The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-04-04
SIEGE OF AN OPERA HOUSE
THE ORDEAL TO BE PISSED BY Il
COMPOSER IN EUROPE.
Difficulty In Crussing tho Anteroom-The
Process OF Hiring out IL ConpoScr-Thc sccrc-
tnry's Outworks ana the Directors Defcnccs

Tho Very Exact Science or POstponihg.
Ono often hears tho question. "Why nre there
so few novelties at the opera y This question is
asked in every city OF thcglobo where there is
opera house. The theatres arc always producing
new plays. Tho opera houses, on the contrary,
seem TO hayo taken ms their motto, Nothing
new wanted here" The answer made by tho
composers is that in their fixed determination
to hinder. as far as possible. tho production OF
novelties, operate managers OF all climcs and ma
tionalitics meet as on common ground. The rock
of Gibraltar is generally considered an imprcgna-
bio fortress, but to place n new work on the stage
Of one of tho big European opera houses is hardly
less difficult than taking Gibraltar by assault.
Even II the composer has n great reputation
1t Is not always easy, and II he is unknown he
may expect; under ordinary conditions, TO grow
old and dccrepit in tho effort.
To begin with. there is the antcroOm to DO
Crosscd-thc space that separates tho directors
Banctum from tho common door Of entrance.
Tho distance TO be travcrsed Is not great. but let
no one imagine no is going to do 1t quickly. Tho
first step Is to sec tho directors secretary. Tn.
less The applicant Is ono OF the favored few who
! are known to have the right OF entrance. he will
probably have to apply every day for weeks be-
fore his card Is even presented to the secretary.
He will have need of all his patience. Indeed. If
ho possesses no: patience, courage. and pc.8c-
vcrance to an extraordinary degree. he might as
well Sivc up at tho beginning, for tho first thin:
tho management or an opera house does with n
new applicants to try to tire him out. This front
mCnt Is generally successful. and is In great
favor with all opera houses. 1t consists ia ono
OF the attendants taking tho applicants card,
dCpositing IL on II desk in the lobby aud leaving
1t there. This operation is repeated al indHi-
tum. After n while II begins to be annoying to
the owner of the card, for ~if-aftcr waiting two
mr. -lrnC bnuru-h. inu,tir,S II t1p Tn,I b,g lu,rn
presented he is informed that this is the secre-
tHry's busy day." and that no cards can hc given
TO him.. During this time the composer learns
also the virtue of scif.dcnial, for while he is
whiting in the GrtcrOOm various dishes O: appc-
tiZirg odor~-acCompHnicd by bottles OF different
shApos-arc carried through tho passages and
sometimes through the Rntcroom itself. In this
iutter case the ordeal IS exceedingly trying, fer
the composer-hungry rs he may bc-is yet
afraid TO 10 out and get his luncheon. fearing
that II he docs SO somebody may-by mistake
present his card 10 the secretary while he is
absent. and the precious opportunity be thereby
lost. Like the Spartan youth, therefore, he en-
dures the gnawing o: the wolf under his waist
coat rather than let it he seen that he can he
Conquered even by hunger, for well he knows
that ii he show a Joint in his armor he il lost.
Besides enduring the pmngs OF hunger he secs
different people enter the sccrctary's room
NNHOhI 'NtIl hio MINK uill Ttlitln llitT' ZOE an
hour AT a timc-ongnged probably in friendly
gossip or In retailing The last bit OF sCanGgl-as
The attendant with whom he has made friends
obligingly informs him. The secretary seems 10
have time to spare for everybody blt him. II he
pnss successfully throuEh AZ these trials and
out Gc a. last gains an interview with the SEE
retUry, who receives him while talkin. through
nc telephone ANA signing various documents.
In a little while the secretary, during II spare
moment in his IL bors, turns TO, the composer
and asks him his business. A. the mention Of
the word opera the scrrctary's face loses all
scmbl!ncc OF humanity and assumes the cNprcs-
Sion % u stone wall. The composer is told. how
ever, to call again. Roshly taking. this for en-
coTragcusnt he goes away with ltghtened heart
the secretary busy. Calling n;ein hei is informed
that he is with the director. Calling again he
hears that the secretary has just gone. prcsumn-
bly, down the fire escape, which leads from the
window OF his room into the court. and for
secretary doubtless renders profound thanks
daily TO Providence.
Al last the pcrsevcrinE one gains another in
tCryicw. and the secretary. seeing himself con
frontci by TO determined nm Individual. gives
him cards TO the conductor and stage manager.
to both Oi whom he must submit his work. By
the time these have looked at ii" so long an
interval has elapsed that the secretary has COM
n~Tnlicnn; again secures an interview he is asked
II he has come about the new drop curtain.
mattSr to the sccrctary's mind il successfully
accomplished and favorable ~vcrGirts arc re-
ported from the two authorities. The secretary.
tlnding all his ~outworks taken, and the enemy
sill advancing, pruIniscSto speak 10 the director
on INC matter, ana ,tlIS tDc composer 10 SEM III
his cIrd 10 the great man next week.
This turns out not to be- Rs easy rs it sounds.
The director, deeply. c.nE":rd in the mysterious
has very little time to spare TOR applicants OF
any description, and only once a fortnight has
he SC, apart AN hour during which they may
present Themselves. When This hour arrives
and tho thrOng has assembled i'll the anteroom
there Is generally n biz card hung up on the
directors door announcing that to-day the
direr,or cannul receive anybody While this
card IS up the director is a. likely MS not To pass
tlrOugh the unttrCOln, ir ne POSSESSES IN a
marked degree tho Eift Of being able 10 pass
through a room without seeing anybody liz ii. no
matter how full it may hc: Before any one can
secure Il plGCr connected witt the management
IN N IN H. "" nero m%Ts si me im"S' M iTsci6 i IS G SsnIrtaS9!o on
the director IN this respect. and he soon reaches
the point OF being able to ignore the presence OF
people who possess the strongest right to his
courtesy and attention.
Thccomp9srr, pcrscverinc still, comes Mt last
on one OF the appointed Gnys when there is no
cart up. and actually secures the long sought
for interview with The arbitcr Of his fate. The
rctary's message, asks the composer his bust
ncss. At The mention o: tho word opera the
able with The secretary: Ii is curious whit an
effect the word opera" has on everybody con
The composer, not to Ia dnuntch. tells the dircc.
tor Low long he has waited, gives him II brief
the sccrctary's report Ia the directors memory.
The director, having heard thnt the now work
got rid Of by any OF the known methods, sees
himself driver, into appointing a day TO hear
Ing at las, takes plnCe. ,SIonld the work prove
suitable, ii Is accepted" III this ease the COM
poser, in the course of time IN year being rs u
day In I'll opera houscs). secures n contract.
This contract stipulat.s that. il his work Is not
produced within fonr years from date, ii, be.
comes agnin his own property, and he is entitled
TO the precious privilege Of d~isposing OF it else
where. He then formally hands over his opera
10 tho librarian. or head superintendent of The
operate cemetery. This pcrSoa graycly accepts
il, taxes il 10 tho DliryinE ground, deposits IL Ia
II newly dug grave. and places n small hcudStonc
over II to mark ITS last resting place. On the
conclusion OF This solemn Hnd affecting corC-
mony, everything is considered 10 lie IN order,
and tho composer ard his work are rs things
dead md LonG.
II with hcrcu!nan efforts tho composer rcsur-
roots 1t from tho grave within the four years
and srcccols in getting IL put In REHEARSAL
the great business Of post pOncmcut" now he
gins. 10 postpone appears 10 be tho real bust.
ness of an opera house. II would almost seem
That every human being connected with Tho
opera house dorotes his time, his energies, and
his best talents To this task, Only in connection
with Tho OpcrM hns .noslnOncMCnlN hltninnd