The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1890-12-25
I PRODUCING AN OPERA,
MANAGER ARoksoN TELLS HOW IT
+ IS DONE AT THE CASINO.

MANAGER ARoksoN TELLS HOW IT
IS DONE AT THE CASINO.
Tho Prcparation Takes Many Weeks How
the Parts Are Cast-How the Chorus Is
cry and Music-Many Rehearsa1s.
70 the uniformed the placing of an
opera upon the stage may seem a COM
paratively trifing matter, but it is
really alaborious undertaking, involving
months Of preparation. AS soon as I
have decided what my next production
is to be my scene painter, stage manager
and musical conductor are called into
consultation. The painter immediately
constructs the models of the scenery
called for, while the others and myself
begin our consideration of the score.
Playing over the music, we decide upon
the proper allotment of the principal
roles. This gentleman for the tenor,
that one for the bass; this lady for the
soprano, that one for the contralto, and
so on through the minor characters and
into the chorus. Instances frequently
occur in which it is necessary to employ
a double chorus, such as where, without
sufficient delay to permit change Of
costume, one contingent of young ladies'
appear in one scene as peasants and in
the next as sailors.
Having assigned tho characters and
selected the chorus, I have the music of
the parts photographed and copy given
to each Of the sopranos, tenors, con-
traltos, bassos and SO on. The drill Of
these people is continued until the vari-
GUS parts are fairly grounded by the
conductor, after which he turns them
over to an assistant, who continues the
task until those who have the least sense
of time and tune have thoroughly &C.
quired knowledge Of the music.
| - DRILLING TIE CHORUS. t,-
OF course it is desirable that Choir
lister should be trained musician to
start with; but sometimes conductor
finds it less difficult to teach one who is
entirely ignorant Of music, from the
fact that such a one usually works in
dustriously, learning his task perfectly,
and rarely thereafter deviating from
true rendering. The feminine portion
| of a chorus is mainly selected for the
voice and appearance. 49,
/ The voice is the primary consideration
I among the masculine members, but we
do.make a point Of assigning the charac-
tiers Of soldiers to men of tall statidre,
and those of civilians and peasants to
persons of ordinary height. ~
! While the chorus is pursuing its labors
with the assistant the conductor devotes
his attention to the principals, and after
each person has had Individual rehears-
ing the duos and trios are brought to-
gether and rehearsed until they have
mastered everything.
At about this period we usually call
rehearsal to decide upon the positions,
entrances and exits, arranging what is
technically known as the ''business" Of
the opera and forming effective and pict~
uresque groupings Of the characters and
chorus. When this has been perfected
we rehearse the opera as whole, and
by this means the principals learn where
their music occurs in the action of the
play and the choruses discover where
their work fits in.
So we go on until the construction of
the opera is completed and all its COM
ponent parts are dovetailed together, as
one may say. .
AS consider the orchestra most i'm
portant factor of the success of any
opera, forming the basis upon which
the whole fabric is built, this depart
ment demands and receives my par
ticular attention. have the members
of mine brought together about midway
in the preparation for a new production
FINAL REHEARsALs.
While all this has been going on the
scene painter has been busy in his de-
partment, the property men have been
preparing the appointments, the car
penters have devised the mechanical
contrivances, and the gas engineer.has
arranged for the proper distribution of
the lights and the colored mediums or
glasses by means of which he can pro-
duce certain desired effects. The cos
tuners, wig makers and boot makers
have taken the measurements of prin-
cipals and chorus.
A week before the date of produc-
ton order a dress rehearsal, so that
each partaker can be individually in
spected, and changes that are advisable
can be made at once. A good deal Of
discretion and good Judgment is neces-
sary to a manager in distributing the
various parts to persons who will effect
lively fill them. Physical fitness must
be considered.
Thus, women of elegance, dignity and
repose Of manner should be selected to
represent court ladies, while arch,
piquant little bodies do nicely for wait
resses and peasants, and young ladies of
not foo feminine rronnrf-ions aro oriuor a