The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-02-14

Mr.. Sherman, Mr.. Westervelt and the
others all have admirable oppOrtuni-
ties and every one who knows their
talents knows they will make the most
of their parts. Mr.. Weihe has already
received the orchestration of the Mas
cot" from the Tivoli Opera House, and
he will add two extra, men TO his force
for the work here.
Manager Burton received a dispatch
from the pugilist Fitzsimmons yester-
day asking whether he could obtain the
theatre for Wednesday evening. He
had doubtless heard of the golden
harvest Corbett reaped here, and de-
cided to thrust in his sickle and reap
for what may be his last opportunity.
Mr.. Burton answered that it was doubt
full whether the date could be had as
it had already been engaged by
Madame Won Finklestein; he also
asked whether Fitz had any other at
fractions than himself to offer.
Not a word of truth in the story"
said Maurice Grau. when his attention
was called TO a rumor current that the
management of the Metropolitan Opera
House were negotiating with Nine.
Nordica to secure her services during
the rest of the season in view of Nine.
Melba's retirement. Il fave had no
communication whatever with Nine.
Nordica since 1 saw her in regard to
her engagement at Covent Garden,
London" This is from San Francisco
paper. The truth seems to be that
Grau wants Nordica and Nordica
wants Grau, but neither wants to make
the first advances. In this connection,
the following gossip from the New
York Press will be interesting:
'At the opening of this season Mime.
4 1a1 III 1o,%x
She had been earning $500 a night. She
asked $1,000. Quite proper. Melba and
Calve received $500, and our prima
donna considered herself as valuable
as either the Australian or French
woman. However, on the salary ques-
ton Mr.. Grau has several things to
think about. One of them was that
Nine. Nordica, herself, had little at
tractive quality compared with that of
Melba or Calve. Placed alone on the
stage she did not bring money into
the treasury, whereas il was usually
filled by her rivals. Therefore Mr..
Grau could not raise the salary. There
fore Nine. Nordica left the company.
She had stipulated other matters, such
as the contract that she alone was to
sing Brunnhilde and Isolde, with a re-
fusal of Elsa-or. in other words. a
monopoly of Wagner. But the real
difference between our widow and her
manager was on the question of sal
airy. Nordica was too clever to quar-
REL openly with Mr.. Grau about money
or with Melba about Brunnhilde She
chose the shrewder task of appealing
to national spirit by declaring that
Jean de Reszke, a foreign tenor, was
prejudiced and using his influence
against an American prima donna.
That Parthian dart somehow missed its
aim, and the Metropolitan audience
stood by NJ. Jean. Disappointed, but
not discounted, Nine. Nordica started
structed friends behind to fight her
battle. Her cause was argued with
vehemence and acrimony in trade joui
nails under the motto of Anything to
beat Jean de ReSZke.' The public
does not read trade journals. and this
rhetoric was wasted. There was no
demand for the return of Nordica, and
Jean de Reszke continued in the SUM-
shine of fashionable as we'll as artistic
favor.
The Lyceum announces five nights
during the coming week given up to
The Dazzler.'' This is the farce COM
edy in which Kate Castleton once ap-
Deared, in fact * was written for her
the variety talents of the company,
which comes to the Lyceum on Mon
day evening. VIII West takes the part
OF Ezekiel Pipes, dainty Ida Rogers,
Kitty Starlight; Max Miller, Wurtz-
berger Ratz; Peter Griffin, Captain
Quarterback; James Cowper. Hickey;
Minnie Cline as Ratzs daughter, while
the other characters are in capable
hands.
Last night it was learned that Mar
tin Julian, manager of FitZsimmons,
was in Geographic correspondence with
Manager Burton, trying TO arrange for
Fitzsimmons' appearance at the the
atre next Wednesday night and it is
now quite probable F'itz will be seen
here. Those interested will then be
better able to pick out the winner on
March II next.
New York, Feb. 13IImmediately
after the performance of lie Cid'' at
the Metropolitan Opera House last
night, a handsome ebony chest of din