The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-01
"PARSIFAL" FURORE ENDED.
LAST YEARS RUSH TO HEAR IT
NOT SEEN THTS YEAR.
Contrast between Last Seasons Craze and
the Lack or Interest Now Causes OF
the Change Conrled's Hopes OF Profits
10 the Future Likely to he Disappointed


Metropolitan Opera House tomorrow morn
ing the series announced for the season will
come to an end, and the opera will have
completed 1t. first year "a musical offer
inG to New York audiences
So far the performance of this work,
phich had previously been sacred 10 Bay
reuth. has been the most striking achieve
nent in Mr.. Conrieds term az impresario.
Whatever history may record OF him as an
opera manager, II is certain that he will be
recalled first as the man who imported
against great odds this last work Of Wag-
ner's genius.
strange experience has befallen this
opera during its first American year, and
the incidents to be recalled here are unique
m the history Of amusements the world
over.
What was accepted here with an enthusi-
asm that amounted TO little less than mania
became in one year a matter of such indifIer-
ence as 10 make the second series % repre-
sensations barely profitable in comparison
with what the first series had been SO
enthusiastic reception Of a novelty and
20 complete an ending Of public interest
had never been known before
be receipts for the eleven performances
known in the history of amusements
opera may be classed under that head
here or in Europe. When the work was
Jung for the first time on Christmas Eve
one year ago the audience represented
almost $4,000
The receipts for the following ten per
tormances Of the work brought III the
total amount to sl36.30s The average
receipts for each performance were SIC
ai7l7 This sum was made possible by
the fact that the prices for seats at the
Metropolitan were doubled in the expensive
parts Of the house
When the time came for Mr. Conried 10
decide on the programme for his benefit
that shrewd commander of the operate
ship selected -Parsifal- and tho result
vas that another audience. representing
$4,000. gathered to hear tho work More
han S. 900 was returned 70 applicants for
tickets who had written before the sale of
the seats at the box Office began
Such a record as this naturally led Air
Conried to believe that this sacred opera
OF Wagner would remain as much of n
gold mine as it had been during the first
wear. He expressed his confidence in its
earning yearly for the next FIVE years
$4,000.
AZ the end of his first season the desire
10 see the opera was apparently greater
than 1t had ever been. There was every
circumstance to justify the managers
optimistic view
AZ the end Of this five years Of golden
shower. Mr.. Conried in case be retained
the direction Of the Metropolitan. was to
put the opera at that time into the roper
toire.
Before the production last winter -Par.
sifal' was the subject OF more comment
than any other dramatic or musical per-
Torrance Mr.. Conried announced in
March 1908 that his election to the direc- |
ton OF the Metropolitan had given him
the opportunity to carry out plan which
he had been considering for ten years
He intended to perform in New York the
opera which Wagner, by the terms OF his
VIII had held sacred TO Bayreuth
len years before he had proposed TO
pay Nine. Wagner a share Of tho profits
or $4,000 down il she would allow him
10 perform the work under the direction
NJ Anton Seidl. That good lady had all
but thrown him out of Wahnfried for this
suggestion
Inc opera was not protected by law
and there was no legal necessity for paying
cent TO anybody. But Mr.. Conried felt
that Nine. Wagner should share in the
prohts which he believed were certain
Every day brought up some fresh phase
OF the controversy. Nine Wagner en-
gagged an American lawyer 10 obtain an
injunction against the production of the
work In this move she failed
Mr. Conried got the best Of the BAY
reuth artists for the same roles they had
sung IN Bayreuth, in spite of Nine Wae-
ners entreaties- These included w. Burg
stal'er, who owes his artistic existence to
her, Anton Van Rooy, who IS only little
hit less under obligations to her. and Anton
Fuchs
The moral aspect Of the work aroused
discussion on every side The Rev DR.
y. J. Burre Of the Marble Collegiate
Church declared that the libretto was
blasphemous. and begged the authorities
10 interfere 10 prevent performance
of the work. The Rev DR. Charles II Park
hurst denounced the text with equal vieor,
and Bishop Burgess Of Long Island added {
MS voice 10 the Protestant objections
The Rev DR. Dufield Of the old Twelfth
Street Presbyterian Church was another
opponent Of the performance Father ,
Nynne OF the Society Of Jesus was one of .
the few persons who had a word 90 say ,
IN deferc, Of the opera from a religious I
point Of view
In addition 10 the publicity thus given }
10 the coming performance. there was the
Galy progress Of the legal features Of the
case Al Of these we're decided in favor
Of Mr. Conried, for there was no real legal q
obstacle to his performance Of the work. d
All this preliminary publicity aroused t
Intense excitement. The consequence was .
that an enormous audience representing !
the unprecedented sum Of $50 900. swarmed I
10 tho theatre for the hrst performance. :,
and similar audiences continued TO 70
20 long as it was possible last winter to II
hear the opera II
Mr Conried cduld have given thirty b
performances instead Of twelve and sold h
'ui the house for every one Of them But .
seemed n him the part Of wisdom 10 .
-esorve some OF the profits for future SEA =
.ons Henry " Savage. seeing the ENJOY d
nous public interest IN the opera. de-
1ded 10 give il in English
Whom Mr. Conrei returned from Europe