The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-11-07

ANTON sEIDL AND WALTER DAMROSCH.
which Is denied to most musicians. For
this reason he was better prepared to un-
dertake the establishment OF permanent
orchestra than was Seidl, In spite OF
seidl's greater age and experience. DAM
rosch was aided by Andrew Carnegie.
Carnegie was close friend OF James u.
Blaine. Damroseh married Mr.. Blaine's
daughter. Carnegie not only helped Dam
rosch raise subscriptions for his orchestra,
but put up some millions to build the
finest music hall in the United states, on
Seventh avenue in this city. This music
hall, by the way, is not philanthropic en-
terprise, but business investment. be-
lieye 1t is paying small amount now, but
that profit is not in the beautiful music
hall. 1t is in the studio apartments In the
other parts of the building.
With the aid of Mr.. Carnegie, Mr.. Dam
rosch got "A guarantee fund of $25, 600 q
wear for two years from some OF the very
rich people of New York, the Vanderbiits
and their connections being chiefly con-
spicuous In the list of subscribers. With
this money he engaged n large corps OF fire
musicians Money was not spared any
where. He went abroad and brought back
with him some of the best musicians or
other countries He paid big salaries and
he made everything as perfect as IL couio
be. This consumed all of the $50, O0O the
first year In spite of large audiences. Ine
second year the 1000 guarantee was
eaten up again. 1t had taken IA great many
more than two years to establish the Bos-
ton orchestra and "a good deal more than
$50. 600. But Mr. Damroschs enterprise
came at an unfortunate time. Money was
scaroe. For the third year he was able TO
obtain only SIC, 900 and ms much the fourth
year. But in these years he was able to
employ the orchestra for operatic purposes.
Where before he had used his musicians In
concert work only, he put them on tine
road with German opera company. 1 ne
| opera enterprise proved profitable tine nrst
season. Mr. Damrosch himself was credit
| cd with making $4,000 out OF IT, Inc
second year he did not do 80 well. He was
in competition with the opera company
from the Metropolitan Opera House, and
| both of them suffered
With the end of the fourth season Mr.
Damrosch made proposition 20 his musi-
cinns to organize the orchestra on CO.
operative basis Some OF the wealthy peo-
pie who had helped support tho undertak'
| ing before were to take stock in the orches-
trn and were To share In the profits, II there
were any The musicians woro TO take
part of the profits i'm lieu of salaries. EN-
ploymont was guaranteed To the orchestra
for the German opera season ut the Metro
politan Opera House and for the concerts
of the New York symphony society anu
the Oratorio society, of which Mr.. Dam
rosch Is the musical director. In addition
20 this, the orchestra was Co give popular
concerts through the winter. Most oil the
men agreed to this proposition, and the
orchestra Is now organized on this proul
shnring basis The men arc sure To re
ceiye something for thoir labor, and II th'
ennson is profitable they will make more
than II thcy had been employed on salaries
In time IL is quite possible the men will
find their stock In the orchestra "a valuable
asset There Is promise of better times
end luxurics are going 10 bo moro In do
mand, now that the election excitement II
over Besides, the first concerts given by
Mr. Damrosch have proved more proiitabl'
than any he has given IN many years
Thcy are strictly popular concerts, ana th'
price charged for seats Is 90 cents.
Anton Seidl has organized an orchestra
also on n cooperative plan. In his orchcs
trn. however mono but members Is per
.nitted 10 hold stock All but few OF TIT
Soidi players are stockholders In the com
, pnuy. and the direction Of IL Is In the con
troll of the musicians themselves All tn
officers ere men who play in the orchestra
( This experiment II valuable rs an illustra
ton of the possibilities VI profit shAytnI