New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-04

Workers and those who are not New-yorkers, but
who still hep TO make New-York what II IL. would
rally TO the support OF such an extended season.
At first thought, II seems not unlikely: Certain II
is that the public never appears at the end OF the
season, TO have satisfied its appetite. 1t sits long
at the banquet and stiu goes away apparently
hungry.
But walt bit What Mr. Couried has IN mind
II he Is correctly represented is that the additional
programme shall be offered to the public at prices
much lower than possibly half much those
which are now literally paid On this basis. OF
course It without saytns that the cost
" scale OF the most famous and high priced
song birds OF the entire world. the SUMPTION, pro-
ductons the all star casts would be out OF the
question Nor could the artistic level Of the per-
formances be maintained high a plane. II
would. In fact. resolve itself more into question OF
the opera than OF the singers. and there are many
who will say that the success OF grand opera on
the magnificent scale on which New-York gets it at
present is due the singers than the
opera. Does New-York want cheap opera? That
is the question that would be answered effectively
by such series OF performances OF reduced brill
fancy and reduced cost Mr.. Conred IS
supposed TO have in mind. New-york wants costly
opera-the costest that the world has 10 offer.
OF that there Is no doubt But would the
luxurious New-York. which, when all Is said and
done. likes a thing that's costly just little the
better for It's cost support the cheaper. less
sumptuous performances OF the music drama?
literally supported the efforts OF Mr.. Conred aud
Mr. Grau before him to search the world for peer
less singers and bring them to Manhattan Island
would help one to decide whether New-York wants
cheaper opera. Any hotel man OF experience will
say that he has d number OF patrons who have
left with him standing orders to FOR them
the suites OF rooms annually. beginning with
the opera season end ending with its close. Just
how many Of these persona there there seems
TO be way OF determining, but that large NUM-
Der OF persons do come 10 NsT-York first and
foremost for the opera season there IS no doubt
As the season at present comedies practi ally with
the duration OF the Indictment months. when city
life Is generally sought. even by those who
love the country Of these persons depart FROM
the metropolis when the song birds, their purses
stuffed with American gold and their scraDboOks
bullying with critical praise of their performances,
take ship for The other SIDE
Nor are the hotel jewellers. WHO. o; course, repre-
sent for the most part the Weather classes OF
every part OF the country. the only persons who
find grand opera the most potent magnet that
draws them to New-York Almost every city OF
sny size has its students OF singing who believe
that there is way effectively 20 master their
difficult CRIT TO study the methods OF those who
by their very engagement 70 sing or the stage OF
the Metropolitan Opera House. are acknowledged
TO have mastered IL themselves.
The little apartment hotels and the better class OF
boarding houses contribute hundreds OF persons
belonging TO this class who here for the opera
and not for much OF anything else These are they
who are not seen In the boxes or even, for the
most part, IN the orchestra seats. They climb 20
the upper tiers. that. since the time they were
built have been known the haunts of the true
music lovers" But their support Is a considerable
prop to the cause OF grand opera in this city.
On how many OF these could Mr.. Conried depend
for his supplementary season OF adequate per-
forrnances at reduced rates? Not very many. It is
TO be feared for they. too here for the sing
ers and not. for the most part for the opera itself.
As for the hotel jewellers II Is reasonable to sup
pose that most OF them attracted much by
the social concOmtants OF the opera season, It's
Incidental festivities in the way of dinners. dances
musicals and so on. by their love of the fine
points of the music drama or the performances Of
singers. be they never uneQual!ed in all the
world of song.
And for those outanders who have entree
into the inner circle Of New-York's socially elect
the seectest society OF the metropolis has
stronger attraction than for born and bred New
Workers.. who accustomed to its appearance.
Mrs Snaith-Tonpkins of San Fran-Lous. for
ample who has read in the Sunday papers of the
magnificent gowns OF Mrs Cadwalader Van schuy
Ter or the priceless Jewels OF Mrs. De Lander
Torquonby. may be pardoned wish to indulge her
curiosity to those splendid gowns those
magnificent jewels with eyes that could never
really view them anywhere save at the opera
For such worshippers from afar the opera is an
institution to be thankful for. And that there
many Of them who doubt? Would they. too.
be among the supporters OF Mr.. Conried's cheap
opera plan? Alas! it is greatly to be feared not.
For the objects of their admiration would in all
probability. be absent from the boxes of the gilt
terng horseshoe. Yes. 1t has to be admitted that
1t IS moro than probable that society itself would
desert Mr. Conried in his we'll meant efforts to
supply want which very possibly may not exist
at all. Nor could society be blamed, for why when
afford the very best in the world should
one be content with less?
II comes down. then, to this: Mr.. Conried could
reasonably look for support for his cheap opera
scheme to those who could not afford to pay for
the best Fashionable society can afford and does
afford the best and in afording II adds inmeasur-
ably to the attractiveness of grand opera those
not numbered among ultra fashionable folk One
can scarcely help wondering what would happen to
grand opera in the most unlikely event of society
growing weary OF II. Suppose. for example that
boxes were abolished. and the sort OF people who
now adorn the boxes at the opera should no longer
appear within the great auditorium. what would
be the effect the pecuniary success Of the
season? How long would the true music lovers
remain faithful? Tint there would be many OF
them faithful TO the end there can be no doubt
but would there be enough OF them TO justify Mr..
Conried in proceeding with operate entertainment
and instruction his present splendid scals7
Well. the public Is likely ever 10 know For
society shows sign OF wearying of the opera
1t would be strange indeed. with the Metropolitan
performances constantly rising IN quality and al
ready on a scale Of artistic grandeur and perfsc-
ton In every school never before equaned in the
history OF tho world II any person capable Of
approaching II should tire OF IT,
II may we'll be doubted whether New-York want,
cheap opera. Certainly nobody can doubt that
while to thousands the music drama is the thing
there are yet other thousands who are equally IL
not more attracted by the glamour OF wealth and
luxury and brilliancy that attaches the per-
formances as at present given at the Metropolitan