The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-02-25

| vell.a Nine Lehman could Sing wsener's
MUSIC and soT ettn ~ else besides 5pt shs
( none 81 the artistic depreciation Of tss Mae.
| nsr roles. She ba. been taught IN the school
which makes vocal excellence the, end Of the
anees have been in marked contrast 70 those
| otCalve who has acted sometimes too much
both these women are. artists Tor whose pres.
ence We are indebted to Mcssrs. Abbey ana
Another singer, practically new In the COM
pttny was Nine ;vS Ns0.dlss; Her performance IN
| the feature OF the opera, even among her
Famous ass ,IS,,I She is singer n Nm
Winter IN more ire sSd bop " t tSs
thai she has saeceedsd IN ali As soon ss
speak Of her asa usefu! artist or a reliable
Is supposed to deny exceptional. ability. This
! has been in q measure Nine. Nordica's fate
last act Of Les Huguenots" on Saturday
night could have any question OF her right to
the salaries o. the 81 singers e 's at r the op.r.
House arc always matter Of interest to the
np. uSlic We 5sEe had sh. With ths ss
Reszke are the most popular members Of the
sslys; shout 8. POO Tor each appeslsn e III IN
they exceed q certain figure. 1t will be sur
prisiDR TO the public TO learn that at least
Tdousrd f is paid simos, ss iiber.fS S' as jean.
There need be no uncertainty as to the return
81 , B, singers next winter Jean De Rsszko
posed to be- He Is quite 90 years old and the
earnings s, Of his American seasons reach ne-
10 paid much less a year than either OF these
two, and Iassslle also receives considerably
Nine. Melbs gets 81 900 every time she
sings. and i is a matter Of indifference how
gets the same and Caiye only a few dollars
less. Her contract calls for payment In france,
somewhat smaller sum than Eames or Mei6a,
There has been story this winter that Nine.
Tss ss nsary So sw sS Sss
London success, which has added moro than
ANYTHING else to her commercial value. has
her contract two years ago but she gets 81, 600
that Jean dc Reszke's salary was considerably
eeysd q rs os Positnj6s' on ne the he
nights when he sang In Carmen" Nine.
ssay While Be- pc sev.4S a ss
much as she: although her performance was
% s.sTs q sh sS.S smi esS S ey.
here nrst,, she was practically an unknown
IL Egrcps and her salary was small
the ideal psriormagces Of Faust, saved the
principal attraction Of that perrormsncs. The
reputation established then has made her this
year among the hiehest-priced singers Of the
Admirable as the seasons performances
itfs to be Sensd next years SEASON will In,
prove. The chorus was as bad last Wednesday
the chorus cost the management about 81 q
week. and It seems that company OF COM
Son . Sort be bssub
time. Certainly for the sum paid to the chorus
singers nov. Americans could be obtained
enough to be in readiness for the opening Of
next years. season. II these Italians have
there is no longer any hope from them. They
undoubtedly improve during tho season. but
possibility OF having them sing fairly during
the thirteenth. The orchestra gave NO cause
s svoTS one u the operss ssnor Is
not specialist. but his work generally haa
The only faults that can be found with this
years Sc, season were the faults Of tho system.
vantage Of the principal singers. We have
abolished that sort Of thing long ago In our
no i'm presario for that matter. seems power.
onS Of sBo
having euch famous singers together Every |
OF rehearsal tits said that TannhSuser was
given without q rehearsal. This may or may
t6an s such ih perosmanee as that WSs BeSuti
full singing cannot atone for carelessness and |
lack Of appreciation. The stage manager and |
those in charge appear not only to have been |
ignorant OF the traditions OF tho work. but |
even OF features with which casual operaGoer |
In conversant 1t Is said that on the day fixed |
ior the last rehearsal one OF the prime dome |
had decided to accept an invitation to lunch |
con 1t was the snme story with "Werther"
which was announced for the last weeS. 1t |
ers Notwithstanding the thirteen weeks |
The singers that come to New YORK In our
opera companies are Of such unusual excel
formances that could be great In every respect
by such inattsntion to matters that are often
merely Incidental. Under Messrs. Abbey &
Grnu the tendency OF a company 10 to grow
such failures as those mentioned will disap-
pear: The statement that the managers
OF tho Metropolitan Opera House are ac-
they need not take the trouble to deny. As
long as New York gets such performances as
they have given this year It lie matter OF little
tuated them. The Metropolitan Opera House.
IL must be remembered. Is not subsidized. and
unless 1t 10 supported BY the public there can
be no opera In New York. This shows very
ducing operas which are not certain OF popular
APPROVAL Never before In this city has opera
been so profitable that managers could AFFORD
TO take risks, OF course It would be bet.
novelties. But the experience OF this year will
robahly relieve us from any further PERFORM
ance OF those Italian works which have proved
SO improbable TO tho management. II the
seasons are not commercial success there is
no prpbabiltty OF our having opera at all. IL
Is mot only the managers themselves who
the public. who are delighted to have opera in
New York even II IL has to come with fewer