The Washington times., 1903-11-08
Opera a Memory.

" NOAAAASNOAA AZ AANAA
cults Pubic Perhaps Is
More to Blame Than Man
ayers.
Scarcely a week passes but the ques-
ton is asked by some Of the many
music-los1nG people os Washington:
Why Is 1t that We are so rarely RECALLED
nowadays with a flrst-ciass operate
performance, and why do the more
important concert organizations per
sistenty give this city the gO-by?
The question IS entirely justified in
view of the fact that twenty or thirty.
or even forty years age, when Wash
ington was little more than an over
grown village, every important nnera
and concert company Of which the
country could then boast included the
National Capital in its itinerary. Car
Oline Rich. ugs. Emma Abbott, the Bos-
ton Ideals. the Castle Square COn-
pany and all the Italian companies
never failed to come here, and always
played To good business. The Boston
symphony Orchestra. Victor Herbert's
PittsburS Symphony Orchestra, and
kindred organizations were heard here
every season. There was no concert
company that could lay claim to dis-
tinctiOn but filled dates in Washing
ton. Even the Metropolitan Opera Com
pany. 81 New York. regarded the city
as a profitable field.
Deserted by AL.
In these days no company that can
aspire 10 equal rank with any one OF
81. 4 W
have TO be satisfied with the so-calied
comic opera. which. with few Isolated
exceptions. is not opera at all. but simply
hOdsepOdge OF more or less tawdry
tunes that. indeed. may split the ears OF
the groundlings. but must make the ju-
dicious grieve." Sometimes the privilege
is vouchsafed as 10 travel 10 neigh
boring town TO listen TO something her
alced as worthy OF our patronage, but
which not irfreQuently turns out to be
not gold b. pinchbeck
OF couis<.>the public accuses the To-
cal managers OF theaters as being re-
sDonsible for this dearth OF coed Tausi-
cal entertainment; perhaps not unjustly.
No doubt. II they insisted they might
get high class opera for their patrons, all
syndicstes to the contrary not withstand
ing Without question. they would do il.
to0-if IL paid. The manager OF n thea
ter. or OF a troupe thas makes the cir
cult OF the country. naturally considers
this whole subject from the box Office
standpoint Il he we're assured that
grand opera would increase his bank
account as readily as coric opera or
the musical farce he Woiud set IL be-
fore his public with the greatest OF
pleasure He Is after the dollars. just
like any other business man. and what
ever promises the best returns that is his
game. He is not 10 be blamed for this;
for. while IN al fairness he may be
asked TO crafty the wishes of HIS pa
irons. or even a considerable portion OF
them. il Is not TO be expected OF him
that he shall do so at loss to him
self
Public Not Without Blame.
After all. then. the manager may not
be as culpible as the public regards
him, and II may not be impossible that
the accuser himself may be at fault
IT is more than probable II the public
We're 10 extend 70 frst-class musical
attractions set before it that support
which IL used 20 give in former days it
would meet the reasonable expectations
OF the box office. and Il would be to the
interest II the Durvevors OF entertain
ment 10 continue 70 bring them. It is
not TO be denied that IN this respect the
theeter-freduenting public OF Washing
ton is not free from blame. For a city
which makes no small 3retcnsions 10
musical taste and culture Washington
has on frequent occasions in recent
wears sh,lVn itself strangely Indifferent
TO the best in the range OF providable
attractions
II is best 10 be frank with ourselves.
When the managers Of local theaters.
OF those OF great musical attractions.
see how chary We have been in our
support Of Important musical enter
rrises in oUr own community. they may
well pause before they incur the risk
involved in bringing expensive opera
companies 70 the city. however insistent
the demand for such entertainment may
be on the part Of a portion OF their
patrons.
Our Own Symphony Orchestra.
Efforts in every way praiseworthy were
made last year by men and women de-
voted TO the best there is in music 70
bring iDto life a symphony orchestra
that should be worthy OF the Nation s
Capital In this they succeeded, and a
series OF concerts was the result that
came very near 10 satisfying the de-
mands OF the most exacting musical
connoisseur. From an artistic stand
point these concerts were as successful
as their most sanguine promoters could
have wished for. But they were far
from satisfactory IN a business view OF
the case. The season closed with
large balance on the wrong side OF tho
ledger. Undeterred. however. by the
financial fiasco. these same lovers OF the
art musical have resumed their ven
tvre, with the hope that better results
NAY be achieved in the coming season
II Is sincerely 20 be hoped they viii not
be disaDD 0inted IN their expectations.
This depression from the main sub
Ject in hand may be pardOned because
Il serves 10 furnish an explanation why
managers Of great musical attractions
have recently fought. and continue 70
night, shy OF Washington. They argue.
not unreasonably, that a community
which falls TO extend commensurate
support 10 worthy local enterprise can