New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-20

To saw that the action of the directors OF The
Metropolian Opera House in setting aside ter
man opera next year has utterly cwlldcTcd the
patrons of that institution. is 10 state tine ease
with extreme mildnc.s. II has thrown them INTO
state OF CONSERVATION. Al all the representations
which have taken place since the fact was mao"
known, the audiences have taken occasion 10
testify their disapproynl of the step by payih5
extra tributes of applause 10 the artists ana call
ing ont Mr. Scdl 10 accept special gucrdon oil
appreciation. Among the subscribers who mum
her more than .0OOi tie feeling of disappointment
and INDIGNATION is intense. and since them attitude
toward the management /, a little closer than thal
of the General public. il viii be passing strange II
steps are not taken TO bring their condemnation
of the proposed new policy cmphall'ally t. the
attention of the stockholders Naturally they
feel that a march has been stolen on them, and
that if an opportunity had been given 10 them -
make their yyi,hc, known to the stockholders the
STYLE of art which they admire and 10 which they
have given support might not have been set aside
The manner IL which the revolution was ac-
compli,hcd was even clearer demonstration than
thc policy pursued thus far this season III the
choice Of works of the indifference of the directors
IN thc ,,ishc, of the public. To maintain the
opcrl house and the opera the stockholders have
for several years paid $1,000 annually e'ch
OF this sum about $1,000 has gone to llGuldale
the fixed charges against the binding and Sl,soo
toward dcfmyIne the cost of the representations.
They have now pledged n subsidy equal To S1,ooo
each 10 Mr.. Abbey, in consideration of which he
will undertake series Of Italian and French
demonstrations Oh his own responsibility. While
the directors must Ire acquitted of the suspicion
that they were Influenced by dcsiIc 10 save their
own pocket books through this change. it Is cyi-
dent enough that they take an exceedingly care
less view OF their obligation toward art, and are
STRANGELY blind L" the effect of their action on the
fntur. of their own enterprise. We greatly doubt
whether single member of the board of directors
seriously believes that 1t is possible to make
Italian opera pay. The experience of Mr.. Abbey
during the first season at the Metropolitan Opera
House and again last year affords proofs which
cannot be- arsvcd ont OF Sisht. TO them must be-
added the demonstration which lies in the
fact land this the present season must
have impressed on Mr.. Stanton's mind at least
that fh, greater the growth Of popular interest
i'm German opera and popular appreciation Of its
spir the smaller the sympathy in the style of art
which Mr.. Abbey VIII undertake to revive. with
the help of the stockholders. Seven years ago
the advance subscription for the German opera
amounted to - 5000; this season it reached ST.
900 which is onc-thlrd of what the public is likely
to pay for single purchases at the hoN-onicc and
considerably more than oneholr of what the
stockholders will pay for The representations
OF the operas given thus far only Taunhacuser"
"Iohcngrin, " The Flying Dutchmln, Fidclio'
and De Mcistersingcr' have proven attractive
Tho Italian novelties were fiat failures. though
well performed and presented with sdmptuous
decorations. What does this mean? Popular
WEAKNESS OF the German list? Prcposterous!
Dcsnite the rain and slice, storm OF last Saturday
tie Opera House was crowded ~ the roof by
enthusiastic listeners 10 "Fidelio.' Why? Be
cause the public have learned to admir- dramatic
music II they have reached this state through
the influence Of Wagncrs dramas. is that fact
10 he dcplored? Financially Wagner must save
this season, or it will suffer Shpwrcci Mr.
Stanton knows that, and IT is not a rash pre-
dic,ion TO say that the whole unpcriormcd list
will he sacrificed from this time forth to the
production OF Wasncr's works. The policy will