New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-20
THE OPERA IN BOSTON.
PEOPLE RAN TO SEE PATTI AND NEGLECTED
THE PERFORMANCES FROM WHICH
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Boston, March 10 (Spccial.-Musical Boston has
not sustained her reputation this week. She has for
ipscrutable reason failed TO appreciate the best
operate performances that have been given In this
city for many years Whether Boston is losing relish
for the best In music art and literature. whether she
Is becoming more cOnscientously devoted to the
Church. and believes 1t her duty mortlfy the flesh
In Lent 1t may net be easy TO determine. one thing
IS sure-shs has not literally patrOnzed the Abbey
Grau -Schoefiel Opera Company, to the surprise OF
those who think they know the public pulse. some
say that the management made mistake In putting
In Patti; thinking everybody wanted to see her, and
would not 90 when she out of the cast AT all
events, the house quickly sold out on Patti
dates, and not sold when sle was hol
in it, The prices the on Patti as on other
nights but the cast musicaly speaking, was greater
when Patti absent; but the masses rusneu ior
Patti tickets. Another and a more reasonable solu-
ton of the problem is that Mechanics Hall Is not
desirable place in which TO give opera 1t was not
originally intended for that purpose 1t Is a great
barn-lke structure. 1t will seat comfortably on
the floor 1000 people, without utilizing the space
beneath the balconies the first balcony seats looo'
and more than a thousand can be crowded INTO 'ie
upper balcony. Messrs. Abbey, Grau ana SchocHoi
spent several thousand dollars in raising the moor OK
the hall to a proper incline and putting In new seats
thus making the hall comfortable and giving IL an
air theatrical But the place lacks that essential oil
all succes,f,l tbeatrescoseyness. one does not have
a feeling that it Is good place to display pretty
toilettes, and musical people Know thaI 'hey cAiio'
get the best results in that hall
Boston is singularly unfortunate in its lack OF sood
music halls Tie only other place where the opera
might have been given successfully was In the los
ton Theatre which will seat nearly as many people
n. Mechanics, Hall For reason, the managers
Of the opera failed TO complete negotiations with Mr.
Tompkins, Of the Boston, ana 80 Mechanics Dui'i"e
was the last resort.
Attempts have been made to give opera Oh
smaller scale In tho old Music Hail. but each one
has failed The hall is great "unsocAble" sort OF
a place as draughty barn. and one would wear
dress suit opera costume there Mt the penn oi
health fremont Temple, the next largest hail. Is also
unsuitable for opera, even II the Bapusts wOuid
let 1t for such wicked purpose.
The audiences Monday and Tuesday night when
Lee Hucenotsn and Lakme' were given, we're SMALL
{" Romeo and juliet drew large house. but not as
large as the performance merited. Thursday night
Patti was announced to sing Lucia, but was ILL., ana no
opera WAS given. About 5000 had been taken at
the box Office and money refunded or tickets eX-
changed for next week; SO it was dead loss TO The
management. Friday night q double biIi was gwen
"Orfeon and "RustiCana before fair sized bonse,
and everythi sold 0ut for the saturday mhhee
when Patti sang in Martha. large house enjoyed
The critics have been unanimous In praising the
great combination Miss Eamcs had grand reeep-
m mus people Of hoston that small contingent who
really can appreciate and willing TO pay lor
good thing feel grateful 10 Abbey. Grau &schoenei
Tor their enterprise and regret exceedingly ,nae S
not met with larger appreciation. The prices nave
been low So Der seat the highest Tor any performance
and ranging from that down 10 u.