The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-11-12

condition OF affairs which led TO Mme-
Nordica's failure TO be re-engaged this
season as a member OF the company ut
the Metropolitan Opera-House. and Mr..
Grau says that he Is still willing TO
arrange "A series of appearances for hcr
here II she is anxious TO appear at he
Metropolitan this season in some of er
well-known parts.
She was not driven out In any sen 90
OF the word" said Mr.. Grau. "an1 II
she wants TO return here | will make the
same offer to her that | made when II
became clear that she could not be en-
gagged on her conditions as a regular
member Of the company. IL she wants
to return to New York and appear here
at the OPERA | Will arrange the per-
formances for her Nobody regrets her
absence from the company more than
| do
WHAT DE RESZKE SAYS.
Jean de Reszke does not deny having
written the letter 10 Nine. Melba which
occasioned her so much delight and
caused Nine. Nordica so much anguish.
hut. he says. that IL was written as
long ago as last March in answer 10 n
note that he had received from the prima
donna while the company was singing in
Chicago.
opportunity to hear tsa Tristan and
Isolde performance" he said to Sun
reporter yesterday. until we sang in
Chicago. There she wrote me a most
nattering letter and said that she mad
been perfectly carried away by the per-
Torrance. and complimentod me very
chaimingly. | wrote back 10 her that II
was possible for a singer like her to
learn the Wagner roles, ard suggested
that as she had always sung The old
repertoire and the lighter music. that
she had better commence with sucn
part as the Brunnhiide in 'Siegirled'
who appears only for part of one act.
She accepted my advice. and began TO
study the role enthusiastically. One of
the conditions of her return this season
vas that she should be allowed 70 APP
rear i'm the part
Somebody inimical TO me has Ter-
suaded Nine Nordica that I Ised nay
influence in Nine. Meita's favor. lt IS
absolutely false | never use1 any IN
fucrce ( might have to gain an adj
vantage for ANYBODY I'm the company.
or to get an engagement for them.
have made il n rule never to interfere
for n reason I will tell you later. Just
before ! sailed from Europe. I had
letter from little Carbonc. who has not
been engaged. saying: oh. my dear
Jean. one little word Of recommendation
from you might be OF great advantage
Of me-. Rindaidini. who is not TO return
this winter. wrote me from Naples. one
word from YOU might help me-
ABOUT NINE. LITVINNE.
If Nine Melba studied Brunnhilde
with Herr Kniese I'm Paris. ! had moth
ing 20 do with it. He was there with
Nine. Eames. and he had some spare
time Anybody that wanted TO hdu
right TO take lessons from him.
When it comes TO question of my
having managed Mime. Litvinne's en-
gagements. that can easily be answered.
In the case of my relatives / should
never make the least effort TO get them
into a company TO which / belonged. /
would be more particular in such a case
than I'm any other. When Mr.. Grau told
me that Nine. Nordica would positively
not return he said That he would like 10
engage Nine. Litvnne. Her brother, NJ
Schultz went down to Lyons. where she
had been engaged. ana arranged for her
release. lie also managed 10 have her
freed from her contracts at Moscow. She
was very anxious 10 come here. because
Il has always been her desire 10 sing
in opera with me. and she had never
before had the opportunity. never
suggested her name. nor had the slight
est interest i'm her engagement. Mr.
Grau heard Of what Nine. Cosima Wag-
ner had said Of her and was anxious
to engage her for that reason. If Nine.
Nordica. moreover. ever heard that / used
my influence against her i'm the COM
pany. she was told so by an enemy Of
mine
Manager Grau corroborated N. dc
Eoszkes account OF Mime. MIelba's acqui-
sitiOn Of the role of Rrunnhilde I'm "Sieg-
tried" and said that Nine. Nordica could
not have been re-engaged. as she insist
ed on the exclusive possession Of a part
which could not possibly be granted TO
her.