The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-03-31

country that they virtually subsidize any
dramatic or operatic attraction which ap-
pears in this country. But the other con-
ditions prevailing hero are very different
from the conditions elsewhere. We pay
our opera singers double what they receive
abrOad-in some cases three and four times
as much That is what makes the most
noted singers of the world flock to New
York every winter The uncertainty of
the climate, the pains and perils of travel
ing from city to city are all offset by the
enormous salaries which managers are
willing to give. And the greater the sal
aries, by the way, tho more people seem
willing to pay for their amusement The
statement that an artist receives $50 a
minute for singing will crowd tho Metro
politan Opera house. Still the regular
patronage of opera has not sustained the
French and Italian season at the Metro
politan. The stockholders OF the opera
house give the use Of the house rent free to
the managers in return for tho use of the
boxes and 1t is safe to soy that these boxes
cost the owners more than any other the
atrical entertainment in the world costs
individual patrons. Tho wealthy people
Of New York sustain the Metropolitan
opera because 1t Is fashionable to have
opera and because the opera nights give
them the opportunity 70 display fine jew
els and handsome dressing. The care with
which the management catalogues the
owners of the boxes on tho freely distrib-
uted programmes shows that it recognizes
too, the attractive power Of this display of
wealth. and fashion. So not art but fash
ion is the foundation on which the Fronoh
and Italian opera is built.
Mr.. Damrosoh has given a series OF Ger
man operas-chietly tho Wagner operas
L., -N.,14 ~lAl
fore. He has had crowded houses night
after night, not of fashionable people, but
of those who hiss with artistic fervor the
slightest tendency to applaud in the mid.
die of an act and who arc moro generous
with their applause when the curtain falls
than even tho audiences of the Metropoli
tan.
Mr.. Dnmrosoh cleared s75, 900 last sea
son. This season he has taken his com.
pany as far west as Denver, and he would
have gone to the Pacific coast If he could
have got favorable rates from tho railroad
companies. Ho carried Go musicians with
him even into tho smaller towns where he
gave single performances. He took
chorus of so voices, and among his princi.
pals were the chief interpreters of German
music known to Europe. Flafsky, Ter.
nina, Gadski, Alvary, Gruening, LANCE.
Mertens, have made memorable the produc.
tions of tho works Of that master of the
new school of music drama, Richard Wae.
ncr. The enthusiasm Of the audiences ey-
erywhere more than atoned for the losses
which We're inevitable in some of the
smaller places visited, and in the city of
St Louis, where poor local management
seemed to work against the success of the
engagement, the people OF the city got to.
gother and raised n guarantee fund of S..
600, Mr.. Damrosch tells mo, to induce him
to return next year. Boston was most EN-.
thusiastic, and the two weeks spent by
tho company there were an artistic and
financial triumph. Washington and Bal.
timore were generous In their patronage
and Chicago gave warm support. Even
Now Orleans, bred to French opera of the
older school, so different from the work OF
the German MASTER showed unexpected
enthusiasm.
MIR. Damrosch tells me he hos not signed
any contracts for next year, but he is max
Ing plans with view to renewing the ex-
pertinent which has proved so successful 1t
is still an experiment, because, through the
jealousy OF the managers OF the Metropoli-
tan Opera House, the young conductor is
Shut out Of that temple OF music and Is
Obliged to rent a much inferior house. But
there Is very little doubt that there will be
another season OF German opera next year,
probably with an even stronger company.
MI Damrosch has at his back in New
YORK not alone tho musical clement, but
the wealthy people who have made opera
possible. II he needed any financial baok-
ing In his enterprise, no could raise a
guarantee fund In New York of generous
proportions on very short notice What
his plans for next season arc no will not
disclose.
AS to his individual plans, they arc not
yet made, but 1t is altogether likely that
no will devote his summer largely to com
position. The favorable reception of his
own opera Tho Scarlet Letter. in Boston
and New York may encourage him to do
something more in tho Same direction.
JAMES b. SANDRRsoN.
New York.