The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-07-28
NOVEL STAGE EFFECTS
New Scheme For the Metro
politan Opera House.
TWO FLOODS BUILT IN SECTIONS.

All Kinds Of Scenes In New York's
Temple of Music May BE Repre-
sented by Means of IL Second
Floor, Supported ON disappearing
Carriages, Which Move on Ferpen-
dicuIar Tracks.
Extensive alterations now being
made to the Metropolitan Opera House
stage in New York at a cost of $780,
600 will when finished make It one of
the most complete in the world and
will add UNNECESSARILY to the artistic
side of the opera season, says the New
York Herald. Operas such as 1.-THE
Flying Dutchman," "Lohengrin' and
1.-THE Ring" cycle. which require elab-
crate scenery, will now be presented
with artistic completeness.
"Parsifal," too, which will be seen
for the first time in the United States
next season, will be given by Mr.. Con-
ried on a magnificent scale. The entire
storm scene on the ocean in 1.-THE Fly
ing Dutchman." which has had to he
omitted at the Metropolitan. will be
beautifully shown from the new stage.
The old stage floor has been torn out,
and in its place there will be two floors,
either of which may be used, according
to scenic effect to be produced One is
made in two huge sections which sep
arate in the center and by a system of
counterbalance weights may be pushed
into the wings and out of the way.
Below this will be another floor, built
in sections, s by 4 feet, supported
on carriages which move on parpen-
dicular tracks. The space under the
equal to the height of the stage itself.
Entire scenes can thus be built under
the stage on these disappearing car
riages and her raised noiselessly into
place. To operate these stage sections
counterbalance weights are again used.
Side scenes will stand on carriages
below the stage and will be simply
rolled into place through grooves cut
In the floor at the proper angles. Drop
scenes, which now require a compli-
Gated rigging loft and a regiment of
men to handle them, will be raised and
lowered by a system of counterbal-
anced weights, and one man can easily
operate them.
To represent a moving Scene, or, more
properly. the changing landscape a rid
er might see as he passed along, per-
pe%ndicular rollers two feet in diameter
will revolve in the wings, and from
them will be unrolled strips of scenery.
From the one nearest the audience will
be unwound a transparent net or which
will be painted large foreground OBJ
jects, such as trees, rocks and bushes.
This strip will move rapidly. Then
will come a strip containing middle dis
lance object4 moving more slowly, and
so on until the last set of rollers is
reached, bearing the background of Sky
and mountains. or whatever it may be,
and moving very slowly or not at all.
Thus Siegfried's trip down the Rhine
will be very clearly shown. Heretofore
this scene had to be omitted. the or
chestra merely playing the music.
An entire new electrical equipment
is being installed, and the best lighting
effects will be obtained. They will be
controlled by Il mar at a $4,000
switchboard beside the prompter's desk
on the front part of the stage. Hither-
to the lighting effects We're controlled
from the wings, and it was necessary
to signal from the prompter's box.
Another improvement will be the en-
largement of the orchestra pit by al
most half to accommodate 100 men in
stead of siXty-five or seventy, as at
present. To do this Il few feet have
been taken from the front part of the
stage.
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