New-York tribune., 1907-09-08
CHAIN OF GRAND OPERA
BIG HAMMERSTEIN PL4N.
Impresario Unfolds Life Dream
House an Each Large City.

is out-and with it the ambitions of lifetime In
a long interview yesterday. supplemented by an
interview with reporter for The Tribune. Mr.
Hammerstein unfolded plans already in progress
that will surprise not alone America. but all Eu-
rope. To be brief, he has completed plans for the
building of home for grand opera in each of the
large cities of this country. where he expressed
1t, the railroad magnate and the bootblack will
be his patrons. He has already purchased site in
Philadelphia for the first OF this chain of grand
opera houses and expects to open the house that
built early in November OF 1905
He would not say to the cent what was paid for
the Philadelphia property. but did say that when
the new opera house completed the whole
would represent outlay Of $500 ee All told
the gigantic enterprise Will cost between Sl5oOOo
and $50 0Oo,00o
"And print it coming from me-" he said that
there is nobody concerned but Oscar-Oscar Ham
merstein. Every inch OF property already secured
is in my name"
The site for the opera house in Philadelphia was
purchased from the Harrah estate, and is situated
at North Broad and Poplar streets. In the near'
OF the residential section OF the Quaker City IL
24O in Broad street and extends 1S 1eet
in Poplar street. The architects are busy on Tue
plans for the new opera house. and ground is 70
be broken early next mouth.
II will call the Philadelphia Opera House,
Mr. Hammerstein said. "and it is my purpose 10
make it a gem OF architecture There Will be
seating capacity of five thousand and grand tier
of forty boxes. each connecting with separate
ranged that there will be promenade nearly
four hundred feet long.
"I know this appears to be a great task Mr.
Hammersteln continued 1T Is a great task 1t
represents the ambition of a lifetime I have no
hesitanCy in saying that il has been the ambition
Of my life to do something for the American peo-
ule They deserve IT, I'm doing it for them m
giving them what they never dreamt or whaI-
we'll I'll not indulge in personalities. Chicago. ST
Louis Boston. Washington. Cincinnati and the
cities Of the far West will each have its own grand
opera house its own grand opera company IN
word 7 purpose putting these cities on par as
far as music is concerned, with Paris. Berlin 81
Petersburg Milan and Vienna
Some one remarked that the impresario was
Iookfng far ahead. whereupon he replied:
II am through with looking ahead through Win
concentrating; I am completing. The work Is
practically accomplished All that remains Is %
put up the structures. As have said. nave lohs
bod daeire 70 do something for the American
people: l doing II now
Mr. Hammerstein expects to make puohc' prood-
bl, to-day the site Of the Chicago house Accord
ing to the plans outlined all the houses VIII De
directed from the Manhattan Opera House. WHICH,
in a word will be the mother house OF Hammer
STEMS grand opera enterprise in America Each
house however. will have its own company ana
every company a separate director
rs it possible get enough real artists for such
a number Of houses?" he was asked.
1T is" was the reply. and the reply was en-
DQaSiZed
character. It not the Hammerstein of the
Victoria loungng about his popular vaudeville
house who talking II was the HamTnerstein'
impresario Of the Manhattan Opera House. There
was big fat black cigar in his mouth at the
time and his hands ran over the keyboard OF thc
plano in his Office
Does it seem impossible?'' he asked. stopping
for a moment. 1t is more impossible than
the establishment Of the Manhattan Opera House.
I have singers already engaged for some Of these
houses. music hall warblers, but artists Every
man. every woman engaged will surprise the
American public
II have not been through every countryin in Europe
FOR nothing. tell you there artists hidden in
the reInotest sections Of Europe singing in road
companies I'm minor parts I'm great companies
whose art IS hidden like the little violet You can't
find a violet on every hillside: you find IL only by
persevering by looking here. there. everywhere in
and about the pasture.
so It is with singers singers. know the
limitations OF the human voice L know what Is ART
and what is artificial. what is mediocre and what.
proper1, nurtured. viii develop A real artist |
think may Iay claim this. since Z have given
the public singers heretofore unknowr-and which
OF them has proved failure This season eS-
pect TO give the public tenor that viii prove my
contention"
The company FOR the Philadelphia house = prac-
ticaEy engaged. and the agents are already at
work engaging companies for the other houses
The season in Philadelphia will open early IN No
vember OF 1895 and will last twenty weeks. five
performances being given each week
The first performance Of "Aphrodite viii occur
in PhIadelp phia. with Mary Garden in the principal
part. Mr. Hammersteiu expects to open the houses
in Chicago. St Louis. Washington and Cincinnati
next season. II is all improbable that the
Chicago house may be opened this season. as the
iS an Z no nj If bpi