New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-31
Mr.. DAuROSCH AND NINE. MELBA.

Thirteen years ago. It will be recalled, there
was a crisis in the operate affairs OF YORK
not unlike the present one Mr.. Abbey had an
nounced his conviction that the experiences
which he had had in managing the Metropoll'
tan Opera House for one season would suffice
him for the rest of his natural life. and had hed
him off 10 London to retrieve his fortunes.
Then there began a search for an impresarlo
Naturally the stockholders Of the opera house
turned to Mr.. Gye. who was an opera manager
of standing and experience in London. Mr..
Gye seemed willing, but there were difficulties
in the way Nine. Nilsson was much admired
By the stockholders, and one Of the conditions
of their offer TO Mr.. eye was that she should be
re-engaged: but Mime. Nilsson cherished high
| opinion of the value Of her services-a much
| higher opinion. indeed. than that held by Mr.
| Gyo, who having prima donna for wife, natu-
| rally looked upon his own powers of Appraisal.
| with considerable respect. Fears Of bad BUSH
| ness resulting from a political canvass came ia
| add to the general perplexity. and late In the
| summer the negotiations came to an end The
| prospects for a season Of opera In 1851 50
seemed anything but bright.
One day DR. Damrosch crossed over TO Ger
| many He went unattended by brass band; in
| fact, so silent and uneventful was his departure
that a great many people who were inclined to
think that everlasting things hung upon the per-
Torrance of opera al tie Metropolitan Opera
House did not even know that he contemplated
going till he had gone. They had scarcely begun
TO realize the fact than he was back again with
an entire opera company at his heels-a Prima
donna asSoluta. Prlma donna conralto, tcnore
robusto. tenore di grazia. basso profundo basso
cantanti baritone and all the rest. only they
didn't call them thus, but. less unsteady and
mVe forcefully. Erste Dramatschc. Jugendlich
Dramatische. Heldcn Tenor. Erstcr Bass and the
like: for in q twinkng German had become the
official language Of our opera. Seven eventful
years followed Ii was not to rehearse their
story that they have been recalled TO memory.
but only TO direct attention 10 a coincidence. Il
is less than Two months since Mr.. Walter Dam
rosch was directing the opera AT the Meropol-
tan Yet he Is already back from visit to Eu
rope undertaken for the purpose OF organizing
company for the operate campaign OF 1877
'9S He is not disposed TO be garrulous about
the things accomplished abroad or 10 talk about
his plans for next winter Plainly he has some
OF the discretion as he has also some Of the
energy and decision Of his lamented father
But gossip has busted herself with his affairs
We know that he was in Paris. and that there
Nine. Melba's friends smiled on him and voted
him an extremely interesting young man. So he
is. and one. moreover. who Is liable to do in
teresting things. Only it Is getting to be difficult
TO understand him. When he went into the
business of operate management 1t was, by his
own confession. because he felt an almost IA
tastic belief in Wagner opera" Till now he
has adhered TO that belief though he contem-
plated number Of mixed performances, chiefly
for the delectaion of his Philadelphia constitu
ency. last season.
But what are we to expect this year with
Melba at the head Of his forces rs announced:
Was not last year rich in lessons touching the
relationship between The y pular taste and
the charming warblcr's reperfory? Was there
ever q more convincing demonstration Of the
mp0tency in the metropolis nj least OF Lucia"
"Traviata." Hamlet and even OF Romeo
and Juliet" save where her name on the
bills was associated with the names OF other
great ones? II is also said that she Will add 10
her list: but, remembering her experiences last
season with "Siegfrcd," 1t is observed that she
| Is not to extend her repertory along what her
manager has heretofore considered Damroschan