The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-10-22
BOTH GRAU AND THOMAS
THEIR FORCES TO UNITE HERE IN
III GRAND OPERA SEASON.
Famous Orchestra VIII Supplement-
.Barber OF Seville, Elsewhere.

A fact Of special interest in connection
with the coming OF the Grau Opera Com
many to this city Is that the Chicago or
chestra Theodore Thomas's) will appear
here with IT. During the past five years
the Thomas orchestra has played with the
Grau company during the latter's Chicago
season, and this season IL has been ar
ranged for this orchestra to join it two
weeks before the Chicago engagement. The
opera company. during the first part of its
tour in the smaller cities, has with 1t al
orchestra OF about thirty-five men, who will
be sent back home when the Chicago or
chestra joins Ii, with its sixty-four players.
J. - now rehearsing THE Barber of Sc
Vile" which will be given in Indianapolis,
and other operas in the company's roper
t0lre.
The Grau company began its tour at
Springfield. Mass, last Wednesday night, in
Rossinl's melodious opera, which was given
with the same cast there as it will be here.
sembrich. De Reszke. Campanari, Bauer
neister. Pini-Corsi, vanni and NJ. Salignac.
Both there and at Montreal. where the COM
pany played the following night, there were
tremendous audiences, and Business Man.
ager Snow, who was here yesterday, says
that in all the cities in which the company
a " dppEdAS NlliCl ~ has nEdIu, lllC
advance sale Of seats is greater for the per-
formances of The Barber" with Sembrich
De Reszke and Campanari as the stars, than
for Carmen" with Calve In the title role.
The company is travelling in great style.
1t has a special train. run from place to
place on a fast schedule, of five baggage
cars, three coaches, two Wagner palace
ears, and a dining car. The Wagner cars
are specially fitted up for the principals,
and where only a stay of t~wenty-foUr hours
Is made. they do not patronize the hotels.
There are about two hundred people in the
organization, and the cost of carrying them
about the country Is very large. 1t is we'll
known that great artists do not sing "for
their health" commanding. as they do,
such enormous prices for their services, and
II is probable that the singers who take
part in "The Barber of Seville" here will
be paid at least $1,000. and probably $500.
This means the principals alone, and does
not include the cost Of the chorus, orches-
ira, travelling expenses, advertising. ETC.
Running a grand opera company is an ex-
pensive undertaking and while high prices
are charged for seats. it will take a very
large audience in indianapolis to pay the
expenses or the one nights performance.
II the company does well here financially,
IT will probably give two performances a
year here in the future. If the venture is
not a paying one, with Sucn an array Of
artists and so big a production, 1.-The finish
of grand opera in Indianapolis is not hard
TO see.
The advance sale of seats for the per-
Torrance of Barber OF Seville will begin
at the box Office Of English's, Monday, the
9th inst, and from present indications the
demand Will be the greatest ever known
here The complete cast of the opera will
be as follows:
LNOSnd NINE. SemDr1cn
Bertha ........."....... Mile. Bauermeister
Figaro ...."............. SignOr Canpanari
Basilo ................M Edouard De Reszke
Bartolo ..................... SignOr Pini-COrsi
Sargente ......--............ Signor Vanni
E1oreIlo NJ. Meux