The Washington times., 1904-05-01
Profitable Opera.
The Unprecedented Success
of "PaIsifal, ConTied,
and the Metropolitan Com
panu-A Few DissonanCeS.

The financial possibilities OF the
theater when exploited by generous adj
vertising are developed clearly by the
annual statement of the Metropolitan
Grand Opera Company made TO the di-
rectors of that body recently. To these
officials Conductor Conried made the
remarkable statement that the total re-
ceipts for the season of ''Parsifar' and
other grand operas including the tour
10 Washington and other cities
amounted to 81. 100000 In view of this
showing. said the impresario. an extra
dividend was declared on the capital
stock of the corporation as well as the
regular dividend OF per cent.
Herr Conried was enthusiastically
thanked. of course. Nothing succeeds
like success, even in grand opera. He
was also allowed a benefit-which was
more to the point-out of which he OBJ
tanned $4,000 Then came the culmi-
mating event OF his first season-his
statement TO the New York press.
Must Not Divulge Profits.
Il can't make known the profits of
the season. said Mr. Conried for it is
matter which doesn't concern the pub
lie. But some of the items of expense
may be of interest.
For instance. l paid out to the lead
ing singers-those who are paid by the
performance-S6OOOOO This does not in
clude those who were on weekly salary
The stage alterations, scenery, and
costumes last fall and winter cost a
quarter of a million dollars Only one
fifth Of this was put down TO this sea-
sons expenses. though, for the benefits
of the expenditure of this sum will last
for several years.
The stage carpenters alone got $4,000
between the opening and the end of the
season.
THE total expenses OF the orchestra
amounted to $3.50
"Of the $4,000 expended on stage al
terations. building. scenery. and cos
tunes, $4,000 went to the stage alone"
Trouble Behind Scenes.
But money was not the only com
modify TO be handled. Witness the fol-
lowing:
zone thing I am certain Of" the di-
rector continued, that is that the entire
technical stan will be different from
what it was this year l don't refer to
the heads of departments. but 10 the
workmen themselves The condition this
season was positively exasperating.
won't be tryannized over in such a way
again 1 couldn't help 1t this year. be-
cause ] was In the midst OF the trouble
before ! knew IL, and after the season
once began 1 was bound hand and foot
Why, in the last act of Die Walkure'
had sixty-four stage hands standing
about waiting TO move the scenery when
the opera was over. With all those men
there, 1 had to send out and employ
eight engineers Just 10 turn keys on the
steam pipes. None of the sixty-four
men would lift hand TO 1t, though they
were all idle at the time.
"Shl Sill" as to New Singers.
las to the new singers I will bring
over next fall. 1 am not prepared to
name any of them. l have negotiated
with four or five great artists who
have never been here and all but the
signing of the contracts is complete.
have learned enough not to say have
engaged anybody until IL is down IN
black and white.
Il will be very much pleased IL 1 can
get Jean de Reszke. 1 intend to make
HIM an OFFER j viii engage him If he
DOESN'T ask for all the receipts and my
evening suit 10 boot Tho people want
him ] don't blame them: he's the best
I
Pay everything for even Jean de
Reszke.
I have great hopes that Felix Mottl
will return. He assured me that he
would return il possible. You know, he
can't come unless he gets leave OF
absence from Munich, where he is al
ready under contract.
Alfred Hertz and Arturo Vigna, the
other two conductors, are already en-
gaged TO return.
sNew York Will Hear Again"
The singers had this season who
will not come back to sing in the Met
ropolitan are Ernst Kraus, Nine. Cad
ski. Frau Naval. Nine Ackte. and per-
haps Nine. Ternina. Nine Ternina says,
she will come back if her health per-
mits 1t.
Il did not renew Nine. Gadskrs con-
tract. Mr.. Kraus is under contract in
Berlin and cannot leave the country
without the Emperors permission.
Nine. Ackte is also engaged for next
winters season in Paris
New York will hear again Sembrich.
Caruso. Scott, Muehimann. Blass, Cor
ftz. BurgstalleT. PlancOn, Homer, and
all the others"
That. then. is the record, and those
are the prospects We have contributed
TO an unprecedented profit, and we are
20 share in a dull prospect. Washing
ton did not hear Kraus, Gadsld. or Ter
nina. Apparently. II never will hear
them. But II Is TO hear again the "old
favorites perhaps even Jean de
Reszke-in their popular roles" and
what more could anyone ask
The Capital, Of course, does not count;
otherwise Herr Conrfad Voui9 have
been careful not TO say New York will
hear again" But Washington is priv
ileged 20 sit in judgment at the close
OF the season on the directors final
statement, and 4 IS easy TO say what
that judgment win be. A. ID. A
D--I II T-.t