The morning call., 1892-02-28

April and e
\ Man for the Occasion.
The New York correspondent Of the
Chicago Herald. writing under date CT
February 20. says: Nine years ago
Henry f. Abbey opened the Metropolitan
Opera House and lost S280,OOO by his ex-
pertinent. He has since settled every
dollar OF mis- indebtedness, with interest,
tie final installment of this huge obligation
being paid two months ago. lie could not
now draw q check for any considerable
amount. The only member Of the firm
Of which he is chief who is worth any money
is John 3. SchOeffel. This man is partner
in the SaTan Bernhard and Adellna Patti
enterprises. Remembering Abbey'S former
experience In Italian opera, Sehoeuel re-
fused to put cent into the Metropolitan
venture. Abbey, however, has influential
friends IN musical aud financial circles, who
will back any scheme in which he is engaged.
The funds essential for starting the Franco
SteiEway and other milllonalres, whose
confidence in Abbey is quite as strong as
their bank accounts.
THE DARK CLOUD.
The season, which began brilliantly on
Decent Il, had Il long iuterregnum of
disaster. The initial production was not
wise selection. Romeo and Juliet" Is
}
greater work, Faust" IL was sung in
French, which was a direct insult to Ger
man muSic-lOYeTS and disappointment to
dev9teeS OF the ancient Italian school. Mrs.
Emma EamcS-SJOrey, from whom much was
expected, proved too cold aud cOlOriess for
Shakespeare passionate heroine. The
new tenor Jean de ReSZle, had too much
Of the DarytOnal quality 10 be startling,
and his brother, Ed0uaTi, was given but
scanty opportunity in the part OF Friar
Lawrence. Tie reviews next morning
were nOjceahly lacking in enthusiasm. The
NaEuerite critics attacked the performance
ven meEtiy, anu those OF the classic school
were halt-hearied in their praise. After
escaping the Scylia Of the critics Abbey en-
couuIered the grip Chary bdis-Aibaui was
the first member Of the company Frustrated
10y the epidemic. Then followed Scalchi,
Ed0uard de B'sZke, Naler0, Marie Van
LSudt and many OF the lesser singers. 1t
costs $500 TO raise the curtain at the Met
ropoiijan. Abbey and Grau lost some
cJoCoO during the first month Of opera in
this city. The WagneIiie crtics-and We
are al more or less tarred by lac BayTeuth,
stick in New \ 0rk-cOnHnued their attacks,
and the apostles Of Verdi and GounOd were
Ia despair.
TIE SILVER LINING.
But Abbey is the caimest loser IN the
theatrical profession. He gathered in S22-
coo IN a couple Of Patti concerts, which,
after deductiug 5000 for the diva and Incl
dental expenses, left $4,000 profit. He
imported the famous French barYtOne,
Lassaile, and put 0n "L'Africaiue." Las
sale IS great singer great actor and
great mascot. The ailing members Of the
company suddenly got well. The audience
which packed the big house 10 hear the new
harytCue came back al other performances.
During tie past SIX weeks there have been
lew empty chairs az The Metropolitan.
THE SINGERS SALARIES.
Abbey's terms with the directors are par
ticuiarly favorable. lie gets the house,
lighting and UsheTS Tree, and NJ he close OF
each performance receives a check for
S-lOo, m addition 10 which he pockets every
dollar that Is taken IN az the door. The
stockholders reserve only the boxes. There
are seyeuty-thtee l0ge> at the Metropolitan,
Of which number seventy are let az rental
Ct 5000 for the season. The $4,000 thus
Obtained goes 10 pay the running expenses
Of the house aud the interest on The original
investment 1t does not pay these But
the average stakeholder OF the Metropolitan
IS worth million, and he can easily
afford % indulge in the luxury OF
grand opera. Abbey viii end the season
with profit. HIS salary list j. small
compared To that of The MapeS0n and
Stanton regimes. Jean de Reszke receives
$500 performance ana % per cent on all
houses ever 5000. Lille Lehman gets
S1l0J an evening. EdOuarj de Re- IKE is
paid $500 for each opera in which he aD-
pears. Nine. AIDani aud Signor Nal>r0 re-
ceive $50 each. Emma Eames and Marie
Van Zandt get 500. Giuia RaYogli gets
$50, and her sister. Sofia, receives 500.
These are small salaries, but it is a great
thing 10 sing IN and opera Margaret
Red, the young indianapolis girl who made
sucn a phenomenal success "a Opuelia in
"Hanlet last week, bought $500 worth Of
tickets and received Ho salary for the priyI-
lege OF singing before a metropolitan audi
ence.