New-York tribune., 1906-01-04
FAUST" MINUS CHORUS
CONRIED'S SINGERS OUT.
Ca775sO and Nine. Edmes Entertain
Mana at Metropolitan.

Many at Metropolitan.
Mr. Conried's chorus struck last night. They
chose n auspicious time. for Faust was given |
for the first time at the Metropolitan OpNa |
House this season. with Caruso singing the |
title part in French, for the first time in his |
career and Nine. Eames making her re-entrance
for the winter. The largest crowd since the |
early "ParsifaT performances was on hand and
the box office window had to be closed at
o'clock
Nine Eames personally implored the members
of the chorus not to strike. as it would be hard
for her in her first appearance this season She
talked with the men for some little time, and
Joined with Mr.. Conried in trying to make them
understand that they would get no sympathy
from other theatrical unions. and finally i'm
plored them in an impassioned speech not to go
back on her The older hands were in favor Of
delaying the strike until Nine Eames had sung
Marguerite. but the majority rule broke this
plan
Mr. Conried sent the curtain up on schedule
time. and sFaust" was sung to the end without
chorus, though two and six women mem
bers of the chorus. refused TO join in the strike,
and moved with the supers through the scenes
where a crowd is required. The management
refused to divulge the names of these faithful
ones lest the union should take harsh measures
against them but they We're veteran singers at
the opera house.
The soldiers chorus and the kermess scene
of course had to be cut, but the organ filled up
the void in the church scene, and only three
men (who seemed to have come. not to hear
Caruso but the chorus!) demanded their money
back
The ballet did not strike. and served use
full purpose last night.
MR. CoNRIED. EXPLAINS
The first definite fntimation the audience had
that ANYTHING was wrong came after the hrst
scene Mr.. Conried stepped in front Of the
curtain and made the following speech:
ladies' and gentlemen: Circumstances which
II was impossible for me to foresee compel me-
very regretfully, to inform you tfat some oIiii'
eions viii he made in to-night's performance
The members of the chorus of the Metro.
noIitan Opera House. acting under the orders Oh
the labor union. have thought nj wltnout bib
to deliberately repudiate the contracts WhlcH
tbey had signed with me individual singers
and before they were organized as uhl4iL.Sts ON.
Speaking as members, not of the chorus put - -
ATahnr Union they have made certain demands
to which as a matter Of principle, of respect LOT
art ana of respect for this art loving PuOii'
have refused to submit. -,
As result of this Reputation. Faust viii
OF necessity be presented o fn every other
respect YOU will be satisfied with the perform
ance. ,5,a. a,d ,Ap+Ieuen
vritb details which you might rightly ana
naturally hold to be of purely administrative IN
terest But. being-as sI,1 nave d GIncsra defer
ence ~ the public feel bound to mention tnat
nv objections to making concessions 20 20 tt tt,e
chorus are not founded upon the nature oI tns
St 5o,75 10 g tber1seIves-sone of them are just, and
7 have expressed my willingness 10 coIlsiIuel
then, as TO the raising of salaries TOT exam ~
hut upon the manner in Whlch theS nav III
nresented In other words. while perfecty VIII
ing so far possible to meet me- @Ine L,,ya
The chorus as members of the chorus. l nave
aod ahSOIu refused
bv the chorus labor union; % ~
II &c nv conviction that in the interest OF ART
and Of the public which expects me TO proouce
anu @ u IN " an artistic way the manager of the
metropolitan Opera House must oe IT. 80
choose the singers, small or great py Wholl sne
saoar+orIr is interpreted. In any case, repeat
will not permit n labor union TO dlctate VIA VIA
artists shall or shall not sing at TINS oPsIa
house I believe firmly that you. and al! otner
intelligent operagoers, will support me IN TINS
attitude .,a, +r,st
+hat desnite the absence of the chorus you VIII
have a very enjoyable evening
A. the close the audience. in the main broke
.+o LONG ann1ause but a few voices were heard
on the other side.
WHY don't you send for Dppel?" said
wag in the gallery
Hire haII"' some one else cried
You knew it was coming; why didn't you get
another chorus?" cried third; and from unoer
the boxes. where Caruso's countrymen stood
came few cat calls and Kisses The applause
however soon drowned these out
REFUSES TO RECOGNIZE UNION.
The absolute decision TO strike was handed to
Mr. Conried at Z O'Clock last night. at the time
the chorus should have arrived but at the re
hearsal of "ParsifaF' in the morning there was
rather definite talk of IT. Mr. Conried attended
this rehearsal and told the chorus that his d.
rectors backed him up in his refusal TO recos-
pize their union. He said he would consider
onvthing in reason regarding raise in pay Tor
each member and intimated that he considered
higher wages no more than fair. but ne woulu
not under any consideration. recognize their
,,nton and told them that a strike was a dis
hopes+ act. as il violated their contracts with
him He further said that he could hold out
bona for a fve-year contract for each member
20 ,be, did not strike and he promised them
sIeenine cars from Philadelphia He closed by
saving that he was their friend. You believe.
said he that the Central Federation will back
Won nm by ordering a sympathetic strike OF
stage hands and musicians. You are wrong
have of1ciaI information that you will be left
10 go alone AS a friend 1 ask you to consider
well what you are doing
Then followed a long discussion. in which
Mr. Conried took part and at the end