New-York tribune., 1905-12-25
VAIL OF THE CHORUS.
Com1ed Singers Union Ready to
Make .S7ceeping Demands.

Christmas Day has been decided upon by the
Chorus Singers Union. consisting of members
of the chorus OF the Metropolitan Opera House.
rs the date for an agreement containing a
portentous list of demands including one Tor
higher wages. which is to be presented to Dl-
rector Heinrich Conried. The name OF the
un5on officially is Local No. H. OF the Actors
National Protective Union, and the position II
takes is that the members Of the chorus are
generally underestinated, inasmuch as grand
opera would not be possible without the choruS-
The agreement starts as follows;
The chorus agrees to render service TO the
con,ranv in his or her capacity as chorus, ana
10 sing and act in all special choruses' as n@laI @
woman or child, in all performances coIceIls
orarorios etc. to be given by the company
9r;,3.- a term beginning on the 25th day of De-
cember, 1895, and ending on or ABOUT the 1o1h
day OF April, 1906
dav or evening without exception, at all orches-
trail scenic piano rehearsals Whlch may
be ordered by the company; one rehearsal ana
Vi5S work. l'e' - '--''-'-o
IN compensation for such services the com n
pany agrees to pay to the chorus the sum OF
So a week. to begin with the 25th day Of
December 1905.
two weeks before the opening of the new sea-
son and he or she shall receive therefor sal
an of SO 30 a week Two rehearsals may take
81 q =. - 5a-- .ot av'caa6inp- together four
hours The number of performances given shall
not exceed five performances week Sunday
TO TWO performances in a day.
A great number of rules are provided in the
agreement as to the pay of the performers in
case Of Sickness the treatment of the chorus
singers on the road and other matters. The
union demands the right to seats in the regular
day coaches during the day and berths and
sleepers during the night when travelling.
The president OF the new union, Herr Salz-
burg was given the privilege Of the floor at
,.1r--a tod
Union and escorted TO The platform. He bowed
his acknowledgements and then told Of the al
legged grievances Of the chorus singers. He
said that it required an artistic training, which
involved many years of study 10 make a man
or woman an efficient chorus singer Ihey We're
onlN paid Si5 week, which he thought was
ridiculous in view Of the services they had 10
perform. The demands he said. would be pre-
sented to Director Conred. but he wanted the
moral support Of the Central Federated. Union
William Barry, of the Actors ProtecIlNe
Union who organized the chorus singers, then
asked for right to ne heard- he deClarel a Ll5I
President SaIzburg had not said half enough
What would grand opera be without the
ChorUs2' he asked. The prlma Gonna ana tne
solo singers are paid high salaries, but the
chorus IS the body of the performance The
r-fr,a donna and the SOLO singers. no matter
how gifted they are could not be a grand opera
all by thnesivCs
Henry De Neaux, also delegate Of the
Actors Protective Union. asked TO be allowed
10 say something. He declared that the arts
tic sense of any one would show that the chorus
the most essential part OF grdlu opera
1lsefa and the drama he said. had an elevating
influence on the people at large and those who
furnished it should be paid properly
The musical and dramatic critics Of the Cen
traI Federated Union shook their heads wisely
and emphasized what De VeauX said by ap-
rlal.ee The delegates of the walters bartenders
and other unions in the miscellaneous trades, as
Vel as those in the building trades, looked
highly pleased at his appeal 10 their artistic
sense De Veaux continued TO talk on tbs
humanizing effect OF music. especially grand
opera at some length
The delegate Of the Musical Mutual PTOteCtive
Union said that he wanted his union to have
some share in presenting the demands, which
were 5ndorsed by aCClamation. After q confer
er1ce is held between the Chorus Singers Union.
the Musical Mutual Protective Union and other
organizations, the demands viii be presented to
Mr.. Conried who viii be told that they are
indorsed by the Central Federated Union.