The Dickinson press., 1890-12-27
PRODUCING AN OPERA.

PRODUCING AN OPERA.
MANAGER ARoNsoN TELLS HOW IT
IS DONE At THE CASINO.
Tho Preparation Takes Many wccks-How
h Parts Are Cast-How the Chorus Is
Divided and Costumed-Plans for Seem
cry aud Music-Many Rehearsals
To 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 l
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 II 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 ono for the contralto, and
so OF through the minor characters and
into the chorus. Instances frequently
occur i'll which it is necessary to employ
q double chorus, such as where, without
sufficient delay to permit a change of
costume, one contingent of young ladies
aunoNY in nm ccann nc roocortc opI ~,
the next as sailors. -.
Having assigned the characters and
selected the chorus, I have the music of
the parts photographed and a copy given
to each of the sopranos, tenors, con-
t%raltos, bassos and so on. The drill of
these people is continued until the vari-
q parts arc 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 tuno have thoroughly ac-
quired a knowledge of the music.
DRILLING THE CHORUS.
Of course it is desirable that a Choir
lister should be u trained musician to
start with; but sometimes a conductor
finds it less difficult to teach ono who is
entirely ignorant of music, from the
fact that such II one usually works in
dustriously, learning his task perfectly,
and rarely thereafter deviating from a
true rendering. The feminine portion
of a chorus is mainly selected for tho
voice and appearance.
The voice is the primary consideration
o-nn,p f1,a pooccr,1ip, ,,,or,1n,c l,,% ,,o
do make a point of assigning the charac-
tiers of soldiers to men of tall stature,
and those of civilians and peasants to
persons of ordinary height.
While the chorus ispursuing 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 a
rehearsal to decide upon the positions,
entrances and exits, arranging what is
technically known as the "business' of
the opera and forming effective and lict-
uresque groupings of the characters and
chorus. When this has been perfected
we rehearse the opera as a 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 OH until the construction of
the opera is completed and all its COM
ponent parts arc dovetailed together, as
one may say.
AS l consider the orchestra q 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. l 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 me 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 Co.'S
wig makers and boot makers
have taken the measurements of prin-
and chorus.
A week before the date of a 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 name should be selected to
represent court ladies, while arch,
piquant little bodies do nicely for wait
resses and peasants, and young ladies of
not too feminine proportions are given a
chance to wear q doublet and hose.
If it can be arranged on the night just
previous to a new work being brought
out, we give q full dress rehearsal, in
tending it to be in every department
equivalent to a first nights perform
ance, and we exert every effort to enable
the artists to have an unbroken rest on
the day of production. Such in brief is
the modus operandi of bringing out an
opera.-Rudolph Aronson in Kate Fields
Washington.
"A Famous Duck Hunter.
One famous duck hunter in Havre de
Grace is William H. Dobson, who has a
record that is unsurpassedin the history
of the river. His enthusiastic admirers
contend that as a duck shot his equal
does not exist, and his reputation is
world wide. MI. Dobson has a record
of $40 ducks killed in one day. He
performed this feat in 1884, and it has
never been equaled. He is a native of
Hauro do Graca and 10 ro..x ala.4 20