Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-10-21
Festival Finances.

Everybody is asking did the festival
pay?", Was there any money in it?",
etc. and the Bangor News proceeds to
elucidate as follows:
Prof Chapman told the writer that
the expenditures here would greatly ex-
coed the receipts. He said that the total
expense of the festival in both places,
BANGOR and Portland, would be about
So, 900, and that the receipts here would
not be more than $1,000. This estimate of
receipts was made on Friday night, and
the attendance at the Saturday concerts
was not such as to cause much change in
Prof Chapman's figures But most peo-
pie characterize his estimates as absurd.
Certainly, they seem to be somewhat out
Of the way.
A Bangor man who is pretty well posted
in such matters thinks that the receipts
here must have been about $4,000, instead
of $1,000 as Prof. Chapman put it, and
this same Bangor man was informed by
Mr.. Sanford. manager for Nine. Nordica,
that the entire expense of the festival in
both cities would be about $4,000. If this
is true, and allowing one-half the expense
for Bangor. $4,000 then it follows that
there must have been $4,000 profit here for
Messrs. Chapman and Chase. This may
also be somewhat out of the way, but it
is the general belief that the Bangor fes-
tival was a profitable venture for its pro-
jectors.
Nobody can figure out how the Bangor
festival could have cost S12,5O0, as Prof.
Chapman said. The management refused
to state how much they paid to Nine.
Nordica, but it is said that the singer got
$1,000 for one appearance and gave her
services free on the other night. Miss
Hyde, it is stated. got nothing more than
her expenses. Some of the other SOLO
lists must have received liberal compen-
sation, but there We're not many of a
high-priced kind Including the orchestra,
the expense of the concerts here may
have been from $4,000 to $4,000, say the good
gueSSerS.
Four per cent. on $4,000 was what the
management agreed to pay for use of the
money was lost on the souvenir pro-
gramme, and that may be so. although
the book was pretty well filled with adj
vertisfHs!i At first these programmes
mand was so slow that the price was
dropped to % cents, and finally, on Satur-
day night, programmes in plain covers
were given away at the door. The SOU
vehrDfs now on sale at Andrews music
storetat % cents. STA f{
1t is regarded as great mistake that
the prices of admission were placed sc
high. THE season tickets were cheap
enough at IS each, but when it comes to
asking 81 and 81 for single admissions, the
purchasing power of very many people is
exceeded. There is no doubt, whatever
that had the prices been graduated at 81
cents rs cents 81 and $3.50, the hall would
have been completely filled at every con
cert, thus giving larger receipts to the
management, as well as better satisfac
ton to the people. The people must bt
depended upon for the support of thi:
enterprise, and if the masses are to b.
barred out by high prices, then the fes
tival must fail financially, as well as IL
one of it's chief objects, as proclaimed by
the management-the education of the
people. the cultivation of the general mu
steal taste
Another thing demanded is that Their,
shall be less of oratorio and that sort o
thing and more of what ordinary people
can grasp. Only very small proportion
of the people understand or care for thu
gloomily profound in music. and they can
not support festival. OF course, Their
can be and should be a variety in tn
programme but all of the concerts Shout,
not be weighted down with the intricat
and the ponderous. There should be NOR
that pleases the common ear, withou
descending to freshness. In short, tn
educated and talented musicians shout,
try to keep in mind the fact that howeve
much the agonies of Wagner may pleas
them, such things are tiresome, positivel,
offensive. to the great majority who ar
asked to buy tickets.