The San Francisco call., 1901-11-24

n son. Everything that enterprise
and expense could furnish to
the public of San Francisco in the way of
musical entertainment has been given in
lavish manner. but. as far as the pres
! ent season is concerned, man proposes
and the weather disDoses."
The vagaries of the climate of San
Francisco have played sad pranks with
the vocal organs of the stars of Manager
Grau's combination of singers.
When the season opened the public
learned with deep regret that the famous
diva. Calve. would not be able to appear
as scheduled. There was change in the
order Of operas, and that is a difficult
task for the oDeratio manager. I Under
studies have to be located, rehearsals
called and hundred worries are gone
through that the public little dreams of.
The non-appearance of Calve during the
first week of the season cost Manager
Grau thousands of dollars, but he bore the
blow with fortitude.
Well the Calve did appear last Wednes-
day night, and when the patrons of grand
opera looked for another enjoyable per-
Torrance on last Friday night, 10 and
behold! the diva had overtaxed her
strength and was forced to leave for
Southern California for vacation.
Then Sybi Sanderson, who was to have
sung tonight IN Les Huguenots," caught
cold and another name was added to the
sick list.
Yesterday the musical public and So
ciety of this city were to hear Nine.
~Eames In the afternoon In "Lohengrin'
/ and Nine, Sembrich in the evening in ''Il
Barbiere di Siviglia.'
Again luck was against Manager Grau,
and just at the time that vast audience
was being seated for the matinee per-
formance word was sent to Grau by Nine.
Eames that she would be unable to sing
in ''Lohengrin.''
The great songstress had broken one of
her rules by visiting Chinatown on the
! day before she was to sing. Nine Eames
herself has said that on the day previous
| to her appearance she never leaves her
room and rests her voice by not engaging
in conversation.
The diva caught, slight cold on Fri
day and has paid dearly for her temer-
ity in going near the city's unsavory
Oriental quarter. She lost the large sal
-ary, running into four figures, that she
receives from Grau each time she sings
in public.
Nine. Louise Reuss-Belce gallantly Of
fered to fill the breach caused by the in
disposition of Nine. Eames. She sang
the role of Elsa before a house that was
enormous in its proportions. Hundreds of
extensively gowned women had waited in
line before the Grand Opera-house yester-
day afternoon. eager to pay, $2 each for
the privilege Of securing standing room
in the theater and hearing ''Lohengrin''
with Nine. Eames in the cast.
Audience Is Good-Natured.
When they entered the theater they
read the little slips in the programmes
that the diva could not appear and that
Nine. Reuss-Belce would sing the role of
Elsa.
The San Francisco patrons Of the grand
opera take the unavoidable indispositions
Of the singers with good grace.
Yesterday afternoon not single re-
quest was made at the box Office of the
Grand Opera-house for money to be re-
cast. Manager Grau was ready to return
money for tickets. but he was not called
upon to do so.
Its too bad that he has such bad
luck" was the general comment heard in
! the theater yesterday afternoon, but we
will have our moneys worth anyway in
the performance of Lohengrin.'
And the big matinee audience indeed
did get its moneys worth, for Madame
Reuss-Belce gave a performance of Elsa
that won the hearts of every one in the
/ audience. The great cast of singers that
presented the Wagner opera received en-
-thusiastic receptions at the end of each
act, and Damrosch and his orchestra
came in for an ovation.
I'VE did not hear Eames, but we heard
grand production Of the OPERA" was
the general sentiment as the matinee
audience wended it's way out of the the
ater.
sembrich Greeted by Society.
Society was present in full force last
night, when Rossinis charming comic
q