The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-08-14
THEIR PRIVATE CLAoUE.
Reasons WIZ Two French Singers in Lon
don Had to Hire Applaudert.

don Had TO Hire Applnuders.
Two OF the French singers who went this
year TO Covent Garden introduced the practice
Of having a claque present at their perfor-
mances, and the device was 30 obvious that the
newspapers expressed their disapproval OF the
scheme. But hat did not discourage the sing
ers. who continued TO require the services OF
their h~andclappers.
The most notable offenders in this respect
were NJ. Renaud. the baritone. and Nine. Heg-
lon, the dramatic soprano. who came over
especially TO sing the role OF Anne
Bolevn in Henry VIII" 1t was explained
by a friend OF the two singers that they had be-
come accustomed to the presence OF the claque
at the Opera In Paris and were unable TO do
themselves justice when they did not receive
applause at certain stages OF the performances.
English audiences are not demonstrative. and
in the case OF new operas they applaud very
little. The artists in their best scenes felt the
need Of audible recognition. having been ac-
customed either to the claque or the enthu-
siasm OF some Continental cities. and so Nine.
Heglon and NJ. Renaud had to provide a claque
Of their own. Following the action of Director
Mailer. who not only abolished the profess
sional claQue in Vienna. but also forbade the
singers to send tickets to their friends in such
numbers as to constitute of them a claQue.
the English incident has revived interest in the
subject. Somebody has dug up a story about
Frederic Lemaitre and Nine. Dorval. who were
acting together In a play called Pablo" at the
AmbiGu IN Paris. They were equally popular.
although, Lemaitre hated to admit II. and they
were applauded with impartial enthusiasm by
the spectators. The claque was Just as undis-
eliminating in its applause OF the two actors.
This fact was intensely irritating TO Iemaitre.
who was not in the habit Of sharing the favor
Of the claQue or the audience with anybody.
He rushed to the manager OF the theatre. after
the, echoes Of the applause which the claque
had bestowed on Nine. Dorval had almost
spoiled one Of his speeches. and complained
driven out OF the theatre. Nine. DorvaL. who
entered the room Just at that time. said she
considered it an admirable institution.
clapping? Clear the pit Of all those fellows and
leave the public 10 do its own applause" re-
torted Ltmaitre.
row there shall be no claQue."
True TO his word he discharged the hired ap-
plauders, The public that night, accustomed
10 be led by the claque. remained silent. Lee
gagged IA claque for the next performance. Nine.
Dorval was driven to distraction by the fact
that all the applause went to Lemaitre, and en-
gagged a second claque to applaud her. The
other actors of the company, not ac~customedto
being ignored. also engaged a claque. Both
principals wentto the manager. convinced that
the men TO applaud.
lam Innocent" he answered. but there
are now three claQues instead OF one. Nine,
Dorval hires one OF them, NJ. Lemaitre hires
the other and the actors pay for the third. The
only advantage OF the new arrangement is that
l do not have TO pay for any"
The ciague has. been for many years the
subject Of investigation and discussion in
Europe. but it is a difficult thing 70 get rid Of.
1t is nearly as patent in Paris to-day as II was
forty years ago. and there is little probability
come. Everybody ridicules it and declares il
q nuisance and q disgrace but ii survives.