New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-04
THE GERMAN OPERA PLANS.
MR. DAMROsCH MAY DIRECT IT ALONE.
ANTON SEIDL GIVES Up HIS OWN SCHEME
AND wITHDRAws FROM THE PRO-

AND WITIIDRAWs FROM THE PRO
POSED UNION.
The promise Is still made tina, there shall be German
! opera in Ncw-York next season. II Will not De
given. however II the present promise Is car
red out. urdcr quite such favorable conditions as
the best lovers Of this class of music might wish
The nope OF uniting Anton Seid and Walter Dam
rosch has failed. The is to be under the
leadership Of Mr.. Damrosch, and Mr.. Sedl VIII
have nothing 10 do with ii.
William Seinway did everything he could to BRING
the two leaders together. and he almost SUCCEEDED
He thought he had succeeded. The three men met
at the Iiederkranz on Wednesday night. and talked
the matter over. for several hours. At first every
thing was harmony. Both tine leaders saw the force
OF Mr. Stelnway's arguments against two rival
opera ORGANIZATIONS. The result would be lneVlta-
bic failure for both. So they agreed 10 unite MI.
Damrosch wanted to give only a short season OF
German opera before the beginning OF the Italian
and French season. Mr.. Seill wanted to make a
tour Of the country in addition. and then give an
other short season in New-YOrk In the spring. MI
Ste,nway and Mr. Damrosch tried to show him that
there were not enough other cities In the country
that could support German opera to carry a com
pany through the winter. and also that the best
German artists could b. secured for only two
months Mr. Seidl yielded this point, and agreed 10
the short season.
Then the question arose about the orchestra.
Which leaders orchestra should be employed? Il
was agreed that the best musicians should be So
;ected from both. Then came the fatal question
OF artistic leadership in the plan. In regard to TINS
no definite agree ment could be reached. After a
long discussion the difficulty left for future de-
cision Mr. Steinway believed when he went home
thar 4, would still be possible TO arrange everything
amirablv and that all would be right in the end.
But early yesterday morning Mr. Seidl came TO see
him.
Nr Seld said that he had been thinking of the
arrangement all night. lie had considered every
point and he had come t. decision from which
nothing should move him He believed that II the
scheme were tried with two artistic heads there
would surely be disagreement and trouble, and he
had therefore resolved TO withdraw from the Held
altogether 10 give up his plan. to let Mr. Dam
rosch carry out his by himself without rivalry or
opposition and 70 70 at once 10 the CatskHs ana
stay there tin the time FOR him to begin his concert
season at Brighton Beach. Mr.. Stcinway tried TO
"ision rm, IN vain Mir Steinway then wrote to
Mr.. Dlmrosch. wno AZ once caliei on MN: anu US
Stenway said Yesterday that the TWO leaders hap
between them Subscriptions TO the amount Of N9eo,
could have ben raised within two weeks.
Mr. Damrosch yesterday prepared the following
statement % his present position: ~ the Ieqges.
Of Mr. william stenway mutual friend e OF Herr legr
night to discuss plans Tor co-oierat!O Oh an
bic basis during my proposed scheme or German
opera next autumn urea 20 proye W !? LET one,
that my scheme OF snort season 81 asneI Opera
in New-York Boston ana Philadelphia was a prac-
teal ana more cpDiittiNr 10 aTtlSttc
his scheme Of siX-mOnths season OF German
opera which would necessitate touring In the coun-
try with necessarily expensive company for thir-
teen weeks. during the French and Italian season al
the Metropolitan Opera House. made him the foi-
lowing offer He 10 conduct LOhengrn. 'Rhein-
gold tiotterldmmerung' and Tristan and Isolde.
and I would undertake 'rannhauser w alkure.'
'Segfrei and 'Mestersnger. offered him abSO-
lutte artistic control all The operas that he wa
to conduct This seemed 70 me 70 be more than
fair arrangcmcnt as the whole scheme and ts re-
spOnsibltlcs were mine. having been first in the
field suggest practical plan Of operation which
| had already carried Out In 50 tar tnat had Sc
cured the refusal OF the Metropolitan Opera House
ana the necessary funds 10 put the scheme on Il
sound financial basis. Herr Seidl promised 10 con-
slider the matter. and am very sorry 10 hear that
h.. does not feel inclined 10 enter into my plans on
this basis. | shall go abroad next week 70 engage
the greatest Wagner singers that X - possible 70
secure and within a month from to-day expect 10
have all necessary ARRANGEMENTS completed.