The Savannah morning news., 1902-11-30
new YORK TOPICS
VIEWS AND UNDERGRADUATE OF
THE METROPOLIS.
THE NEW OPERA SEASON.
HOW MAURICE GRAU BECAME AN
IMPRESSARIO.

Madame Sembrich's. Method of Sing
ing "HOme, Sweet Home"-Snmuel
GOmpers Appreciated by Capital
Because of His COnservatism-He
Has Prevented Many General
Strikes, Which Would Have Had
Disastrous ResuIts-One of Amer
ica's Oldest Labor Leaders-WiI-
liam II. Grace, Disappointed Be-
cause He Is no Longer a Political
Factor, Is Writing His Memoirs,
which VIII BE Published After
His Death.
New York, Nov. 29.-The opening of
the opera season on Monday evening
last brings to mind that Maurice Grau,
the impressario, who now has the field
of high-grade grand opera practically
to himself in America, has been in the
opera business, so to. speak, for about
forty-three years.
That is longer than any other
amusement manager in this country
has been before the public. In that
time Mr. Grau has seen scores of am
bilious managers rise, flourish and
drop out, and in that time, too, he
himself has been near ruin more than
once Even so late as eleven years
ago, in 1891, he was still inclined to
be pessimistic as to the possibility of
ever making a permanent foothold
for high-class opera in the United
States
But to-day it is different. Opera
is now produced here with great profit
and this is likely to continue, at least
as long as the present wave of BUSH
ness activity continues to be at the
flood By the time It subsidies Mr..
Grau should be, and doubtless will be,
possessed of big enough fortune to
stand any reasonable degree of dull
times in opera.
Although Grau got busy in opera
more than two score years ago, his
purely independent career as an I'M
pressario cannot properly be said to
have begun till 1896.
He Joined his uncle, Jacob Grau, as
an employee in 1859. The uncle was
prominent as an opera manager years
before that, but it was not till five
years ago that the nephew came to
the front as principal of assuredly
a tirst-grade place in his calling. AT
that time he was the third partner In
the famous managerial firm of Abbey,
Schoeffel and Grau, and his personal
forging ahead, while it could not have
been much longer delayed, was indi-
rectly due to the death of Mr.. Abbey,
which was speedily followed by Grau's
taking the enterprise into his own
hands.
Since Mr.. Grau began he has seen
the quality of American musical taste
rise from a level below that Of prac-
tically every European country to
level that is equalled in no country
Whatsoever.
There are many who will carp at
this statement, but the fact remains
that grand opera as given in New York
and some few others of the larger
American cities. is better sung. better
staged and costs a great sight more
money than as given in London, Paris,
Berlin or st. Petersburg. Compared
with its quality and cost as produced
In other European capitals-well, there
Is no comparison. Americans, unfa-
miliar with operate performances
abroad, who essayed 10 hear the oper-
as given recently in this country by
Mascagni gained an exaggerated idea
VI the diIlerence DetWeen American anu
European performances. TO be sure, for
Mascagnis achievements here were be-
low the European level; but the fact
remains that no where else is the sing
ing Of grand opera and It's accessories
81 so high "A grade as IN America,
That this r. due 10 the circumstance
that Americans, having more money
Than the people Of other countries, are
willing 10 pay more than anyone else
70 get what they want. does not alter
me fact that they Will be satisfied with