New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-09-11
ENDOVED OPERA.

As il has been BADLY described i'll TIC ho"'
papers. there does not seem to be allEthihs
likely 70 receive long consideration in Mr.>har-
riman's plan for enisting the support OF non
residents for the Metropolitan Opera House
r. the methods which have prevailed hltner'o
in the administration Of the establishment are
70 be continued, in case the building Is restofen
~ lyric theatre it is most likely that IL VIII
have to be done by the existing or reorganHed
comnany. As a fashionable diversion ana
means of social display the opera which mas
boen housed in upper Broadway for eight years
has been purely local institution that IL mas
nevertheless exerted great and beneiiceh' III
fluence upon musical culture throughout 'he
country is due to the character or the cnter,
tainment which came TO tho front when tha'
for which the Opera House was built had lts
downfall. From what may be called the pop
Mar point of view the necessity which demands
tbe restoration of the Metropolitan Opera House
Is y social one. 1t is easy 10 sheer at society
and lis diversions but when one OF those di-.
versions has the charm, the dignity anu 'he
value. as an agency OF irefinement, ihhefeho III
the opera rs New-York has known 1t OF late
voars 4 sheer at the factor which chiefly MAIN
tained that opera is a sign of boorishness or
something worse. If, then, opera Is TO be
RELOCATED again TO its old place in the social
svstcm-if the house is TO be turned over to a
manager who is TO be permitted TO bring back
the DAYS of speculation pure and simple ana IN
difference TO artistic dignity and purpose-"e,
imagine that no one outside OF New ork wy
will be found willing 10 take the rsk "hich
such a purpose involves.
There is solution of the problem which we
would most earnestly commend to tho consid-
Grafton of the stockholders OF the Metropolitan
Opcra House. and the patriotic ana puohc-
sn;rited mon of New-York Boston and Chi-
caeo. National opera is a possibility. we were
an the high road to its attainment while the
directors were their own managers AZ the he'o
noitan. The growth Of popular interest," d
evidenced by the season subscnpuons' was
steady and great and had there been more
boldness and less extravaganza III the ADMIN
;st,ation of affairs It would have been possible
IN mt the institution on a basis financially
satisfactory TO the stockholders. Greater bold
mes, ought to have been shown in the adoption
Of a policy with the stiffcning elements OF d.
rcctness and pcrmanency. those gaihea'
would have been possible to give better repre-
sensations at smaller cost. In 1--WE Years win
. v,isn and Jealous guidance in the financial
and artistic departments, IL would have been
nossiblc 10 create an institution as truly Ma
t;onal as tho Grand Opera in Paris or the Court
Opera in Vienna The vernaoular. would have
come into its rights as the language OF the
performances. and the opera have become
training school and an employer for NAIVE
singers.
Opera is an expensive luxuy-too expensive
for any one American city under. existing CIR
cumstanccs. Suppose the moneyed men OF
Ncw-York Boston and Chicago who are anx-
ions TO help in the advancement OF art were
70 associate themselves and endow National
Onera. A season Of six months could easily
he distributed among the three cities. II might
be necessary. in order to secure the most per-
feet manifestations, to begin with foreign
artists hut season of six months ana long
time contracts would insure vastly better terms
than we're possible under the policy pursued by
the METROPOLITAN directors from 1884 to 1891
permanent endowment fund would make
possble the establishment OF public-spirted
and wise policy, the fixing Of high standard
of performance and the choice of large and
liberal repertory. The homes of such an or
ganizaton should be the Metropolitan Opera
House in New-YorIl, the Auditorium in Chi
cago and one of the large theatres i'll Boston
Looked at in the light which, as rule, IL
lumines the projects of those devoted TO phllan-
thropic cndeavor the plan is entirely feasible
and its aim wholly commcndable.