New-York tribune., 1896-12-06
THE MAPLESON FTASCO.

It would be possible to discuss the collapse or
the New Imperial Opera Company with that de-
gree of patience amiability, composure, courtesy
and kindness which such an occasion invites If
there were grounds for believing that there had
ever been any artistic sincerity or financial
soundness back of the enterprise AS it is. the
catastrophe looks in every way like continual
ton of the chapter Of operate annals which
Colonel MaplesOn wrote for the diversion or
scoffers and the edificatiOn Of students dozen
years ago. There is no history so incompre-
hensible to persons who believe in applying the
lessons of experience and taking advantage of
the teachings OF observation the history OF
operate management Many men have written
their names high on the roll of operate mar
tyrs but in all the list only one shines out like
that Of a philosopher. and he was the man who
chose the Fleet Prison as the fittest place of
habtatiOn for one who wished to purvey Oper
attic entertainments. He spoke from experience
for he managed the London opera from within
the walls of the historic JAIL and congratulated
himself that there he was equally safe from the
opportunities of his creditors and the clamor
ings of his singers. But he showed that his
blood was full of the singular virus which flows
in the veins of impresarios. for. while confess
dertake operate management ought to be at
large he\continued the business until he had
made an Unparalleled record as bankrupt.
Colonel Nhpleson must belong 10 the trad
tlonal London stock. He breathed the air OF
man, and evidently he will never get the oper
recovered his financial health had he cultivated
tbo+t 81, b,t fhic h., 70
fused to do The world went on, nevertheless
aud left him behind. He was received here
with 50 much courtesy and kindness that 1t
caused sort Of surprised comment from the
music reviewer Of THE London Daily Tele
graph" who saw NewYork returning TO the
traditions Of two decades ago with manifest
qualification But somebody's calculations must
have gone awry.
No surprise would have been caused by the
announcement OF the collapse Of Colonel Maple
sons enterprise If the public had been frankly
advised Of the trne state Of affairs from the be-
ginning of the undertaking. In burst OF ama.
bility highly creditable to their hearts If not
their heads a majority of the newspaper re-
viewers created the impression that the New
Imperial Opera Company started out on its ca
reer six weeks ago under auspiciOus skies. II
Ql0 not ITdcticdUv, IL WAS utau dS sOoH us IL
was born The notion spread that the
gatherings at the old Academy Of Music repre-
sented the w.t. wealth, fashion, taste and culture
Of the metropolis as used to be the case twenty
years ago They did nothing OF the kind. The
most that was visible Of the old regime wss the
array of deadheads who used 10 constitute the
unofficial claque at the Metropolitan Opera
House and the Academy Of Music, but who have
g. t,,, 1xvnx
it is to be hoped forever. There were some ad-
mirabe things about the last Mapleson perform
ances-some indeed, that might be copied with
profit at the trOpolitan-espccally the zeal
of the conductors and the Willingness OF the
singers big aud little. to do their best; but that
best was not Of the kind demanded by the taste
and judgmen. Of NewYork after the training
enjoyed during the last dozen years. Neither.
evidently. did it reach the popular standard Of
Philadelphia and Boston. however much 1t may
have pleased the newspapers-else should we
not have been called on so soon to chronicle the
demise Of the enterprise.