The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-04-23

celebrated diva. For that reason Patti
i'm concert at salary OF $1,000 a night
was a good speculation for her hrst man
ager. But county people who have psid
% TO hear great singer once, generally
refrain from that extravaganza a second
time. So PATHS second concert tour was
a costly failure, and Those who had paid
y. so to hear Melba In concert were scarcely
tempted 10 give 81 for the enjoyment OF
her operatic performances. Therefore
Melba fell behind during the tour while
Calve came TO the front, and for this rea-
son the French prima donna is holding
out for a higher salary, although her
equally famous companion has signed
renewal of her contract. But 1t is an III
wind that blows nobody good. Made
mad by the unprecedented success OF her
concert tour. some Boston enthusiasts
were insane enough 10 propose giving
Melba s24O0 night and her own opera
company next year. That absurd pro-
ject has now fallen through, and, her
ambition to become a millionaire in one
season now abated, Nine. Melba. Listened
amiably to the reasonable proposal OF
Abbey and Grau. Some months ago IT
was whispered that Calve, not to be out
done by Melba, had demanded s2SO0 for
next season. She may still be standing
stifiy on these terms. But we may warn
her that they are not TO be considered.
Abbey and Grau cannot afford to grant
ent Cs!ve Is not so great favorite with
us as she used to be, and carmen" no
longer brings s12, 900 into the box office.
Popularity on tour is not so fine an ad-
vantage as it seems to be, for the road
season lasts only six weeks, while the
! Metropolitan engagement continues al
| most five months. In order to be entirely
profitable to the management, in these
| circumstances, q singer must be supreme
! favorite in New York
The artist who fills this requirement
most completely Is Jean de Reszke. We
have been acquainted with the famous
| tenor for several years, and each season
| his popularity increases. With his salary
and percentage. N. DE ResSke earns on
good nights about $500. He Is worth
| the salary, for any performer who brings
more money into the box Office than he
| takes out of II IL valuable to his manager.
Generally considered, it will be observed
| that the absence from or presence in the
cast OF Jean de Reszke makes difference
OF at least 5000 in the receipts, or, In
other words, people pay that amount
solely to enjoy his art. For instance, IL
Calve. with Lubert as Don Jose, draws
in $1,000, Calve, with De Reszke as Don
oubted. see the difference between to-
nights audience at "Carmen" and that
! of last tuesday. Therefore, while at
present the management will not, OF
course, disclose the names OF their artists,
we may reasonab bly, assume that Jean de
| Reszke will return TO us In November.
! That means the return of Edouard, for
the brothers are inseparable. We have
also cause TO know that M. Plancon will
| come back to us, and Cremonini, Carbone,
| Ancona, Arimondi, Maurel. Campanari,
| Bauermeister, scalchi, Mantelli and Nor
dica. Russitano is doubtful matter, and
| as the German opera plan Is to be- aban-
| doned, probably we shall not have Brema,
| Beeth, Kaschmann and Olitzka. Nine.
Saville and Mime. Bngel are prime favor
| ties in Europe, where their engagements
may keep them, yet 1t is possible that
saville may come back, and the return OF
| Engel is not entirely out OF the question.
| OF one thing we may be sure: Whether
| Walter Damrosch continues his effort for
| German opera, or whether Colonel Maple
| sons project materalizes or remains the
shadow of a dream, Ii is already settled
| that the Abhey-Grau company Will be aa
| splendid In art next year az 1t has been
| this season.
At tho end of this week a number of
, artists will lose the most profitable en-
| gagement they ever had or Will have.
| Although the German opera part OF the
season was failure, 10 Teutouic singers
| employed for il will receive their salaries
were engaged from November until the
| MIDDLE OF April. The tenor, even whose
name Is forgotten, employed at a salary
| OF 5000 a month, sang three times, and
| for those three melancholy performances
he will receive $l6, 800. Nine. Janaus-
chowsky had a similar contract, and also
sang three times. Therefore, for three
nights singing by these costly artists the
management has to pay s33, 600. The re-
naming Ii German singers had q five
months contract, and brought little bet
| ter luck to the house.