The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-04-07


country that they virtually subsidize any
dramatic or operatio attraction which ap-
pears in this country. But the other con
ditions prevailing here arc 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, the more people seem
willing to pay for their amusement. The
statement that an artist receives $50
minute for singing viii crowd the 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 the use of the
boxes and it is safe to say that these boxes
cost the owDers more than any other the
atrical entertainment in the world costs
individual patrons. The wealthy people
of New York sustain the Metropolitan
opera because it is fashionable to have
opera and because the opera nights give
them the opportunity to display fine jew
els and handsome dressing. The care with
which the management catalogues the
owners of the boxes on the 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 French
and Italian opera is built
Mr.. DamrOsch has given a series Of Ger
man operas-chieGy the Wagner operas
in a style never eQualcd in New York be
fore He has had crowded houses night
after night. not of fashionable people, but
slightest tendency to applaud in the mid
die of an act and who are more generous
with their applause when the curtain falls
than even the audiences Of the MetrOpoli-
tan.
Mr.. Damrosch cleared s75, 600 last sea
son. This season be has taken his com
pany as far west as Denver, and be would
have gone to the Pacific coast if be could
have got favorable rates from the railroad
companies. He carried So musicians with
him even into the smaller towns where he
gave single performances. He took q
chorus Of so voices, and among his priEol-
pals were the chief interpreters of German
music Known to Europe Flafsky Ter
nina, Gadski, Alvary, Gruening, LANCE
and finally our own Fischer, Behrens and
Mertens, have made memorable the prodEo-
lions of the works of that master Of the
new school Of music drama, Richard Wag
ner- The enthusiasm of the audiences ev-
erYNT0 ere more CnaD aLOueQ Tor the losses
which were inevitable in some of tho
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-
gether and raised a guarantee fund of S.,
600, Mr.. Danrosch tells me, to induce him
to return next year Boston was most en-
thusiastio and the two weeks spent by
the company there were an artistic and
financial triumph. Washington and Bal
Cimore were generous in their patronage
and Chicago gave warm support. Even
New Orleans bred to French opera Of the
older school, so different from the work of
the German master, showed unexpected
enthusiasm
Mr.. Damrosch tells me he has not signed /
any contracts Tor next year but he is max
ing plans with a view to renewing the e1-
pertinent which has proved SO successful Tt 4
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 viii be f
another season of German opera next year, +
probably with an even stronger company
Bir- Damr0sch has at his back in New
York not alone the musical element, but +
the wealthy people who have made opera i
possible. If he needed any financial back
ing in his enterprise, he could raise
guarantee fund in New York of generous (
proportions on very short notice. What
his plans for next season are he Will not
disclose
AS to his individual plans, they are not /
yet made, but it is altogether likely that
he win devote his summer largely to com I
position. The favorable reception Of his /
own opera 80 The SCARLET Letter in Boston I
and New York may encourage him to do /
something more in the same direction.
JAMES B. SANDERsON.
New York.
MI. ri.tst,,...ars 1,1s,,sis,,ss ..ill b.rs