The sun., 1903-12-25
THE AUDIENCE THAT SAW 1T.
Real Music Lovers Mostly-Dress No
Eaatupa

Before $50 o'clock yesterday afternoon
thousand people were waiting in front Of
the Metropolitan Opera House to buy ad-
mission tickets. They were in front Of
the Broadway entrance. through which
they could reach the main door to stand
downstairs during the hours the perform
ance was to last: and more were In front
of the doors leading to the upper CALLER
les, where they could stand in that aerial
retreat at half the advanced price asked
downstairs
Some early arrivals hurried to their
places in the stalls and boxes as soon as
the doors were opened and the standess
admitted. The long rows OF empty seats
welcomed them. but gradually the audi
ence arrived until the theatre was full.
Behind the curtain the scene stood ready
for the first act. Carl Lautenschlaeger
and Anton Fuchs. stage managers at the
opera house this year, moved anxiously
about the stage, talking with the elec-
trician and chief stage carpenter. Through
out these preliminary minutes Mr.. Ccnried
moved about the stage. personally exam
lining the arrangement Of every light and
scenic detail.
Seven hours later the auditorium Ct the
opera house was again deserted 1t was
no longer spick and orderly. but Uttered
with programmes, here and there flower.
and the usual miscellaneous fotsam in the
shape Of wells and gloves that remain from
every great gathering in the theatre. Out
side, belated carriages carried away their
passengers. The stage was dim and most
! of the scenery already hung in its racks
above the stage.
RECEIPTS $4,000.
1t was a wonderful audience that listened
to the opera. That the house would be
sold "out," as the slang of amusements
describes 1t, was a foregone conclusion.
The financial receipts exceeded any gather
ing in the Metropolitan Opera House ex-
cept the performance in honor Of Prince
Henry. The orchestra stalls and the per-
Sons standing there alone represented
$4,000. The sale of seats in the rest of the
house brought the total receipts up to
$4,000. The stockholders alone had the
privilege of occupying their boxes on this
occasion without paying for them.
Such an audience has never before gath
cred in New York at o'clock. Not only
was society there in the boxes. but there
were musicians from every part of the
-
Chicago. From Boston and New Haven
came delegations Of students. The
.standees" downstairs and in the galleries
were young men and women almost with
out exception.
It was only in this particular that the
attendance was disappointing. 1t was
thought that at least 2 600 admission tickets,
emitting the holders to stand, would be
sold Asa matter of fact the number down.
stairs was less than half that figure. And
the persons who bought them were young
probobly because they alone felt equal
to standing up for such long time.
Andreas Dppel, who sang Pdrsifdi at the
dress rehearsal, confessed last night that
his legs still ached from the necessity Of
standing up for more than forty minutes
during the second scene of the first act
Yet there were 500 persons willing to stand
during the entire performance.
ONLY TWELVE LATE ARRIVALS.
The audience arrived with uncommon
promptitude. 1t had been made clear
that no persons would be allowed to take
their seats after the lights had been turned
out Chief Usher Bull said that he would
make an effort to enforce this rule, al
though the ushers have no power to stop
ticketholder. who wants to get to his seat.
Yesterday it was unnecessary. At ten
minutes before the trlmpeters played
the AbendmdM throughout the theatre.
At O'Clock sharp the lights were turned out
In the auditorium and then Illuminated
again. At $40 o'clock they were lowered
Only twelve orchestra seats were then un-
occupied. The parterre boxes were full.
The late arrivals, who were only few
minutes behind time. were allowed to take
their places -Parsifal' accomplished more
than any opera ever before sung in the
Matropolitan 0Dera HOuSA II cot the
audience there on time.
HIGH DRESSES AND HATS THE RULE.
How was the audience dressed? Apart
from the occupants Of the parterre boxes,