New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-25
OPERA FOR AMERICANS.
SOME STATISTICS AND STUDY
BRAHMSIANA-MR. ARTHUR FOOTE'S
NEW SUITE.


NEW SUITE.
II II wero possible 10 believe that the element OF
nnality entered into the statement which has been
reiterated with such persistency TO the effect that
there IS TO be regular season OF opera at the
Metropolitan Opera House next season, there would
be some consolation in the fact that 1t would turn
The minds Of opera purveyors and opera patrons to
q study OF the lessons of the past 1t Is needless
n say 10 tho careful readers of The Tribune that
this journal IS disposed TO take the utterances of
Mr. Grau and his friends with many grains of al
lowance They fly right IN tho face of probability
0. course Mr. Grau is not in a position TO state
positively that he intends to give opera In the
n,st place as matters stand at present he cannot
Give opera with the new financial support that has
been offered him without getting release from
an obligation which binds him TO the old company
~ Abbey Schoeffel & Grau, Limited. Steps look
ing to that end have been taken; the stockholders
who will meet on May 4, will take action on tho
recommendation Of their directors that such re-
lease be given These stockholders will scarcely
feel Inclined for another campaign after they shall
have Wondered the results OF the last one. and We
fancy the release will be forthcoming. Until then
Mr. Grau can make no contracts with singers. but
meanwhile he Will be in the best place in tho world
and IN the best position TO negotiate contracts
end secure provisional agreements He Will be pre-
paring for his London season and If all goes well
with him at Covent Garden he Will easily controI
+he situation against singers and rival irp-
p-esarics On the subject OF singers there need be
Va feor The fact that New-York has had so pow
ertul a combination for years docs not mean that
,bere are no others 10 be had. 1t has been one Of
IRE evil consequences Of the system restored by
Abbey Schoeffel & Grau at the metropolitan that
sort OF personal cult has taken the place ot SOUND
artistic appreciation. This was an ineVftaoie con-
seouence Of tho "star cast which, In turn. was the
Inevitable outcome of tho star" system. and was
beginning.
.Ne disaster which has overtaken IT. But II the
reople are not as ficko they are at least just as
selfish as tire singers. and when new singers come
there will also be rev favorites. II wouo ne
fortunate thing every respect II there were less
devotioo 10 the singer and more attention TO the
SING but II the personal cult is TO continue II IL
-. ohv,ous why II should not with a new COM
many Van Dyk and Alvarez are in the RANKS VI
.he tenors and younger than NJ Jean oe hesHno'
ard the popularity OF Signora Beillnclon His"t
even eclipse that Of any Of the ladies OF the recent
oo,,nar, Suppose Nine. Melba goes off with the
7,er,rosch company-what then7 Well the ueN-
otees Of Nine. Media will be comforted win inc
,,ourbt that they will still be able TO hear ther
cbarrcr Suppose she does not come nacN at an
(Which We are inclined TO think would Do "ISuoi"
IN her part and a kindness 10 her ART anu M
Damrosch's enterprise, which can no more cAs,
rs,f-slayc and half-free than could inc CH''0"
CITES j., the provision Of Lincoln). sha! thero nor
.,,, mat she had about worn out her reper'orE
ha<ore she went away? For such there sHai 10
,,.,-h announcement IN The study or local hs'oi!
.tlc,, &c 20 come presently in this discussion II
We must have our old friends back Vho III SUM
-. s,,cn desire is as wise as II is amaolel
So -,a,,cs * not out OF the fe!d but In 1t, ana
-.,-1 nor cluster the highest hopes when we
,,.ri,b touching the opera of the next oeo'ue'
Ara Nordica might come back even wi'hou. tne
<o-gsveness Of VI. &c Rcszie. And senpricn - as
~
charming "a ever Il tho Judgment OF o.
t~rr and Vienna Is any criterion. And there are
others
And My Grau secures lease oi Wv 800
fIo.so ,eus US We shall have no opera "eN' $500
sud salts away 70 the spot whero inc 80 ~ e. 1sos
ere aoctng Ho viii come back IN 'ne ,, t., ,ho
So. r,oa,Ubile he wishes TO make stra's". ~, ui0
90, l.'' Iirbwav for Mr. Damrosch and Nine
Media. ,.-,n,.
As nose on mans face OF
steepie"
1u,nit 50 be that Mr.. Gran shall no, con'e ,,un
- i, II 60 be that he shall. meanwhiie me- ,
fo- rejection. Shall we no' Iet our ,r.ro ave
80 snace with the things OF tho past -,
-. r,A,norles OF fourteen years conhec'eu WIZ
- 1,..ronlttan opera House, opera mas oeV"
,,.-for-rod there thirteen seasons theio Oes A..
80 oie.s inter~egnum. due TO the TACT We" rno
~ -, Eva rIace uninhabitabls on August 20 Ios-'
- tho season 1926 had TO pa deYo'ea 70 LIZ
..,or,+ior The first season, IVY OF, va"
I,a,tau ono ana when II was over NJ. AopeS o"o
20. - rs done with italian opera 1ore'e'-" NV
49,, rer{;,-y and "Perjuria Hoe'
-..or" Then came DR.. Damrosca with ms 80
,[, ,s-i,nert and had seven years Oh opv PC,
80 =, -, and German opera. In mo sprlh5 VI -'
III " Is I'd baen smiling at Mr.. Abbey o'ohoi
-, ard 6alhance with the ainlapie A., ,ast
Wv ~" - Time laughed outright. FOR III lAo '"o'
.,.a.v. NJ the German season 1Ser - I" s,n1 e.
- 800 "a. sprung. and Abbey Scho'lie
- e,-o~ed ths citado; in ;he fan OF 1871 ' -
80 80 .ooir Italian and French loiceS 49,.
- - paen ever since. though 'heIe wa"
~. :, ,roction There have, uerel0'.' -
49,! ,n.eons Of German performances anu 80
49, -, Ia called Italian Cor convenience en-
ave ourselves only 20 performance. 49,,
49,, - req,ilar subscription Seasons ~ -,
49,, eos that teach the artistic anu ,,.
az ' Itch ougct to be drawn from tIle iio -
,.ora n go beyo.a these LINKS VIC s"' uo
" we - 20 consider tho Italian seasons d" Va
o"I's ,-. -. Music the sporadic Patu seasons ,
.AVa.o' o,ob,s German seasons. Here Is tiio ~,
49,. liar OF operas whioh haNe - .onreesn-
~ reo,lar seasons from the openiis v o,os
- 80 - "Faust'' on October 2, lSS7' TO .o %
go -asantation CT "siegfried on Iep- -. .hn
az. .ns ~ oneras being arranged accoru'"9
-o'., y, performances given to eSoH'
number OF '' Times T TiTes
Opera. a. Hamlet ....."'''.''''''.
Losensr.n .-''..''''. &c Martha ....''''''''''''.
y