New-York tribune., 1906-07-30
HERR OSCAR PLEASED.
Hammerstein Is Satisfied with 100
Chorus Singers He Has Chosen.

The final voice test OF candidates for the chorus
Of the Manhattan Opera Company was made yes
terday morning at the Victoria Theatre. under the
personal direction OF Oscar Hammerstein, I'M
presario- The latter has succeeded in collecting
far one hundred singers for his chorus. and he
viii tonight begin rehearsaIs at Fields Theatre
With the trying out OF the last applicant Mr..
Hammersteins stern expression relaxed: he walked
over to the piano the stage seated himself on
the stool. and played from Marta
Twas the last rose summer.
Not a care seemed to weigh on his mind. The as
sembling Of a grand opera chorus IS one OF the
important tasks that devoIve on an imprssario
and. having done this, he felt a great relief 1t
may be here remarked. aPropos OF Mr.. Hammer
STEMS performance on the plano. that the new
impresariO. though It be not generally known. be-
sides being music lover. Is musician
As soprano followed contralto and basso followed
tenor in the warbIing test. Nr. Eammerstein list
ened with critical and passed the ability OF
the applicants. He was as quick TO break in with
"Das ist cine sch6ne stimms: all right. step over
here and sign your contract" as he % inter
rupt an unsatisfactory Outburst Of melody with
That won't do. Next"
Mr. Hammerstaln is convinced that he has gath
cred together as fine lot Of voices as II Is pOssi
bile 20 obtain for any chorus. There are few. II
any Of the latter who have had stage experience.
although all have trained voices and most OF them
have been graduated from cOnservarories. while
others have sung in choirs. As Is usual the so
pranos outnumber the eontraltOs but IN the male
voices the tenOrs predominate over the baTytones
and bassos which is uncommon Just how many
nationalties these chorus people represent Is not
known, although they talked yesterday in i've
languages for
From Itslys sunny south
c. -anu sle H.tlls t .s 49, 81 StS c,o-.a
A, F9 ss9 s. % 5Ss5 5slsTsoih ssd hsS &'Sh6sn dS
Were others still
To add their trfll
Yet none from the BosphoTus.
There are many Americans in the chorus Gen
orally it the female contingent OF opera com
pany or dramatic organization that causes the
manager the thousand and one annoyances that
turn his hair gray even before he grOWs OH With
Mr. Hammerstein's chorus conditions were re-
versed yesterday. The women. with unanimtty
agreed to reheaFse az night But with the men IL
was different among them there was opposition
I work at night said tenor. "and can re-
hearse only in the day"
that would have settled the dispute had II been
only two cornered, work all day"
MI. HammeFstein meditated a moment. then
some more. while the male chorus singers grouped
and discussed the situation In their respective
guages Then the impresario returned 10 them and
I'VE will have the rehearsaIs at night: that set
ties II Those who can't attend at night will have
There no further argument.
Mr.. HammeFstein announced yesterday that he
mad made an engagement for his Manhattan Opera
Company on Saturday that VIII create a sensation
IN the operatic world when IL is made public This
also had something to say about his engagenent OF
lie Rouge Domino as the premiere danseuse OF his
She Is young graceful and clever dancez." he
said The fact thar she leaves vaudeville for
Is an American, too