New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-07-23

WORK AT THE OPERA HOUSE.
THE RESTORATION OF THE METROPOLITAN.
RAPID pIsAGREss IN TIE BUILDING OF ABBEY's
THEATRE.

THEATRE.
TIL, on,o who uscd TO give brilllancy to the circle
~ boycs at the Metropolitan Opera House are scattered
all over tbc world They are I'm London, IN Paris
I'm scotland on the Rhine among the Aips' by Lake
Wioti,op in Ncvport at the White Mountains. Mt
orov Tho people who used 10 sit In the orchestra
and object TO the loud talking In the boxes are widely
sundered too. Some Of those who subscribed lot uTeSS
circle seats for the season are also ont OF '""h
Those who so loved music that they wouiu give Oh
their ncces sity al they had to hear 1t from 'he
gallery are irving 10 extract consolation from SonSas
hand and .Paniandrura" or are dcspairing 10 do
so nc tbc case NAV BE-. And all this time The
Metropolitan Opera House IS buster place Than II
has been before in the summer In years. II i Iuh
OF workmen and their works, 10 the END mat "heh
the people are gathered again from the corners OF
the earth they may meet within ts walls and find 1t
poasantcr and more comfortable place. a far as work
men and their works make it So than 1t ever
before.
For the last year there has been no change IN the
front of the Metropolitan, and nobody passing along
broadway would know that there was anything the
matter with IT. Inside not long ago 1t was ruin
and n sad sight TO any one who knew It's old struggles
and gories. Vow II Is strange spectacle STILL but
more cheerful. The auditorium is so full OF scai'ong
that one can scarcely il. This scahodinG Is
peculiar in respect-it fills almost the Who'll"
space within the horseshoe. vet the upright h'''S
supporting II placed Icy such careful measure
menS that all the seats can he PM INTO thc mouse
without disturbing Of them. In order that this
might he done the permanent flooring OF cour'" hld
TO be- put down. This is three feet lower than 1t
used TO be- and the doors that used 10 lead into th"
orchestra look now in consequence morc Ike windows.
They will all be cut down, Of course. 10 The new
level. Tie stage Is also three feet lower than before
one of the most important changes in the house.
the preparations for which are already TO be seem
is the construction of an orchestra circle under the
hoyc Eor lis Whi
be of the best parts of the house, was entirely
wasted. A large amount OF good standing room VIII
he gained at the back OF the seats In TINS crci"
Formerly the best standing in the house was In
the entrance AT the back OF the orchestra. II was
against the law 10 stand there. and only few who
knew how TO gain the Indulgence OF the ushers had
the privilege. For the Others there were two queer
little pens one on each side Of the house. They
were good places for hearing and for The twenty
people who got positions In front they were good
places seeing, but the entrances To them were so
carefully constructed that nobody with less practice
than that TO be obtained by half seasons constant
attendance at the opera could get into them
without falling In. 1t used TO be the rule that from
six to ten persons fell into them, one after
another whenever any peculiarly delicate and bean
tful portion OF the opera performed. When
Patti used sing Home, sweet Home the people
who had been waiting in the passages outside all the
evening it, began to tumbl" In aS soon as she began
zach q
rolre exclamation. and sooner were they all in
than those at The back began TO get diSg'lsted
and 70 tumble out again Speaking Of Patti. she Is TO
make her farewell tour in America this season. Us VIII
be learned from another column
Improvements are IN progress on the stage aS
well as the auditorium. The pr"scenium opening
IS 70 be widcned by two feet each side and the
stage will have appliances which VIII obv1atc inc
further necessity of lowering the curtain every fifteen
! mInucs 10 change the scene one Ct the interesting
processes Of reconstruction Just now Is the placing
in position OF the steel tris'es Tor III" ROOF over
fine stage. The stage is occupied bv heavy and
substantial trestework seventy five feet high ana
on the top Of this Is a derrick which reaches up
cIghty-two feet more. 1t is unusual TO have 10 raise
trus,es like these to such height In Just this way
The distance from the peak OF the roof TO the bottom
Of the Dit under the stage Is 1913 feet. The pitch
Of the roof be sleeper than before so mat sho"
or ANYTHING else That happens to he WING
on II will slip of more easily The trusses nave
n span Of 1Ol feet and each Of them weighs Il IL
tons Three are now I'm place and there are I'VE
more 1t takes Just about a day TO put together
and place each one.
While the subject Of building In the neighborhoNi Of
The Metropolitan Is under discussion 1t will be- worth
the while OF anybody who is Interested In Such things
10 cast glance across the street and note the progress
Of Abcy's Theatre next door to the Casino. ON May
| there old buildings standing on this ground
Now the front Of the theatre has reached height Of
four stories while the back the stage IS ready for Its
roof. II II is not already The mpdity Of the work
has been nothing short of marvellous. Mr.. Abbey said
ut first that would be- just 1t t. bn, many doubted
II and few understood f.. The theatre gives promise
Of being n handsome building, and the designs for the
interior decorations which shown AT the Office Of
Abbey s;choefcl d Gau, give better promise still.
The balcony and box fronts 10 be OF metal work
Of a bronze color. and in handsome scroll designs.
Rich and beautiful designs have been made for the
painting OF the ceiling and the sounding bOaff over
| the stage and the tapestry effects in the lobby
| among the finest of all
The stage will not be large, but 1t Will have the
advantage Ct every modern appliance for working
and lighting. Doubts were expressed long ago rs 10
whether Henry Irving would find the house ready
Tor him i'm the early autumn The present prospect
b. rather that the house Will have TO walt
| for Mr.. Irving.
IiDD TTrpnDEfN SUHPES