New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-26
GRAU ANSWERS COMPLAINTS.
THE FAILURE TO REFUND MONEY WHEN
NINE. CALvE DID NOT APPEAR
ADVERTISED

Considerable Indignation has been aroused by the
action Of the Metropolitan Opera House manage
ment in refusing refund money for tickets bought
for the Saturday matinee, when Nine CAVE, VINO
had been advertised FOR Marguerite in 'faust'
failed to appear and another singer was substl-
tuted A number Of persons went TO the box once
and asked for the return Of their money They con-
tended that they had come to hear Nine. Calve' ana
that the substitution Of another singer was not IN
line with the promises that had been made. For
that reason they felt that the management ought
to make good TO them the price Of the tickets
The request OF these opera patrons was refused
however. on the ground that the management al
vertised the opera. and not any special singers
and that as there had been no change In the Dill
for the performance they fulfilling their prom
Uses. 1t also pointed out that the back OF the
tickets bore printed warning to the effect that the
management would not refund money II there are
substitutes in the cast The point Of view OF the
management and Of the public IS widely different
however. and many complaints have been heard in
consequence. There is no doubt that a good many
persons 90 to the opera on certain nights to hear
certain singers who have been announced 10 ap-
pear. II would certainly seem, many opera
goers contend that If such not the case the
management might dispense altogether with the
practice OF publishing the names Of the singers
IN advance Of the actual performances. It is equal
y true. they say that IL people did not go to the
opera for the specific purpose of hearing favorte
singers in special ro.es Mr. Grau and his asso-
ciates might great deal of money by en-
saging a fairly good company all around and omit
ting the names Of the famous prima donnas and
tenors from their salary lists
Decidedly, then. people do go 10 the opera
certain nights to hear singers who have been ad-
vertised. and many opera patrons contend that no
matter what the tickets say. no argument can re-
move the moral obligation OF the management. II
is doubtful, too II a court NJ law would sustain
or,Jh fc late
and there is a recent case record in which this
same company was concerned. where a Western
court. under similar circumstances. ordered the
payment 10 the disappointed ticket holder Of the
price he had paid. together with the court costs.
noon in his once AT the Metropolitan Opera House.
and learned from him that the matter Wi be taken
under Amusement by him and his associates for
final determination.
7 was not I'm the box Office on SATURDAY" SAID
Mr. GraU so I don't know whether many people
complained not II has always been our RUE
however. not 20 refund money under s9ch cIrculn-
stances. We do not star Nine, cave Nine. EaIusS
or any other Of our singers. II some one was as
appointed because Mms Calye did not sing, ana We
returned the money IN thal J'iSe '"'d NV, orso
ing how Ear the thing would go. SoineDoH! io
might come and make comPaiIir ma I'm Az not
singer whose name was on the ~ ,o,
appear and that for that reason the ticket money
We do not guarantee the appearance Of any OF
these singers \ singers voice may be IN bdd con-
dluon al any unc ana our posclS9a o eitbstitvtion
count Is peculiar one. ia case OF d uirised
Of opera for another tnat mas ne5n W. i've NV,
willing TO refund we HloltS' H,ut v
reouenti- found f. necessary to put singers in AZ
the last moment who had not been adyeItlsrd ana
the public has been satisfied. The ticket specu-
lators whom we have tried in vain TO outWlt, are
the ones who would Ike most TO have the money
refunded under such circumstances. inc sldt tIutI
has been made that IL Is the universal custom OF
theatrical managers 10 refund money Whch 4
dramatic star fails 20 appear Ihdt is HcOl ~.
When Mr. COQuenn over here ne was uHdDe
to appear on one occasion and his son went on IN
the part To carry the parallel further, as nav
said. We do advertise Nine. Calve or any one
else a. a star; now. in the current dramate per
form noes ON OF
portant Is IN. what happens: Docs The patron set
the part sill J am willing TO admit that there are
a good many people who come on special nights
tn hear certain singers. For that reason and my
colleagues will talk the matter over and come 20
some definite conclusion 10 whether We ought
to make a different Arrangement or what ought 70
be done ~