New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-09-26
MUSICAL COMMENT.
THE OPERA.
RUSSIAN FoLK.MUsIo-AMERICAN MUSIC IN


Abbey Schoeffei and Grau announced from Londoh
day before yesterday. Without subventon from
the Metropolitan Company. they will not under'ase ~
give opera In any city In the United STATES Ahey
have therefore, notified their reputation OF al con-
tracts made to the singers and others who had been
engaged for the American season. Nothing coua
bring the lesson Of dependency home to the clues tnat
were hoping 10 enjoy the opera this season more oNo'y
than this There some vague talk on the part
of Mr. Schoenel OF season in the City OF McKee, ana
Ions ger than had been contemplated In cmicago
The execution OF such project would have amounted
90 declaration OF independence against New York Nty'
and It could have been carried out successfully the
season would have gone into history as nrst pac'ie
won In the artistic Of the revolution. But Siessrs.
Abbey Schoene and Grau are wise as serpents even
not harmless doves They were willing 10 lose 'he
money OF the Metropolitan stockholders but are not
willing to risk their own In venture predes'ineo "
failure. They have drawn out OF the enterprise anu
Chicagos pride has received gaping wound
These are the facts In the operatic situation. The
existing Metropolitan Opera House Company has re-
solved not to rebuild the Opera House. and has already
taken steps to have the property sold 10 satisfy ludS
ments taken by confession In friendly suit. There
are some stockholders still willing TO continue the
philanthropc enterprise, and II Is possible that they
will purchase the building and other properties, re-
organize the company and restore the opera House
to Its old But this is done 1t Is certain
a work this season. The Music Hall cannot DO used
for opera as It now Is, nor II be got ready for
operatic representations In less than years ume'
There Is also question whether, under our building
laws, It can ever he used q theatre or opera
house The announcement that 1t might be remodeed
for Messrs Abbey and Grau In time for their season
was iladvsed and naturally gave rise to the suspicion
that It was put forth In order TO influence the actien
OF the stockholders OF the Metropolitan Opera House In
the matter OF rebuilding The only other buildings IN
the city INTELLECTUALLY suitable for opera are dsqia-
fed by location and present use To rehabiitate the
Academy OF Music or Grand Opera House is impossible
By Mr. Abbey's action In London. the company or
canized for the American season is dsbanded. There
Will, therefore, be opera on scale commensurate
with the wants Of New-York in the season 1892 1888.
II is therefore an excellent season for operalovers
10 reason together In the premises. Ncw-York will
not be left long without opera In It's old exotic
form the entertainment fourshed hero with few In
t~rvals from 1926 TO 1884. During that period It's
history extremely varegated. Managers made
fortunes ono season and lost them the next. The
best artists in the world heard here, and the
operas OF the contemporaneous Italian and French
ust were brought forward with great promptitude.
New Workers became fastldous and hard TO please In
the matter of singing, though they continued to feel
the usual Indifference toward such factors In the per
formanccs chorus. orchestra scenery Interpretation
and dramatic action. The German seasons at the
Metropolitan Opera House from 1884 TO 1891 wrought
q change In the popular attitude toward opera. II
came TO be looked upon rs q dramatic entertainments
in which the poetry action ana pictures were raised
10 a higher power through the agency Of music.
love for the lyric drama displaced the old interest In
with external accessories OF stage pictures
and costumes The creation OF that love brought
with II stable public which was npidly emancipat
ing itself from the vagares Of fashion and fad The
development Of that public was superb achievement
/ and re exte he me red N
fact so that all grasp it-for the season 1ss4so
the subscriptions amounted TO SO O0O for the season
Ise6Js7 II $4,000; for the season 1878 II
was $4,000. In other words the subscriptions were
multiplied tenfold In four years In spite OF the dis
oredng effect OF the directors change Of policy they
remained Mt the highest In tho last German
| season.
Facts like these appeal TO managers. Mr.. Abbey,
two years ago. said to the writer that he had con-
templatcd establishing German opera As long ago as
1882 being convinced that It had future while
| Italian opera had none. NcwYork will not be left
long without opera but II II is TO be restored on the
old speculative plan the results achieved through the
wise generosity OF the Metropolitan Opera Company
by the seasons 1884 1891 viii be rapidly disstpated
To conserve those resultsthc higher, better and mere
general musical and dramatic taste and Intelligence
which have been developed and the public trained in
M probation and inercst-it Will be necessary TO put
opera on n permanent footing. IL can lie done by
New York alone but 1t would better be done by the
chief cities In IN. country whose interests though not
| so largo, are the same those OF NewYork.
IL Is better late than never and better to be
| courteous even on compuson than not TO he cour
| teous at all. A week ago The Tribune told OF
| the appointment OF Mcssrs Camille saint saens
Iars; Dr. A. c. Mackenzie, London Asger liamcrik
Baltimore: Carl zcrrahn. Boston b. j. Lang Boston
Theodore Thomas and william l.. Tomlins. of Chicago
to be board OF adjudicators Oh tho merit OF the
| musical compositions which native Americans may
choose TO send 20 Chicago for performance at the
Worlds Fair concerts. some few words OF COM
| mcnts were also spoken on tho subject Of the un
grac!ousness Of the announcement that snch board
| or committee would be appointed. and the absence
Of anything resembling invitation In the premises.
| Tho Bureau Of Music hls now issued "sccond An
| nouncement Regarding American Compositions" which
| promuigates tho names Of the committee members
repeats tho announcement OF June 90 and concludes
with the long delayed Invitation. which is couchcd
| In the following terms:
Al american compose1s ar, are invited to present
order TO accommodate the greatest number. the
Bureau will receive scores up TO November 10, 1892
| allowed within which TO submit has been
! tended one month. the announcement Of June 30
having fixed November IL AZ the last day on which
scores might DO sent In to tho Bureau
| The following is the schedule OF dates for the
concerts under the direction OF Mr.. Walter Damrosch
| at the Music Hall In the coming season symphony
society-Novcmber L., December 3, January 7, Feb
ruary I. March IL. April 10. Public rchearsals ON
the afternoon Immediately preceding the concert day.
Oratoro society. afternoon ooncerts-Nevember %,
December 20. February II, April evening concerts
| November 90, December 30, February ls, April 8.
| The town Of Pnlestrina. In Italy. which was the
| birth nj NJ Tho Siciap
gave It's name, will celebrate the Booth anniversary OF
| his death February ?, 304 For this purpose a
| committee has been formed Of which Cardinal Bian.
| CHI Bishop Of Palestrina Is honorary president the