The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-11-08

the greatest bassos Of these times are
Edouard de Reszke and Pol. Plancon.
These singers, having no competitors
in art or popularity, possess the right
to charge as much as they please for
their services. But an i~mpresario
has stood between the dew of his
singers eXorbitant charges and he
deep sea of the inability of music
lovers to buy tickets at advanced rates.
Col. Mapleson's latest New York
venture has proved that artistic, en-
joyable and financially prosperous
opera can be given without the aid OF
celebrated singers. Very like, the chief
prima donna, Nine. Hariclee Darclee,
receives no more than $500 a night, II,
indeed, h gets so much. We should
not be surprised to learn hat Mime.
Bonaplata had $500 q night, and prob
ably Signor Durot would consider HIM
self fortunate to receive SO much. Yet
in an artistic sense these modest sing
ers offered a performance of aida"
last week hat could hardly be sur
passed at the Metropolitan, and which.
from the standpoint of operate pro-
duction, was more complete thar the
productions last year Of Walter DAM
rosch. On a rough estimate, we should
say that Col. Mapleson's expenses are
not over 81, 600 a night, while those of
Damrosch ran from 5000 to 1000 a
night, and those of Abbey & Grau from
So, 900 to $1,000. Now, Mapleson charges
81 a seat, Damrosch charges "a and
the Metropolitan price is So. 1t, there
fore, appears that Mapleson stands
most chance to make opera profitable.
If the success achieved by the Maple
son company Of unknown and mex
pensive singers a force great singers
into the belief that they are not always
supreme factors in the enjoyment OF
music, the public must be ultimately
benefited. Were the expense of Grau
and Damrosch reduced, they could al
low the smaller as well as the larger
cities to heal the works of great COM
posers finely interpreted at a cost with
in reach of everybody. Of course, the
De Reszkes, Media, Calve and other
high-priced artists will not abate their
demands so long as they consider them
selves indispensable. Fol- this reason
the MapleSon experiment will be watch
ed with interest in musical centers all
over the country. If it continues a
success, the salaries of great singers
may be reduced inc before long we,
Of the West may find that grand opera,
instead Of being one of the most ex-
pensive enjoyments, may become al
most as universal in its benefactions
as the drama.
AldIGIICC VI II O1AAO@SO OA60AAA0hB
whose triumphs abroad have been re-
ported from time to time, ha returned
to this country. He left Chicago in
June, 1895, and went to London, where
he PLAYED a series Of concerts in Queens
hall. and was enthusiastically received
by the British critics. Joseph Barnby
and Joseph Bennett lavished high praise
on his work, and at bennington Walter
Spinney gave a concert at the cathed-
raj at which Mr.. Eddy played a com
position written expressly for him by
Mr.. Spinney. 1t was in Paris, how
ever, that he gained the most fattering
welcome.
The Schubert club is negotiating with
Madame Lime, of Chicago, for a series
Of recitals to be given early in Deem
Der.
Miss Ella Richards and Miss Louise
Taylor, the violin player, gave an in
formal musicale at the HON of the
former on Selby avenue last Monday
evening.
Miss Shryock, of Minneapolis. Percy
Churchill and Harry George, assisted
at the Schubert club concert last
Wednesday. Mr.. Churchill sang Don
Juan's Serenade by T. Schaikowsky,
and Mr.. George, Bartlett's "A Dream"
Miss Shryock's piano number was a
selection from Der Meistersinger scored
by Bendel. Miss Fuller, Miss Cleve-
land, Mrs. Clark, Mrs. Jilson. Miss.
Coghlan, Miss Kelly, Mrs. Hall. Miss
Humbird, Miss Zenzius and Mrs. III. r.
Curtis also participated in the well
selected programme.
'Minnetonka Beach March, tuneful
and easy, a composition by Minnie
Terrell, has been received from w. J..
Dyer & Bros, publishers.
The ladies' chorus of the Winnie
apolis Ladies' Thursday musicale. I'M
der the direction OF Emil Oberhoffer.
made It's first appearance at the meet