The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-11-06
MASCAGNI
MUSICIANS
STRIKE
Tour Of the Italian Composer
and His Company Comes 10
an End at Boston.

Boston, Nov. 6.-The Mascagni opera
company. as far as the management or
Mittenthsl Bros. and Kronberg Is con-
cerned. is a thing OF the past The trou-
bic which began Tuesday evening. delay
ing the performances of Iris at Music
hall for nearly an hour. was continued
yesterday afternoon. and illuminated last
evening when "Ratcliffe" was TO have
been given It's hrst production In America
and the audience was dismissed without
the curtain being raised.
IL was rumored Tuesday night that
there was some financial difficulties and
that the members OF the orchestra refused
TO play unless the matter was adjusted,
Yesterday afternoon the trouble assumed
larger proportions and there was a con
tenthal, his counsel. Boardman Hall. Sig
por Mascagni, James A. Sweeney counsel
Ir the Italians: Mr.. Mackie, the private
] cretary for Signor Mascagni. and the
assistant Italian consul --..,
II was a breezy interview all around
and finally A; L. Wilbur. one OF the
ten minutes in which TO make up their
minds and then told them he would re-
move the entire company and its enects.
w.rs ree msas and dd the e0 Afternoon @ pepform
ance was given.
When evening came the affair was re-
ference in the statements made by both
parties. but on. one point 10th stories
agree namely that the musicians did not
reSeSe the ysisn TSs sSs aPss The
contract made in italy by Mr.. smith the
firms representative, n was agreed that
the members Of the orcheStys r. should ,i,e Dc
tenthal state that on arrival in this coun-
try the members were paid this amount.
but that a demand for an additional ten
DAYS pay was made and the request was
acceded to-
Last Tuesday. the day for the pay
ments, Messrs Mittenthal state they de-
cided not TO give the additional 10 days
advance and the members OF the orchas-
ira refused to play. A promise was made
that the money would be forthcoming
yesterday morning and the performance
proceeded. Wednesday morning. how
ever. II seems the payments were not
made and the men again refused to play.
Another promise was made and the ma
tinee was given. but the musicians de-
clined to go any further and did not 80
on last evening.
Messrs. Mittenthal attribute the trou-
bic TO the men who desired a further ad-
vance and also to signor Mascagni. and
make the statement that although they
are out $4,000 they Will abandon the
scheme and go no further with II. They
have no plans further than this.
At the Touraine later in the evening
signor Mascagni Signor d'Angelis. Sig
nor Bimboni Sgnor Rotoai. Signora Mas
cagni and Miss Rotoli were discussing
the situation. Signor Mascagni does not
speak a word of English. but converses
fuently In French and with the aid OF
this language and an Interpreter his side
% the story was CLEANED.
He says the 10 days in advance clause
was in the contract. hut states that pay
ments even under this rule were very
irregular. Practically all the money
actually due the musicians has been
paid, but when the time came, namely
last Tuesday for the regular advance no
money was forthcoming. Then the re-
fusals began. On Tuesday night the
members of the orchestra went on for the
sake OF Ssnor Mascagni and saso for the
same reason yesterday afternoon, but
last evening there was no prospect OF ad-
vance remuneration, the men declined
To carry matters any further
Slgnor Mascagni says Mittenthal Bros
A. Kronberg owe him three weeks salary.
amounting 10 $4,000. He also states that
Notwithstanding this fact he went TO
Music Hall last night prepared to go on
with the performance. There have been
% performances given In this country.
and the composer afiirms that he and ms
forces have lived UP fully TO their agree
ments
And there the matter stands Mitten-
thai Bros. say they have had enough ana
will end the tour. Sgnor Mascagni says
he will 30 on with the tour under his
own management. II such thing IL pos
sible and win still play an engagement
In this city.
In the meantime "Ratcliffe" has yet 10
be produced In this country for the flrst
time.
Mr.. Joseph Mann. OF Joseph II. Mann
& Co. under whose auspices Mascagni
and his company were to give a perform
ance In Infantry Hall tomorrow evening.
spent last night In Boston endeavoring
Ia effect arrangements by which the en-
gagement for which over $1,000 had al
ready been received for tickets, could be
hlled. He was unsuccessful, however.
and announces that those who purchased
tickets viii receive their money back
when they call at his piano warerooms.