The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-04-23
O or THE OPERA.

The old "get-'em-out-as- often -as-possible-
and stay as long as you can" enthusiasm
which used to be a characteristic Of the farewell
performances at the Metropolitan Opera House
was quite lacking on Friday night. One selec-
ton succeeded another with very little inter-
%ruptiou. When it is said that Nine. Lehman
was called only once before the curtain after
her scene from Die Walknre." the mood OF
the audience can be understood. Even alter
the curtain had fallen on Tristan und Isolde
the enthusiasm was very contained. and the
professions across the stage. which used
to be a feature Of similar occasions. were
witnessed only a few times. Whether this was
due to the somewhat serious nature OF the pro-
Rramme or to the fact that the public has eX-
pended its enthusiasm. nobody was able TO de-
eide. Even the trio from Faust which COM
monty arouses the demonstrative people In the
audience in the highest degree. did not alter
the demeanor OF the audience to any great ex-
tent. The most applause went to Nine. Schu-
mann-HeinE. who appeared In the concert part
of the programme. So cordial was the audience
that she had to make a speech before she re-
tired. She does not speak English: so her pro-
nunciation of the few words Il thank
YOU; good-by" was not Of the best.
But that amused the audience as much
as her singing of the brindisi. and there was
friendly laughter mingled with the applause:
Nine Nine sfn" RnnrG ths IsT WGS in a s @Have OF I m said
something stupid 2" she asked a friend AS soon
as she had got out Of sight of the audience.
t rMah ms d To say l S that." | M asns1 s sRR%s"Gay H aea rs
friends assured her that the audience was de-
She should lie content with. having received
more Hprlause thMn anE OF tne 9 81 II, W .6e
Women singers bouquets tied with long
ribbons bearing their names and the date. The
men received wreaths decorated in the same
f.Chipn In nnn instance there was so LITTLE
applause from the audience that thetw artists
had Sdisapreadr n%n f ,o t%s s the usS Mme e9 Ma1ca ge It
because Of a slight cold contracted on ,the tour:
and the result was that she took cold IN, Wash
TIC tRet corrido msr that sas she dfi"'9f rtSfe on T f"r :
that La Trayiata" was the last nun Der on
the PFp9 ssnma bea ena ITnS a matie4 Of aP TACT sSMG Mr..
Grau selected that place as the best. as it was
his intenti9p 70. e hS Mr t 1nn curtain p1st ww rise s On th Il
1t was said by some OF the knowing ones that
he declined to appear On the ground that his
ness which ,interferei with his appearance
Rcszke aarrived here, from PhilSdeIphia.
he thought that It would 5n be }et impo ISL Tor him
tt11a Sl he Would STs H Re q aSle to- a aaSs an 'n Th s,' e6st oi
the the p .r SDntn was very SG 'Fsiiiight. It was un.
derstood with all the artists. even with the
| III "llC NiNi 81 ~
that this performance was TO be given for moth
ing. So practically all the receipts went to Mr..
Grau. The audience. from its cordial, mood
whom he appeared to make speech. evidently
felt that he deserved all the reward,
1t looked last week as II the Maurice Grau
Opera company would have to give up all idea
OF the visit to San Francisco. as Charles Ellis
and Nine. Melha had engaged the only avail
abis theatre for the weeks during which
Maurice Grau expected to give his season,
During the past week Mr.. Grau and Mr.. Ellis
mot frequently to discuss the situation. and II
seems probable that the original plan for the
California campaign will be carried out
Nine. Melba will probably not open her season
there. but will return later in the year
IL San Francisco is to 10 included
in her itinerary at all. Much will de-
pend next year on Mile. Calves return. Il
she is in good health and accepts Mr.. Grau's
oflerthe Western trip will certainly be made
The terms she demands are high, Her ultima
tum is sixty performances at 81 800. making q
total Of $4,000 for the season. Manager Graz
has so much confidence in her ability TO attract
the public that he is willing to engage her or
almost any terms 1t is in only two opera
that she has ever proved attractive tc
the public. or in conjunction with an
other star in three. London last spring
refused TO accent her Marguerite, but
il was second only 20 her 'GrEen in p0rularitI
here. 1t has been proved already that no one
singer. man or woman, Is Indispensable to the
manned in Europe this year and the season
was more successful financially than any evel
before given. The absence OF no single arts
from the company could seriously damage thu