The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-01-22
FUTURE OF GRAND OPERA.
AN INTELLIGENT MANAGER WHO
SEES NOTHING ENCOURAGING.
Bulk OF tho Blame Laid at the Door OF
Ungenerous Critics and the Popular
Craze for Tank Plays. Minstrel shows
and Other Cheap Attractions.

tue NlNlliaNh WIN
In the light Of history, as made during
the past twenty years, the question is
easily answered: II has none, except TO
90 down on the records rs something that
has existed, but filled its chapter, run its
course and sunk from view.
81 challenge any one to cite me an
opera organization, on anything like u
pretentious scale, that has proven success
ful within the past twenty years, mourn
fully remarked Mr.. Pratt, manager for
Miss Emma Abbott 10 knot OF inter
cstcd gentlemen, with whom he was in
conversation ut the Peabody Hotel ycsler-
day afternoon. He excepted OF course,
his own company, for that is notably one
exception TO the rule. II was while dis
cussing this success, aud contemplating
the future, that Mr. Pratt threw out the
challenge quoted. Following it mp with
the reasons which brought about this state
OF dubiousncss, lac said:
at is not alone in America that the de-
cline, II such il NAV be called, has SGT In.
know Of no country in the world whcro
it is hourshing. Grand opera is sustained
at Paris, Milan, Brussels, and in Havana,
but in all these cities II is subsidized. One
would naturally suppose that in New
York grand opera, on large scale, with
the most gorgeous effects, would be sue
ccssiul for a protraclcd season. Expert.
ence has proved 10 the contrary. For
short engagements am not prepared to
say the patronage would be inadequate;
on the contrary, incline TO the opinion
that II would. Take the disastrous venture
Of Mr. Abbey, n few years since. IIo
secured Patti and q strong company for
Italian opera in New York for eight per.
formancfs Tickets for choice seats we're
ST. The engagement closed, finding the
manager ahead some $4,000 The sue
cess turned his head 10 u continuation OF
tho triumphant enterprise. aud the con
tract was extended two weeks One week
was TO be- divided between Philadelphia,
Baltimore and Washington, then back
10 New York for the other The
heavy combination ran against ms at
Washington, with 'TrOyiata, .Ia ticket. |
put ON the same opera at our regular price Of
SlbO While We had q crowded house the
opposition played a. very small audi
cncc. When IL got back 10 New York.
those who had rallied 81 ils support In the
first instance shrugged their shoulders aud
failed to put IN an appearance. Mr. Abbey
came out on the extension about SlO.UlO
short. lie then sailed with Nine. Patti
for London, where hc was 10 give q season
oi Italian opera. There had been prarti-
cally none Of Il over there ior two or three
years, vet another failure rewarded him.
The American Opera Company is nn- |
other melancholy example There WAS an |
organization unparalleled for grandeur in
any country aud nj any period of history.
There WIS nothing lacking to mako iis
performances not only complete, but
superb. The people behind it wcn
wealthy and liberal, aud went into Il ~ an
evidence III their great love OF AIT and Ia
promote IN healthy growth. There were
no world renowned and priceless ftars in |
the company, but they wcC all gQsl, and |
gave magnificent productions In but one |
place did they make a winning, aud that
was Ia Philadelphia. The loss Sustained
10y the Onckcrs, all told, aggregated at
least ~. nO,OuO
The German opera now running nj
New York. IL "A heroic. but vain. effort 10
educate the people up IA a standard of
excellence la discriminating taste. IL las
Cnttilcd loss upon the Stockholders from
the start, aud see no reason 90 anticipate
a favorable change la the future There.
too, h Mccall, a martyr to unduly sanguinc
expectations lie started thrcc companies
out on the road, but has since dshindcd
two Of them, and do not believe has a
dollar laid mp Tor rainy day Carlton is
another, living only from year To year 80
!, Is with every Que You could mention as
having embarked IN the undertaking"
''llow do you account for it?' inquired
one Of the gentlemen. lis II not because
Of an unnecessary leakage somewhere
"No, ] DO not think fo at 40. 50 ar ~
have ever been able 90 learn, every dol
lar turned loose was for Legitimate OK.
pcnscs sud more complete equipment.
III tell YOU what, in my Judgment. Is at
the bottom OF it an. ltis the press The
companies aud their productions have
simply been burnt 10 death This was
notably the ease with the American Opera
Company, the published criticisms of
which ] followed closely throughout ~
career In every city thoy visited the
local critics merely followed In the foot.
STEPS OF thuse On tlic Now York pres. pro-
ton. This treatment. together with that
accorded other unusually heavy en-
tcrprises and my own, has convinced
me that the more prricntinus and OK.
nenslyc The attraction. the harhcr
the criticism. u docs not npp5lr 20 strike
the critics that un effort is merely being
made io raise the character or grade III
attractions, ioucyUmplish which thousands
upon thousands of dollars lrr invested.
observed another singular feature in this
rmrt, ON the umc page Of thc paper in
which these roasting criticisms appeared
wcrc glowing notices Of museums. freaks.
nnnomy shows, &c, notices oven tho
proprietor could not have improved
upon
"Thcn Il might be suggested that tho
favor ioT theso tank shows minstrel shows
and such like has something to do with
The decline u grand opera, suggested
one Of lho party.
With glance that iorcshadowcd ac-
qulrs,vnrc in thc view. Mr. Pratt said. II
rather think POO, and continued u bnyo
had pcoplg to protest against paying 81 .ai
and Sl.lp for q scat a. one II our pUrlorm
nnccs, Who think II IA perfectly lair ana
just 10 give up q dollar b. src the ordinary
run OF dramatic Productions They do not
once consider ihe proportion of expense
between the two. In a dramatic COMPANY
u Il only ncccaslry 10 have a good leading
nnn and woman, surround them with n
small end cheap support, aud the cNpcnsr
runs mp only q lew hundred dollar, Der
. week, whereas or expenses amount 10
about 5000 per week. That's the real
tifisreura lut thf 0t.,,... IT,. 49,