Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-24
foreign singers in my company will demon

not even English. Tho standard transla-
tons Of the Wagner srnttEfc-dramas, Tor ex-
ample, are not German and are certainly
not English, If by Eaglisb one means a lam
guage which conveys some meaning. NO
wonder the public refuses to take seriously
opera the text of which is not only an I'M
meaning string Of words, but words SO COM
bined that they offend the ear.
1.-THE translation Of sParsifaP which IS
used by my company xill show that 1t Is
possible to translate Foreign libretto in a
way that it may not onlT be sung, but While
being reasonably literal it possesses liter
airy quality, comparable with the original
The translation was made by an English
woman, Margaret Glyn, and after she had
done her work 1t was minutely examined
by competent man to see that 1t was mu-
steal as well as literary. AS result, an
American audience is able to follow the text
of 'Parsifaf with the same intelligence ana
pleasure as they follow the music and the
action.
These two problems have been solved for
all time and a foundation for grand opera III
English, artiStically sung and produced, mas
been laid.
II do not care to pose as philanthro-
pist," continued Mr.. Savage, for am not
one; yet anyone acquainted with the theat-
rical business knows that 1t Will be lmpos-
sible for me to make a fortune out OF this
production of 'Parsifal' AS "a business
proposition, the margin is too small, but IL
has always been my aim to produce grand
opera in English in a way which Will COM
pare with the best opera methods on the
continent. There is not only a broad and
sound principle of art behind it, but be-
lieve from the financial point of view there
is a great future for 1t.
''Those who point to the disastrous ven
ture Of Mrs. Thurber forget that nearly
twenty years have passed since then, in
which time the development of the country,
artistically and financially, has been enor-
nous. In Mrs. Thurber's day how many
managers of grand opera in foreign Ian
guageS who had the support of fashion and
society escaped bankruptcy? No one whose
work has not been in the field of music has
any idea of the musical growth of this coun-
try in the last ten years. There is hardly
town that has not its, woman's music club
which does good work. There is hardly
town which has not at least the nucleus of
a symphony orchestra. Music has become
a vital factor in American life. Now then.
What propose to Show is that the country
is ready for grand opera on large scale,
artistically, and at prices practically with
in the reach of all people. The charge has
been freely made that in producing Parsi-
faI L am seeking to reap the reward of an
because the reward at its highest will not be
worth the worry and trouble the produc-
ton has cost me.
Besides, don't let It be forgotten that I
announced my intention to do 'Parsifal' in
English year ago last May-May, 1903.
Since that time up to the first performance
in Boston on October II last 1 was at work
continuously preparing it. Is there any
IHliS dItHHS III lillS! because IL IrONa-
tore is given in one theater in Italian,
should 1t not be given in English in an
other? Because 1 gave in New York PUG
cini's La Boheme' in English, was there
any reason why Mr.. Grau should not have
given 1t in Italian at the Metropolitan Opera
House in New York year later? Is there
anything to make 'Parsifap an exception to
this rule?
Il chose 'Parsifap with which to make
this experiment because for the last twenty
two years it has been the most discussed
operate work on the STAGE
ARCHAEOLOGY IN THE DRAMA
The Roman chariot used in "Adrea"
is modelled after the golden Etruscan
Biga in the Metropolitan Museum at
New York This relic of the Etruscan
golden age is worth more than a
million dollars Gndeed, its value is fairly
incompatible, and is the only thing of it's
kind in the world Though golden chariots
were common in Rome and other Italian
cities in that age, not a vestige of one has
ever been discovered. In fact, nothing of
the tremendous Quantity of gold and
precious metals, gems and ivory known to
have been brought to Rome by her con-
quering generals has ever been found The
conclusion, therefore. is that at one time
or another, and for one purpose or another,
it has all been cast into the Tiber and re-
mains there to, this day-perhaps to be-
come the quest of some intrepid discoverer.
The Biga was found by an italian farmer
some ten years ago, while digging the
foundation for barn, at Norcis, something
like forty miles from Rome. The Biga
was, of course, decayed and in pieces-a
heap of junk, in fact, which filled four large
packing cases when imported. Since then,
until recently, the artists of the Metro
politan Museum have worked to put to-
Cnt hnr ~ n,ai b,.o,,
and ivory which now make up the most
valuable antique" in the world, and which,
in "Adrea," Mr.. Belasco has copied for the
use of Mrs. Carter.
Curiously enough, the Biga of all the
classical remains which have come down to
us, seems to have been preserved by inten-
ton. 1t was carefully taken apart and
packed in stone-lined vault many feet
below the surface of the earth, covered
with stone and sealed Precisely what mo-
tive the owner had for this act is only
conjectural. OF course, the vehicle was in
trinsically valuable, but that seems hardly
sufficient. Perhaps the most reasonable
theory is that the vault was a family
hiding place for valuables and that it was
secreted there to preserve it from the
Gothic and Hunnish invaders of the time
Probably it was hidden with other house,
hold treasures, of which the owner of such
a chariot would have considerable. Prob
ably the latter were removed later, since
the vault would have contained much be-
sides with Biga. Perhaps the strong box,
which was part of the furniture of every
rich Roman house, was there. What a
pity that it did not remain, for in it would
have been found the sculptured gemmed
drinking cups, the women's jewelry, as
we'll as manuscripts, books and accounts.
The difficulty of its expectation out of
Italy was great AS is well known, no
antiquities are permitted to be sent out of
the state without the consent of the gov
eminent, and this manifestly would have
been refused in the case Of a find of such
extraordinary interest and value. However,
fortunately for us, who may see it's counter
part in Mrs Carriers play, the farmer who
discovered it took into his counsels an agent
who set Paris, London and New York bid
ding secretly against each other, with the
result that the wonderful Etruscan Biga
rests securely in the Metropolitan Museum,
and the method Of its expectation from
Italy must not be told even if 1t be GER
tainly known, for fear of complications not
entirely undiplomatic. 1t is the original of
this Biga that formed the model for one
of the most valuable of the properties in
the new Belasco-Long play. Furthermore,
the fact illustrates with what thoroughness,
what careful and endless research, the
authors have evolved the drama that will
present Mrs Leslie Garter tomorrow night.
Verdi's "Othello."
verdi's "Othello'' was given at the Co.