The sun., 1903-12-27
CONRlED TO WAR ON UNIONS.
PLANS CAMPAIGN HARDER THAN
Producing "PARSIFAL."
No One Understands, lie Says, tho OBJ.
staclcs Put In the Way OF His Manage
nlcnt by CnlOns--Systcm OF Double
Pa. and Quilting Rehcarsals Must Co

Heinrich Conried told a Sun reporter
Yesterday that he had in view plans more
farrcaching and. in a measure, n ore difficult
70 accomplish than that OF producing
rarslal," which he did so triumphantly
on Thursday night.
when ! intended to produce Parsifal'
in New York, he said, Il was not just cer-
tain how would be able to do it, but in
spite of all opposition l succeeded. /
now intend to conduct the Metropolitan
Opera Il Eouse in the future in way that will
make me independent OF all the unions.
How will do that cannot say. but prom
se you it shall be accomplished.
Nobody understands the conditions
under which have 70 work with the orches-
ira at tine Metropolitan. Long before the
season began went before the officers Of
the Musical Union and tried to get them
TO allow me to select the orchestra and hire
he men directly. Why in the world, !
Isked of them, should not be allowed to
send for he men to come to the Office and
make my contracts with them there just
as do with everybody else in my employ.
was willing, if such an arran cement could
be made, to insure the men steady employ
ment for five years. Do you suppose that
they accepted such a reasonable propo-
i
the union must be engaged through Il
member Of the union. | cannot become
member of the union, for that is forbidden
by the constitutions so l shall always be
required to engage the players through
amiddleman so long as deal with members
Of the union.
For the opening performance OF
Rigoletto' wanted string orchestra on
~ la su0 cd s.
players, but ! thought it would be better
to have more or none at all, and he finally
reported that it was impossible to find
enough good men to play the music de-
Gently. But he told me that the orchest ra
could at that time readily dispense with
the services Of enough OF the vlolinlsts to
play on the stage We agreed on that
plan, and the men left their places In the
orchestra and played the minuet in the
wings. 49,, ~ =
would be compelled to pay each one OF them
IS for his services. They also received
their regular salaries.
You mean to say asked, that you
zage and play ing in the wings? l would
pay that money readily enough II you had
put on cos' umcs and appeared on the stage,
az there are no grounds on which man
not engaged to do IL should be compelled
10 show himself TO the public
Yes was the answer. We must be
paid because We left our places in the Or
chestra to do extra work. We we're en-
gagged TO play in the orchestra and not 10
But i asked, did you engage SUBJ
situles and pay them for the few minutes
hat YOU were on the stage2
"Og course they had not done that, but in
he end paid hem the money.
The other day we we're rehearsing
very difficult scene in Parsifal when
one OF the musicians arose in the orchestra
as,onshment what had happened. lie
said that the man was going home and home
he vent, while the orchestra struggled along
without him as best they could. The
next day asked Mr.. Franko TO come into
my Office
You must discharge that man. said.
for the sake OF the discipline OF my opera
house ] call OF permit such thing to
pass unpunished, for the sake OF It's eneot
OH the other players.
You cannot discharge him, the con-
cert master told me, because he had per-
feet right to leave hen he did. lhe re-
hearsaT had already lasted for more than
two aud half hours: moreover, you could
reyer get al other man if you. did discharge
him. for the simple reason he is the only
person kI ow OF anyw here who can play
at all capably OH his instrument
"Ihe Sc are a few tristan ces OF the troubles
| have had with the Musical Union so far.
! have decided to bring them TO an end
Low | will 10 it ! do not know. Such
condition of affairs cannot exist, however,
and make opera possible III Ne" lorh
as il should be given.
The other unions on the stage have given
Mr. Conried almost a. much trouble he
told Of series of rehear ais held for the
'irst performance of Die Walhlere.
for three times that Gay, trying the cenery
IN cveIy way" he said, Il called the men
on the stage to make speech to them
You have all done very, well today,
I "A ho1.n n
hard ! only hope that you viii come
early tonight and that we succeed in getting
through a. well.
Bat we cont come tonight answered
he leaC er, we are only the stbs titNtes and
he regular gang of Gene !hifters will have
charge OF tile opera tonight.
Think OF such an experience As that
For more than three ho rs We had been
va~tcd becaut the men who we're really
20 have charge of the performance were
~ arrive there at o'clock. without know
ing thing Of what was expected OF them.
',ear.al- Of all the new operas OF coune,
that is not to continue. for nothing That
expect 10 accompli h would be posslpIe at
he opera. But it is at present the rule or
'.c Mon
The diIiculty of getting proper super
nun Hraries is sonnet iing taat noDoiy
realizes here, il any specia atten IT at
~pcot .clc i, t, be made. ! wanted 400 y @ en-
~ appear in the third act of Aida The
stage manager adve' tl-cd and thousand
hungry looking II en- ct ,ered at the theat, e
TIE ne't day. They II ade, such a di tntb-
ance We had to call o' the police; -Four
hundred were selected and | rehearseed
them for three hours. | knew tnIt it would
be a n i take to pay them, a. they II igit
not core back, b. they said they were
hungry and did after n ahing every
man give his word to be on hand the ne'.t
day.
-There were 400 r en- there all right the
nert orninr for [ court ID them, b, only
80 belonged t. the patty thtt was there
the dsv lefore. Those who had stayed
away t,'d their friends. however, and they
took their places The third day theie
was an'tler 400 and tNis tire only $50 be
longed t the ven | had really engaged
We had 400 on t1o Ia night 'oi the perfort,-
ance, but don't believe there were fifty
ther, who had been through rehearsals
W.T. re.
"In anv European civ II would only
Rave beer receesarv for the stare manage
to order TIE rur" Der of men he wanted for
the performance from. the head OF the
-. -, al