The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-08-14

He Followed 1t Around-His Face VIII Be
Missed at the Metropolitan.


When the season at the Metropolitan opens
next winter one familiar face will be missing.
and the absence OF Diego De Vivo will have its
effect on the spirits Of some OF the men who are
there. He never missed this occasion. and 1t
was indeed n rare occurrence for him to stay
away from the opera house while health was
good enough for him to venture out. During
the past two years he had not been
seen with tho customary regularity. HIS
attack OF paralysis had weakened him
and the cold weather kept him at home.
WaGner's operas sometimes had the
same effect on his attendance. and he could
spend his time in tho lobby then with no temp
tation to be seated inside. Signor De Vivo prob
ably had no particularly strong musical convic-
tions. But his taste was always for the Italian
opera and the forid singers. Like most OF his
countrymen he rejoiced chiefly in the voice and
the art OF the singer rather than In the signif-
canoe or dramatic qualities oithe voice. so II was
the italian opera that attracted most strongly
this little. shrivelled man with the large nose
and the black. sharp eyes behind the thick
glasses surrounded with the heavy tortoise
rims. In winter 1t was from under n fur cap
that they stared at the world. and atothcr times
from underline brim Of a silk hat hat had come
to be almost as. typical OF tho old manager as
his gray side whiskers.
Sis19E Pc yiyo seemed to have no enemies.
and the places. to, which he used TO resort.
Everybody, liked him about the Metropolitan
Maurice Grau treated him with kindly cour-
tesy. and Charles Ellis. whose operate expert
character. always loved to listen to Signor De
SSps1SStlS, m an g en- nTss,r here, He E,oS was nT %n.
F FSEtnne sI that there heS are ar $. SO t fSshS 81 his n Rind
almost to I'll the field to-day, and Signor De
Vivo often deplorcd the change which had
presarios, and the Substitution Of mere agents
IN their places. He was q shrewd manager in
fact that he was a poor man at the time Of his
death was no refection on his abilities. Most
sums "a %o6 dlS ii 9o2RT Is Tine He bud bTt, H., made S6 Isrg &c
the men in his profession. he lost it in later
Although he had not been engaged in impor-
tant managerial enterprises for some time.
reporter OF his ambition to become the man
ager OF a certain prima donna who was then in
They say l am an old man. " he said. and I
had been disabled by, his first stroke OF paraIy-
could do more to-day. feeble as I am. than
most Il 81 th the young men ny who are in possessLon
and 1t would have been equally true ii they
were a more powerful lot of citizens than they
Signor De Vivo followed the opera around. It
was not merely the Metropolitan that attracted
him, When. the Mapleson company came to the
Academy OF Music two years ago, he was one
Of the most co%pspicuous figures in the foyer on
the openinR night. and he was a regular at
He was at Wallack's the first night, Of
the, Italian performances given there last
spring after a retirement that resulted
from the abandonment OF the regular
season OF the Metropolitan. He was regu-
lar In his attendance and revelled in the
revival q some Of the old italian operas. He
was well known in Italy, and most Of the artists
who came. here from that country brought let
ters OF introduction to him. Many men who
were much more. prominent In New York life
will not be missed as much as he, for few men
were more frequently seen in such conspicuous
places. He was as well known by sight to the
crowds that 90 to. the opera house as the bill
boa dS on each side the door.