Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-12-24

couple of dollars and two copies of his
work TO our librarian of congress at
Washington to secure the most per-
feet protection. certain representa-
tive has promised to introduce at the
present session of congress n bill de-
signed to correct this manifest injustice
to American playwrights.
-
a few years ago any man who might
have suggested that Walter Damrosch
would ever have a pretentious grand
opera organization in the Metropolitan
Opera House because OF the confessed
inability of Maurice Grau to get to-
gether company of sufficiently strong
proportions to make money enough to
overcome the enormous expense would
nave been adjudged n ut subject for
treatment at lunatic asylum. And yet
that is just what has come to pass
Dainrosch's company will begin an
engagement at the Metropolitan Opera
House on Jan. IL. and it is of such ex-
cellence that there is very little doubt
that the daring young impresario, who
used to be sneeringly alluded to as "the
son of his father" will find his venture
a very profitable one The heavy ad-
vance sale, too, would seem to be a
further augury of his success, which. by
the way. he richly deserves If ever a
theatrical caterer did.
Melba will of course be the ''artiste
de resistance" but she will not have
matters entirely her own way, for that
magnificent exponent of Wagnerian
roles, Frau GadslSi, will also be in the
company and will sing such parts as
Elizabeth, as well as Elsa in "Ioben-
grin" and Brunhilde in die Walkure."
Melba's efforts, it is believed. will be
confined to Marguerite in Faust" Vio-
letta in La Traviata" and Juliette in
Romeo ct Juliette," although she may
be seen in other parts.
Campanari of the old METROPOLITAN
company, who Is one of the best bari
tones In the world, has been engaged.
as also have Selignac and NJ. Ibos the
new French sensations in the field of
tenors. of the newcomers, Nine Bar
ma. Mile. Toronto, Herr and Frau Stau- |
digl and NJ. Racns are highly recon-
mended. Herr Kraus. considered by
many the best living Siegfried, is to be
heard here as Tristan in Christian und
Isolde" and as Arthur in THE Scarlet
Letter" the opera which Walter Dam
rosoh composed in collaboration with !,
the son Of the great novelist.
80
hear that Marie Tempest, whom j. |
NJ. Hill so appropriately christened the |
Dresden China" prima donna, is to be |
with us again next season, and that she |
Will head an American company pre- |
senting an opera on an American sub |
ject by an American ibrettist and an
American composer. The name of the
mapager who is to exploit Miss Tenn
pest is not given. and the fact that she
has long term contract with MIR. |
George Edwardes OF London together
with the further fact that she Is an
enormous favolite in London, would /
seem to Indicate that there is not much I
in the rumOr. One thing is certain, and /
that Is that there could not easily be
mentioned II starring tour for this coun-
try which would hold forth more prom
Use o. success than this venture At the
present time there is n great demand
for a woman like Miss Tempest who is
able not only 10 sing In real comic OPP
era, but also to enbody the subtle hui
r'or Of moderate prina donna role.
Miss Tempest. IL she were to lose her
singing voice tomorrow would not be
hampered in her artistic ca
reer. for she would find managers tum-
bling over each other in n mad scram-
edy productions. She Is. in other words.
TO the comic opera stage just what En-
ma calve is TO the world of Grand OPP
era. IL 1t should develop that Miss
Tempest is not 20 come next year, the
theator goera of London are TO be con-
while we on the this side
the pond are entitled to sympathy.
those who are responsible for
the story declare that 1t is true. and
that the enterprise win be the most
that this country has ever
Ieen in connection with comic opera.
-.
Oscar Wilde, 1t seems, 10 good deal
ike Banquos ghost in that he win not
down. During his Incarceration. and
,ven after his release from prison, the
OF one Of the few friends
who stuck to him through his disgrace :