The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-02-13
Management a Fine Art.

This is the last week of the Franco
Italian opera season in New York. 1t has
been almost entirely successful The en-
gagemeut began brilliantly, continued
artistically and will end proftably. Henry
Il. Abbey, who has been In ill-health al
most ali winter and compelled TO take
long trips in search OF rest and restora-
ton, has had no mental anxieties to de-
lay his recovery. The entire weight OF
the grand opera venture was generally
undertaken by Maurice Grau, anu so well
has this gentleman borne the responsible
ity that prosperity reigned In the box
office and peace dwelt on the stage. The
directors of the METROPOLITAN are satisfied,
the boxholders are satisfied, the public
is satisfied, the manag sment Is satisfied
and the artists are satisfied. The latter
matter is most remarkable. Singers are
proverbially sensitive, high strung, ner-
vous and quick TO take offense. When IT
is remembered that each Of our prima
donnas steadfastly believes that sre, AID
she alone, can give proper vocal ana
dramatic expression 10 the favorite roles
of Marguerite, Elsa, Eva, Julietle, v~ioletta
and Leonofa that each of The bassos main
taips his supremacy in "Faust, ""Romeo
ct Juliette,'' "Lohengrin", "Die Wal
kure," and "Mefistofele;" that each Of
the baritones defies his fellows in the
1hfib1tNAc ~ NdAOhtihks uhhi, ~
mundo, Escamillo, Rigoletto and DE
Nevers; and that the tenors ~jealously
hold their personal right TO Raoull,
Faust, Don Jose, Romeo, L~ohengrin and
Walther, the difficulties of an impressario
are apparent. There are six celebrated
prima donnas ana Nine. Won Janauschow-
sky in the present company, and every
one of them can sing Marguerite and
Elsa better than her rivals. There are
five enors who would fight a duel with
anybody who would say that they had
not the especial copyright on Lohengrin,
Romeo and Faust. A word worlt bring
war between these fiery fellows, the bari
tones, and If Maurel Ancon and Cam
panari are ever let loose at one another
their remains must be buried in a basket.
Nothing short of a miricale has kept the
peace between the bassos, Plancon,
Edouard de Reszke and ArimoDdi, over
the questions of Frere, Laurent, Mephis-
topheles and King Henry. The fact that
Calve, saville, Nordica and Melba ere still
on speaking terms shows that Maurice
Grau is the greatest d~ipiopatist OF mod
ern times.
twenty-five operas have been supgthis
season. The list is headed by Wagner
with five works-"Lohengrin." "TanD-
hsuser," "Die Walkure,' - Christian and
Isolde" and "Die Me ste-singer." Verdi
also has five works-"falstaf," "Aida,"
LII IIdNldtH, hlROletlO, anu iro-
vatore." The third place is held by
Gounod's scores, of which there were
three, "Romeo ct J1liette," "Faust, ~
and "Philemon ct Baucis." Bizet mad
two works, Msssenet two, Donizetti two,
Mascagni one, Beethoven one, Gluch
one, Leoncavailo one, Boilo one, Thomas
one, and Meyerbeer enc. The favorite
and most profitable oreras this winter
We're Carmen, Lies -Huguenots,"
"Romeo ct Juliette, 4" "Faust, Tristan
and Isolde, 'Lucis." "Cavalieria Rusti-
cana" "Manon, - ala Navarraise,' and
"Lohengrin. Those we're the productions
which attracted the largest audiences and
received most applause. The greatest re-
ceipts were for "Carmen," and "Lcs
Huguenots," both OF which operas were
performed by phenomenal casts. The Sat-
urday night performances at popular
prices have not been attended 90 well as
was expected, but the Sunday concerts
have invariably crowded the house. On
these occasions the illness of principal
singers compelled the management to
disappoint the public, but, generally con-
sidered, the artists have been ia good
health, good spirits aud good voice. Few
mistakes were made IN the policy of the
house, and Abbey and Grau end their sea-
son with prosperity and the applause Of
the city.