New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-09-25
TIE MERRY OPERA TIC DISCORD.
ALL THE AIR FULL OF PLANS-TIE METRoPoI~
ITAN AND THE CONSERVATORY.

ALI, THE AIR FULL OF PLANS-TIE METRoPoI~
ITAN AND TIE CONSERVATORY.
Years hence, when speaker or writer wants a
smile for complete uncertainty and confused DOUBT
he cannot do better than to say that this or that Is
as uncertain New-Iork orera in the autumn OF
1892 There is nothing else wherewith TO compare the
present catalogue Of unlikely chances; 1t must be IL
self standard of comparison Some OF the directors
of the Metropolitan Opera House Company would like
to form company to buy the opera house and
give opera, has already been mentioned Ill PRINT
once twice, perhaps three times. They VIII
probably do this try to- but they are not agreed AS
to methods. Some would like TO have people in Bos
ton and Chicago help support the opera house. ana
some others think that II they do this they might be
allowed TO hear of the opera sometimes. The
Boston and Chicago people have not told yet whether
they want to pay for the Metropolitan Opera House or
not.
The Music Hall Company would like to have an
opera house, as the public has been persstently In
formed, and with this end in view the company has
bought liquor shop and small tenement house
OF course the company does rot mean to go into the
LIQUOR or real estate business. but II wants more
ground for a stage. This only shows the different
ways of going about the same task. Inc Metropolitan
directors begin by forecosng mortgage against them
selves the Music Hall Company begins by buying
liquor shop. Then there Is Oscar Iammerscin; he
has the only real opera house In town. He begins by
pany. Then he comes back and says very little, but
il that when he gets ready he Will aston
ish the natives by showing them native musical genius
Mr. Hammersten's opera may not be quite AS good as
the opera Metropolitan or at the Music Hail.
but then the great point is that Mr.. Hammerstein Is
going TO give his II he were only going to talk about
plans he could talk about plans for Just good opera
anybody.
Now the general scheme OF the Metropolitan di-
rectors will be simple and easy II all they have to
do is TO forecosc tile mortgage which they hold against
themselves sell their property at auction in order
to get money to pay themselves what they owe thom-
selves and also buy the property from themselves so
as to give themselves the money TO pay themselves
and still keep the property themselves After all
this they will not be the directors of the Metropolitan
opera House Company any more, but something en-
tircy different Just the butterfly is different from
the cry sails and the result OF this change Will b.
lust artistic and satisfactory.
ut now the question comes whether the directors
will be allowed carry out this programme undls-
turbed. IL is said that Otlcr eyes than theirs are
which lie under the ruins of the Metropolitan. Mr..
Ihurber, who Is at the head Of the National Con
servatOry OF Music OF America would Ike TO have the
house. IL Is hnted for her great school. which Is al
ready most important institution and has n IL still
greater and important possibilities With "a
large building made suitable for all purposes OF IN
where opera the grandest scale would be given
either under the direct control of the school or more
remotely under its auspices truly National spirit OF
musical art could be l0sterei. Pupils with genuine
ability could be taught, tried pro!ed and then EN-
ployed and circles OF artistic culture would spread
out from 1t like rpplcs on pond. Conferences on
means 10 such AN END as thls nave been hcd' am
events 1t will not do for the Metropolitan directors or
any Others who have plans for opera 10 be too sure
yet that they have everything in their own hands.