the
LyceuIn and Adelphi. In January, 1879,
migrated TO Her Majesty's theatre and
brought out 'Mignon,' Aida and 'Lohen-
grin Next year | produced 'Tannhauser
on very extensive scale. l should hardly
like 10 say how much II cost me, but for the
four Wagner operas which were played In
the same season l engaged "A leading artists,
"a chorus of CD persons. u ballet of 40 dancers,
an orchestra Of 20 musicians and over 100 su-
pernumeraries. In 1883 'Esmeralda' and
COLOMBIA were put successfully on the
stage at Drury Lane and last year they were
followed by The Canterbury Pilgrims
4 can now fairly say that English opera
rests at last on "a firm basis. IL has almost
become u national institution, and | have
little fear of its future for IL has somehow
or other managed to outlive all It's compete
tors At the present moment think am
almost the only manager who Is playing
grand opera without extrancous help-a diff
cult, if not an impossible, task aS far as most
European capitals are concerned. | have
bad the rare satisfaction Of seeing two Of my
English operas produced on tho continent
and the names Of such English composers a.
Goring Thomas, Nilliers Stanford and Mac
keuzie ara now known from one end OF EU
rope to the other II l have in any way
helped 10 bring about all this and 70 secur,
the permanency Of English opera, l am more
than satisfied