New-York tribune., 1906-04-30
HAMMERSTEIN'S BIG BID.
HIS GRAND OPERA PLANS.
Gets Melba, Bonci and De Reszke-
Three Nezc Productions.

Oscar Hammerstein. who returned from
Europe on Saturday, on the ST. Louis, yesterday
stated in detail his plans for the production of
grand opera next season at the Manhattan
Opera House. The project calls for a company
which includes some of the most noted singers
of Europe. Mr.. Hammersten says the company
will be the greatest ever collected in this coun-
try.
He has arranged for a long season, from No
vember until April, with four nights weekly
and the plans for new operas include three never
given in this country before and revivals of
several which were famous decade or two ago
Heading the singers will be Nine. Nellie
Melba, who has been engaged at a very high
salary. There will also be Edouard De Reszke,
the famous basso. and Signor Boci, who is said
to be the only rival Caruso a lyric tenor.
The conductors will include Cleofonte Cam
panini. of La Scala, Milan and Leonardo Cam
panari, also leading Italian conductor. NJ.
Capoul, of the Grand Opera Of Paris is expected
to be the stage manager, although he has not
yet secured permission for leave of absence.
The three operas, which, Mr.. Hammerstein
asserts. will positively be given for the first
time here, La Damnation de Faust" by
Berlioz; "Loreley." by Catalani. and "Armide."
by Gluck. Among the revivals will be "Elisir
d'Amore." "Ballo in Maschera," La Juive."
"Sonnambula," "Favorita' and "Puritani"
MI t1dIIlIueTSIeln, IN speaking OF MS plans,
said:
When 1 left New York, eight weeks ago, 1
concluded that if could not create for my Man
haitian Opera Hoause an ensemble of such mag
nitude, artistically, would eclipse every eff
fort ever made in this direction, since grand
opera found foothold in this country, 1 would
abandon my project and give up the idea of
giving grand opera for once and all. But 1 have
succeeded. With four tenors, four barytones
and five basses who stand as deans in their
profession, and with personnel of songstresses
headed by Melba my most eager expectations
have been surpassed 1 will conclusively de-
mOnstrate, with what l have already accom-
plished. that this second home for grand opera is
not TO be second at all. but first and foremost,
not asking humbly for support and kind con-
sideration. but forcing its acceptance and re-
snect by its Dredominating value.
PREPARING THREE NEW OPERAS.
81 have no business connections with any,
body have landlord. I under
straint or surveillance by boards of directors or
advisory committees. I am alone in what I
have done and what will do. The only thing
I will lack is that provincialism to which our
opera goers have been forced to accustom them
selves. I will also not promise TO produce new
operas. I will produce them. Three already
in active preparation"
In speaking of the forthcoming production of
/ "Armide" by Gluck Mr.. Hammerstein said II
will outrival anything ever shown on grand
opera stage of this country. For the produc-
tion of lie Damnation de Faust" Mr.. Hammer
stein said he indebted for the revised edi-
| ton of the music TO NJ Colonne, the French
composer and orchestral director. Continuing
about his plans. Mr.. Hammerstein said:
/ 'Inasmuch as I going to devote the season
| of 19O6-'07 TO operas in French and Italian
only, am in the position 10 offer repertory
| OF such diversified character as has never been
/ offered before by any other director of opera
! The season will begin Monday. November 90
and last until the end of April The operas will
| be given the evenings of Monday, Wednes-
/ dav. Friday and Saturday. The latter night
will be given at popular prices. While other
| nights at Saturday matinees the prices for
the lower portion Of the house will be a par
with the established prices for grand opera here
/ The upper parts of the house. seating $500. will
| be held at prices ruling for regular theatrical
| performances
| The complete list Of operas which Mr. Ham
merstein said would be produced is as follows:
] Aida" La Boheme," Carmen" Don Gio-
/ vanni" Faust" Les Huguenots," "Lohen-
grin" Gin French). Lucia de Lammermoor,"
! "Rigoletto." Romeo ct Juliette," La Tosca,"
La Traviata," Don Pasquale," lie Nozze di
I flSdIO, II 1TOVdIOres MdrInd E41ISlI
d'Amore" Bale de Maschera" Fra Diavolo."
lie Prophete'' La Juive," 'Puritani" Son
nambula," ''Favorita" "Cavalleria Rusticana."
"Ernani." "Pagliacci" and 'Mignon.'
BoNCI THE LEADING TENOR.
| Heading the list of tenors is Bonci. who is
said TO be, with the possible exception Of Caruso
the greatest living Italian lyric tenor. For five
! years he has not made long contracts but has
confined himself TO a few performances in each
of the larger houses guest only. He is
studying several roles, ii is announced, and
also will appear in over dozen operas 1t is
said of Bonci that he alone has mastered the
art of singing the high "fortissimo" and al
| lowing 1t TO die away 'pianissimo.
Second to Bonci is Bassi a tenore robusto.
He will create the tenor part in 'Loreley," and
will come to New York after few appearances
in Rio Janeiro and Buenos Ayres in August
and September He will make his debut in
fTosca"
NJ. Dalmores, also a tenore robusto, said TO be
one of the greatest of French tenors. the
first tenor at tn RoyG! Opera House at Brus-
sells for several years. He will sing in 'Lohen-
grin" and in "Armide' he will create the part
of Ronaud He had entered into a four year
contract with the Royal Opera at Lisbon. Mr.
Hammersten said he paid a heavy indemnity TO
release him.
NJ. AIfscheffski. French lyric tenor, is also in
the list. He will shortly create the tenor role in
"Eugen Onegin," the new opera by Tschaikow-
ski which is TO be produced at Covent Garden
In barytones NJ. Renaud. a famous French sing
err is the leader. He has refused offers TO sing in
America before He is compared with Jean de
Reszke for his perfect control of his voice. He
will sing Don Giovanni. Iago, Wolfram. Falstaff
Escamillo Valentino and Rigoletto. He will also
sing in LIE Damnation de Faust" His season
here will be short, as he has other engag gements