The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-05-19
Locke Throws Up His Contract-He Had No
Arrangement with Several of the Artists
Advertised and Promised by Him.
Damrosch's Orchestra Will Probably Be
Substituted for That of Seidl.
In Spite of the Bad Faith of Locke and Seidl
the Festival Bids Fair to Be the
Most Successful Yet Given.

be known to-day at noon. The directors
have a promise from those upon whom the
giving of the festival depends of al answer
1T that hour. They had q meeting at the
| Denis0n House last night. at which the sit
uatlon was thoroughly canvassed. and the
alternative of festival or no festival vas
considered squarely IN the face. Ii was
| decided to make plain statement to the
public through the columns of the Journal.
| and il is printed below. In 1t are set out
the prospects of the festival the probable
ity of it's being gwen. aad all the circum-
stances of the existing state of affairs. COM
| plicated though they be. The whole
trouble arises through the unreliability Of
| Charles Z. Locke. the impressario. to
| whom was intrusted the important work of
| contracting for the orchestra and soloIsts.
Locke, after frst having split with Seidl,
| threw up his contract for the festival. and
1t then developed that with some
| of she soloists advertised he never
had had even verbal contracts. Heroic
| work has been done in the last two or three
! days. and the chances are more than even
| that the fest,v al will go on with the same.
! or substantially the same. list OF soloists.
| but with the Dsmrosch instead of the Seidl
orchestra. Lovers of music will by no
means regret this latter change. The full
| statement given out by the directors after
In making such a change as is in contemplation
| In the orchestra and soloists for the May Music
| Festival, the directors desire To make ex-
PLANTATION OF the Imperative necessity of such a
| course at this comparatively late date. As the
festival Is purely public enterprise. believe
| that It's prospective patrons. and those who may
have incurred financial responsibility by becOm-
ing guarantors, are entitled 10 know all the
sons that inpel us to make such a change is
proposed, and the circumstances and conditions
| under which it may be made
The original contract for the orchestra and so
| loists for this festival was made nearly two
mouths ago. We had propositions from various
managers. all of which were carefully consld-
| cred. The proposition made by Mr.. Charles Il.
Locke was by far the most advantageous one.
Mr. Locke was at that time the manager of the
seidl orchestra and the series OF Wagnerian con-
| certs which that organization was giving
| much less than the other managers offered, he
agreed 10 furnish the seidl orchestra aud full
complement of ,soloists, including Miss Juch.
| Miss Reid, Miss Fabris, Miss Stein
and all the rest advertised; in fact.
TO furnish all the necessary artists TO give the
| complete programmes which were to be ar
| ranged. The contract was drawn up and care
| fully guarded IN every respect Mr.. Locke. with
| the iul concurrence and assistance of Mr.. Seidl,
Who had perfect understanding that he and
his orchestra to be the feature OF the festI-
val, arranged all the details OF the programmes
himself: We therenpon set TO work to advertise
| the festival in every way possible. without the
slightest intimation that there was any danger
| or the nonfnlhllment OF the contract. upon the
| part of the gentlemen with whom it
| was made. Everything progressed most
| satisfactorily until only five days ago,
, when we ;, received ;er AN intlmation that
! chestra here We at once telegrarhed Mr.. Locke.
| asking about the matter He answered positively
that there was no trouble, and that he would
| fulfill his contract to the letter. Last Saturday
Mr. ID. L. Erwin, the vice president of the board.
| who happened 10 be in New York. accidentally
heard that there was danger of the nonfultll-
| ment OF the contract and promptly notified us.
That information was cOrroborated by Mr..
Locke himself, but not before Wednesday after
| IA m
| We have endeavored in every way possible To ar
range for the festival as it has been advertised.
1 Mr., Erwin himself stayed In New York since last
| Sunday for this sole purpose 1t became evident
on "Wednesday that Mr.. Seidl or Mr.. Bernstein.
his personal manager. was trying to compel us
TO pay an exorbtant and outrageous
| price for the services of the or
] chestra, Mr.. Locke having in the meantime
| abandoned any attempt to fulfill his contract
| original contract called for to come here, and
! that the opening OF the festival he changed from
| Monday to Tuesday night II twas impossible
Tor Us TO make either OF these CONCESSIONS. To
| have granted the additional sum asked, would
have meant very heavy financial loss; TO have
| changed the date would have made it necessary
| 10 do without the services of Mme. Nordica. for
| which We had arranged independent OF the
Locke contract SO as to give an extra attraction
part OF men in New York to extort
| from US several thousand dollars more than
| than agree TO such extortion. it would be far
1, better 10 abandon the festival altogether. They
l would not reduce their demands all. This
| was the condition or affairs confronting to-
day. We had already incurred very heavy liza
| biiity in expenses preliminary TO the festival.
4 and we either had to make some provision, which
1t would have been very difficult TO do, TO meet
ais liability secure another orchestra and
other sol0ists. The latter course was preferable
4 II We couG secure such artists would be able
| 20 make the festival an undoubted artistic sue
| cess. Mr.. Erwin was authorized by telegram TO
| negotiate Tor the Damrosch orchestra through
Mr.. Reno. the manager. and such artists as he
could furnish.
| The contingency which compelled US to make
| this change was entirely unforeseen. Mr. Locke
| was believed TO be thoroughly responsible, as
| the Seldl tour under his management was prov
ing to be very profitable. Mr.. Seidl himself. who
| was IN reality party 10 the contract was a
gentleman whose reputation for business integ-
rity caused confidence TO be placed in his prom
ises. These two men have violated their con-
| tract, and have done Ii In such way as
| to cause us infinite trouble and an
nOyance. There Ia good reason to be-
| leve that their failure TO carry out their
| contract the part OF a scheme TO compel us
| To pay several thousand dollars more than the
! original amount provided for. We would not
! agree TO be held up IN any such manner. and
1 We believe that in taking this action will
| have the support of all fair-minded people. The
! The advance sale of seats thus far is greater
| than in previous years. and the general interest
| manifested In the enterprise indicates that the
| patronage will be commensurate with the I'M
| usual excellence or the programmes TO be rem
| dered.
At the sacrifice OF personal interests. the di-
| reciors have labored earnestly for the success Of
this festival In fact for the past ten days near
| ~ ali OF them have done little else II Is through
| no fault OF their own. but because OF the dis
| honorable dealings OF others that they are COM
| PEELED 10 make the changes indicated above.
| aud they believe that public opinion viii sus-
| tain them in what they have done.
Late last night telegram was received from
1 Mr.. Keno. Mr. DamEoschs manager, stating that
he would he able TO give a definite answer
about furnishing the orchestra and full COM
PIGMENT OF sol0ists Tomorrow. The arrange
lnenis on which the negotiationsare based are
that he will furnish the complete Seidl orchestra.
| Mime Nordica. Miss Reid, and nearly. II not
quite ali the other s0loists except Miss Juch and
Miss fabris whose places are to he satisfactorily
supplied. and that be shall give the complete
| programmes. We are hopeful that by noon to-
morrow friday contract upon this basis Will
be arranged, and that the festival will be given
| IN Its entirety as advertised. We will not agree
TO any proposition that provides for the engage
ment OF Inferior artists. IL cannot give a
good festival. we will not give any. II the con-
| tract Is maze with Mr.. Reno. the orchestra ana
artists Will be fully capable OF rendering tho
| programmes as were those provided for under
the contract with Mr. Locke.
Professor Arsns on Wagner.
! At least nine hundred persons have Q
moro intelligent conception OF the master