New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-29
THE OVERWORKED ORCHESTRA.
MUSICIANS AT THE METROPOLITAN OPERA
HOUSE GET ONLY ONE DAY OF REST
OFT OF FORTY SIX

The musicians who play In the orchestra at the
Me,ropoutan Opera House will be well-to-do by
the time the opera Ia over II they have con-
stitutions capable OF taking them through the
opera season. No orchestra. IL Is believed In the
history OF music In New-York has ever done the
amount and the kind Of work that the orchestra
% the METROPOLITAN IL doing just now. In the same
space OF time Some extra critical persons have
said of late that there were blernishes In the or
chestral parts Of the performances OF opera. some
charitable persons have replied that II was no
wonder. with the work that the orchestra had
10 do.
Performances OF opera are gwen at the Metro
poltan on Monday. Wednesday, Friday ana satW-
day nights Of each week, and on Saturday AFTER
noon There Is a concert every Sunday evening
Now ~ the time be considered in detail, beginning
with Friday January 6. the result Will be rather
surprising Five nights and an afternoon OF each
week are accounted for by the regular perior-
rnances On Tuesday, January 10. the company
sang and the orchestra played in Brooklyn On
Thursday January r. the cycle OF THE Ring OF
Nihelung" began and It continued on Tnes-
day, January H. Thursday. January ls. ana tues
dav January a. On Thursday. January 20 there
was opera IN Brooklyn again. Thus up 10 ana
Including this Sunday night the orchestra VIII nave
plaved at an opera or concert on every one OF
tweutv-four successive days. and twice on each
NJ four OF those days There Will be regular
performances tomorrow and wednesday hls"'S'
and there will be one In Philadelphia on Iuesuay.
That Will make twenty-seVen consecutive uays anu
thrty-one performances 1t appears that there VIII
be rest on Thursday Of this week. After that
N. first break in the regular performances will be
filled IN by the beginning OF the afternoon Nlbe-
lung" cycle. which Will be given on successive ues
dav and Thursday afternoons, with the result Ihat
the next possible day OF rest for the orchestra VIII
be on Tuesday February q This VIII make eisn-
teen more successive days of work, with two per
fornsnces on each OF three Of the days For the
grand total there Will be record OF iorty-sN sue
cessive days with only day OF rest and WIN
nfty-three performances. is II any wonder II the
orchestra gets tired?
II must be remembered that this reckoning mas
taken no account OF rehearsals. which have had
10 be conducted with especial care in the cases
of "Das Rhengold" and Ole Gotterdammeruhg'
which are 10 the repertory OF the company
II must be remembered too. that the music which
the orchestra has been called upon to play is 'he
most difficult that there lie 10 be played and the
great length Of some OF the operas. such as DIE
C,1,tterdHmmerung must be taken into account
Three leaders have taken turns In conducting the
operas so that the work has not fallen SO heaVhy
upon them, and the singers also refuse 10 appear
on successive nights. or more than TWO OF three
times week. The heavy work has fallen upon
the Door musicians The task is not at oil Ike thai
OF the theatre orchestra, which plays regularly
three times a week The theatre orchestra plays
foT amy make. little incidental music II is
hard music to play and nobody. cares msc n
whether Il IS played well or not. Al ltasl thal ~
the conclusion TO which confirmed theaue-goeIs
long ago. - . .orl -.
svrll.,athy-Herr Schak He does not nave 10 con-
duct every night but his task for one night whei
a Wagner opera is given without cur, Is no, ~
small one If you think that Il Il. merely on t Inr
physical side try II. Take a little Suck IN your
hand and wave II about In the air for an hour
never letting 1t drop below your waist ana keeping
II much OF the time above your head ana SEQ
how You feel at the end OF the hour But ferr
Schalk has 10 do this for two hours ana a nan az
stretch in ''Das RengOld" while in Die Gotter-
dammerung" he has to do Il for TWO hourn, thtn
again for an hour and ten minutes ana again LOT
an hour and fifteen minutes. ,,.
There have been no loud sounds OF &c, complaint
from the Metropolitan. but II there should be no
hoIv ought 10 be surprised Those who make
point Of reading Dickenss Christmas CnroI every
rear or oftener will remember now the nddler'
after piaying with all his might for long dance,
plunged his face into a pot or peer anu as soon
e. n emerged began again, as II the nrst man
had been carried home on shutter and ne Were a
revr one resolved to beat him or perish IN the at
tennpt He was a noble fellow no doubt but now
would ne have stood II II Christmas had lasted