The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-03-15
.SEMBR|CH DID NOT
SING FOR SALT LAKE
Throat Was Sore and Concert
Was Cancelled.
KEEN DISAPPOINTMENT
PROSPECTS WE'RE GOOD FOR A
$4,000 HOUSE.

have undergone the experience of
whetting an appetite for musical
treat and once more their anticipa-
tions led only TO keen disappointment.
Sembrich did not sing at the taber-
nacle last night, nor is it at all likely
that this city will hear her-not on her
present tour, at least. Word was
given out by her manager about noon
yesterday that the artist had con-
tracted a severe cold, and would be
unable to appear The first announce
ment was made before the tabernacle
choir, which was at the time engaged
IN full rehearsal with the Sembrich
company and orchestra, and to the
members of the local organization it
came like a thunderbolt from clear
SKY. All their efforts of the past sew
erai weeks to make the event a ban
ner one for themselves ana a credit TO
the city counts for nothing What
slight comfort they find in the benefit
OF the practice involved is too insig-
nltlcant TO compensate for anything
Shortly after the announcement was
made at the choir rehearsal it was
bullet1ned at The Herald office where
hundreds read it passing by. Many and
varied were the expressions heard,
out the public as a whole was not a
all ready TO believe Senbrich's excuse
genuine. The first thing that fastened
itself on the mind was that her man
ager was dissatisfied with the advance
sale, and, as other managers have
done. had Cancelled on this account
others accepted the managements an
nouncement as fact.
Manager CRAFTS Statement.
Mr.. Gran, the company's manager.
when approached on the subject at
the knutSford yesterday afternoon,
made the following statement: Il came
here in perfect good faith TO give a
performance, and 1 was fully salts
lied with the advance sale Nine Sem
Dflch contracted a bad cold on the
train, but did not mention it until
some time after Ter arrival at the ho-
tel Wednesday. AS soon as L learned
OF 1T L sent for DR.. Niles. and. after
making an examination of the singers
throat, he said there was just a slight
chance that she would be able to sing
tonight Professor Stephens and my
self knew of this, but decided to say
nothing about it for the time being, in
the hope that Mime. Sembrich's con
dltlon would improve. Although the
artist retired early and remedies We're
freely used, she appeared to be only
signify improved this morning and
Dr. Niles at noon said it would be alb
SOluteIy lmpOSSi BILE for her to apDe3r
OI course that ended it We could do
nothing but make the announcement
NOBODY is so sick at heart over this
matter as myself" continued Manager
Graft, and L am indeed sorry that any
body in Salt Lake should think we
were not acting squarely. The advance
sale, as L say, was extremely salts
factory. Nearly 81, GOO worth of tickets
had been sold, and the prospects were
very good for a 81, 600 or 50, 600 audience.
This, / may say, we consider mighty
good business. But had the advance
sale been only 500 l would not have
Cancelled the performance on that ac-
count That is bad business policy
and of no advantage to me, as all my
artists, Sembrich excepted, are on reg
ular salaries, and have to be paid
whether they appear or not. BY this
unforeseen and most unfortunate cir
cumstance, we lose erything-nOt
only the money that would have been
in the house, but $500 which is in the
hands of Professor Stephens to pay adj
vertising expenses. The public is no
fei Jinted. but no one can feel
worse than I over it. Nine. Sembrich
is not improved this afternoon. She is
too hOarSe TO speak.
Mr.. Graft stated that he would not
try to give the performance today, the
chance of another disappointment be-
ing too great to assume. He offered,
however, to bring the company here on
their return trip. Professor Stephens
would not hear of this. 1t is under
stood that he has had quite enough
experience in tabernacle operate enter
tainmentS.
DR.. Niles readily confirmed the state
ment of Manager Graft.
"SembriCh mas a bad Inflammation of
the larynX," said he, and 1 advised
her not to try to sing tonight. There is
one chance in a hundred that she will
be in condition to sing tomorrow, as 1
told Mr.. Graft, but it is extremely
doubtful. I know the public will be
sorely disappointed, but there is no
doubt of her inability to appear to-
night"
Excursions Called Off.
AS soon as it became known that
Sembrich could not appear and the
concert had been called off, the rail-
road companies wired north and south
in time to stop the special excursion
trains. At Daynes music store the
steady demand Tor seats that had gone
on all morning gave way to a return
of tickets almost rs steady. All money
was refunded upon the presentation of
tickets, and those who still have their
tickets can get their money back to-
day.
Professor Stephens does not doubt
that Madame Senfbrich is ill., but he
viewed the outcome as very discourag-
ing.
'It is our misfortune always to have
some accident break into and ruin all
our plans" said he, and think this
Will be the last time | shall attempt
anything of this kind. The choir has
accomplished a great work, but can
in no wise be repaid for its disappoint-
ment With US it is bad case of
loves labor lost
Professor Stephens has $500 as for
felt posted several weeks ago. What
may remain of the sum after expenses
are paid will go into the choir fund.
There are at least two former cases
wherein Salt Lake has been d1sap-
pointed by great singing artists. When
the Ellis Opera. company tried to bring
Gadski here to sing in Melbas place,
after advertising Melba, it cost the or
saniZation. few hundred dollars TO
COMPROMISE a threatened lawsuit. More
recently Maurice Grau, who still owes
bills in the town, failed to arrive with
his Metropolitan opera company, be-
cause the advance sale had not come up
to his expectations.
Disappointment at Ogden
ogden. March 14-There was keen
disappointment in Ogden over the fail
ure of the Sembrich Opera company TO
give its performance in Salt Lake. The
news came first in the form of a tele-
gram to c. J. Ross, who was man
aging the Ogden excursion. The tele-
gram merely stated that Sembrich was
sick, that there could be no concert
and he was to refund the money. This
was later confirmed by telephone infor-
nation to parties who hoped till the
last that the concert might be pulled
off. The Oregon Short Line also called