The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-07-27


private letter received In New York .
few days ago gives in some detail the
contract which Calve has made with
Mr. Abbey for the opera season OF next
winter. 1t indicates that Mr.. Abbey
has forgotten his Indignation over the
quarrel which Calve gave public evil
dence OF when she refused to go before
the curtain with Mrs. Eames-Story.
Then Mr.. Abbey said that while he had
no interest in the private quarreis or
friendships Of the members OF his COM
pany, he did propose to insist that these
mgaters should be kept from the pub
lie, and that he would not engage q
singer who would insult an audience
as Calve did. Therefore. he did not
re-engage her for last season. Perhaps
Mr.. Abbey discovered that the public
did not feel 30 greatly outraged as he
Thought It did. At all events he has
made contract with Calve for next
season, which, with the exception Of
Patti. involves probably the largest
amount of money ever guaranteed to
an opera singer for an operate season.
Calve writes that she Is to sing at least
sixty times. and maybe a hundred. and
that fer this she IL guaranteed 100000
or at least $1,000 performance. As
she IL not likely to sing as many as O
hundred times, her salary will probably
be as much as $1,000 for each perform
ance. Besides that. she Il to receive
q certain percentage upon the receipts
after figure which she does not name
has been reached.
This would indicate that Calve has
made a better contract than Jean de
Reske. His earnings last season were
IN the neighborh0od Of 100000. There
were occasions when he received as
much as e16, 900 for single performance.
He was guaranteed S2.5OO per week.
and his percentage brought his earn
ings up to q little over $1,000. Great as
there figures are they do not compare
with the earnings Of Patti. who In one
season at least received a check for
5000 Just before she went upon the
stage, and upon every such occasion.
They do not equal the earnings Of Pad
erewski for the last season when he
was in the United States. which aggre-
gated $3.50, 900; but 1t should be remem.
bered that Paderewski took practically
all Of the receipts and Patti was sup
ported by inexpensive singers and by q
company which artistically was be-
meath contempt, and was therefore very
cheap.
Il l. i
Mr.. Abbey was willing to pay Rubin
stein $3.50. 900 for a. series of 100 concerts.
and also to produce one Of Rubinstein
operas, an offer which was perhape the
greater temptation to that genius. For
'little while Rubsnstein wavered, but
at last he declined the offer. Mr.. Abbey
once satd that he would have gladly
guaranteed Liszt 5000. 900. or even more.
II even in his old age he had been will
Ing to come to the United States and
give concerts, only in a half a dozen Of
the greater cities. The rewards which
these conspicuous singers received can
be compared only with the earnings Of
Dickens upon the platform in this coun-
try. Thackeray's earnings here were
not nearly so large. although he told
Mr.. Fields after his second trip to the
United States that he had eurned here
enough to give him permanent income
of $4,000 and a house, and he thought
that was doing pretty well.
sHARPS AND FLATS:
A monument Is to be erected to Doni.
zetti In hts native town Of Bergamo.
Nha NC 1I-ku r.
Ing on a three-act opera entitled 20 Bella
NapoH!'
Zeldenrust, a Dutch pianist, Is consid-
cred the equal. IL not the superior, Of
PaderewskL.
"Fleur de Lys" has been selected as the
title Of the opera In which Della Fox will
be seen this year.
1t is said that Damrosch has secured
Klaffske. the leading German prima DON
no. for next season.
Eugene D'Albert has accepted the post
OF first conductor at the Weihar opera
rendered vacant by the death OF Eduard
Lassen.
Maestro Vanzo, the celebrated Milan
musical director, has finished q new opera,
"Ahasver." The words are by the Mar
quis Of 1vrea.
Mascagnd has founded q Journal at
Cerignola, Scienza Diletto, In which he
publishes . series Of articles on libretti,
librettists and music critics.
Mascagni is writing the music for q
new ballet, to be called Dresden China" F."
all the dancers being dressed to initiate
Dresden china statuettes.
Franz Suppe has left an opera, which
he finished shortly before his death. It's
title Is die Brautjagd." 1t is to be given
next year In Germany.
Mime. Calve is to sing In la Navar-
raise" at the Paris Opera ComiQue after
all; the performances will be in October,
Just before she sails for America,