The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-11
OPERA IN NEW COLORS.
Red and Gold Decorations At the Metro
politan-C Changes ON the Stage.

The new decorations Of the Metropolitan
Opera House are now sufficiently advanced
to give y idea of what their effect will be
when tilp theatre is opened.
The parterre boxes, as we'll as the grand
tier and the balconies, have been painted in
vivid red and gold and the corridors have
been tinted in the former bright hue. The
effect will be to throw into the shade all
women who sit behind the glare OF crimson
and gilt. The new decorations will I'M
doubtedly cause change in the style OF
dressing in the boxes, and in the opinion
of one person, who is judge OF the matter
the change will be an improvement.
"The new boxes are 80 much more bril-
liant in decoration than the old ones were, v
he said, shat women who come to the opera
wearing gowns Of green or red or other vlvid
colors will find their costumes. If not them
selves, swearing at the new decorations.
One dowager's soferino gown became
Joke last winter at the opera house, so reg
ularly did she appear in this dress and so
striking was it. Decided colors OF that
kind will be impossible in this theatre here
after. unless a woman wants to be thrown
absolutely into eclipse. The new decora-
tons will have accomplished good pur-
pose if they put such famboyant styles
of dressing out of the question"
1t is certain that the new color scheme
makes the interior of the building look
more brilliant than it did with the neutral
shades that used to preponderate in the
decorations.
The proscenium arch is to be entirely OF
gold, and that is highly decorative with
the massive mouldings that ornament 1t on
either side. This will make a much more
impressive frame for the scenes OF the
operas than the former arch, which was
a cautious, inartistic mixture of white
canoes on a brown ground and looked
like nothing but melting ice cream.
The apron, as the circular projection Of
the stage into the auditorium is called
has been removed, and the footlights are
in a vertical line across the front of the
stage This has made it possible to put
in two more rows of orchestra chairs, which
were very much needed.
The alterations to the stage are much
more material than those in front Of the
curtain. They are chiefly directed to the
Improvement OF the facilities for giving
the Wagner operas although 1t Is not to be
doubted that the other works in the roper
toire will also be better scenically from the
changes.
1t will now be possible to supply the
steam clouds that are called for so urgently
in the operas Of tho trilogy. and the trans
formations dema nded In "Parsifal' will be
accomplished very easily with the new
stage Then there are to be for the first
time sufficient trap doors to allow the
characters to leave and enter the stage
as they are required to do by the directions
in the lbrettos. And. above all, 1t will be
possible to change the scenes in half the
time formerly required.
Possibly the most important improve
ment in the stage department Is the new
lighting apparatus. Formerly 1t was not
possible to light the stage fully. even when
every light was used. Nor could any changes
be made during the progress Of . scene.
1t was either dark or light, with no varia-
ton, In the old days.
A complete apparatus has been installed,
and as Director Conried has shown him
self In the Irving Place Theatre to b. won
derful master Of stage illumination. the
Metropolitan this season is likely to be ade-
quately looked after in this way for the first
time -