The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-06-05
NOTES OF THE E IN EUROPE
Tamaguo's ItInerant CIaque-New Operas Giver
In berlin.

In Berlin.
In a suit recently brought by a South Ameri-
can impresario 10 recover a sum of money paid
to him in advance. the interesting fact was
brought out that TamRgno always travelled
with a trained claque consisting OF eight lusty
Italians whose business it was to keep up the
hoop-la when their employer distinguishes him.
self by a very high note. 1t was stipulated in
his contract that the manager should always
provide four seats for that claque in the orches-
ira and four in the gallery. That Is said
to be a condition in all his contractS. Tho
cause Of tho contention was the sum of
$4,000. paid in advance to the tenor when he
was engaged for a season of forty performances
in Buenos AyreS in 1890. He was to receive for
the season $3.50, 900. or 81 1925 a performance,
and he demanded $3l 900 before leaving Italy.
He sang four times and then q revolution broke
out. The singer returned to Europe and took
the advance with him. No efforts have so far
succeeded in making him give up tho money, al.
though two courts have already decided in favor
Of the manager. The case is now before the
highest court of appeal. 1t used to be said in
this country that Tanagno returned to the box
office the seats sent to him for his claque with
the request that they be sold for his benefit.
A wholly different treatment OF the claque
question has recently taken place In Vienna,
by means OF which Director Mailer has man
aged to put the singers of the company into n
greater state OF excitement than they already
are. He has not only discharged tho old claque
which had been for many years q feature OF the
institution. but he has forbidden the singers to
distribute tickets to their friends. and had two
auditors arrested because they insisted on APP
plauding with an enthusiasm that annoyed
their neighbors and interrupted the perform
ance. 1t is rumored that he may retire from
the opera at Vienna on account of the opposi-
ton to his decided methods which has arisen
among the artists.
The statistics of tho Royal Opera in Berlin
show that only four new operas wore sung dur.
ing. the year 1907. and OF these, two. "Enoch
Arden =" and "Hashisch," were in only one act.
other two, ,Puccini's LA Boh6me" and Sp'nellis
"A Basso Porto" were Of Italian origin. Later
ESTi"n eom mers by & G aSs scenic fnd OUTFIT t Hum .R.
aDled Lortzing's ."Undino" to have a
T%% Of had nfs S.ar Pi]srf so " %.s%, % .T..n no ot a"$
Gretcl' came next with nineteen performances.
and eighteen were attained with works as utter;
The works OF Mozart. succeeding a festival So
rles, were sung twenty.six times. Beethoyen's
operas were sung on n ne evenings. Forthcom-
ing novelties, are to he d revival Of Auber's
opera THE Cricket" and = season Of Italian
opera with Marcella Sombrich as the star.
pr MSs d iSnR a Ss9 the ts N %iiy f %Efn from OF Z lo RSaP%IHt o
take some measures 10 attract attention to his
star. As she had sung very little since her last
appearance here, there was very little to he
written about her. So the effort promised to he
altogether unprotitablc until the brilliant ide !
OF assoCiating, her name with Jean lie Reske's
occurred to this wise agent. flo worked the
scheme out in all its details and then
told a conhdlng reporter that De Feske
or Romeo ct Juliette." This was seized upon
as importnnt and published, along with some
news o. the priml donna's plans. IL happened
that Jean was Just thon singing those rolos in
hussia; although nothing was known OF that
then. Tne company which he took to Russia
WAS to sing only The Wagner operas. But when
tho Car was asked TO attend the performances
ana consented. he asked for Faust" That. OF
Juiietlc" when. after his enjoyment OF ono
Gouaod opera. the Gar eCided TO 90 to tho
opera again. Jean de teskG has sung neither
OF these roles in London yet. Tho demands of
the approaching Wagner performances will
necessarily contine him 10 these operas. But he
VIII b. henrd at the Metropolitan next season in
both OF those popular roles.