The Washington herald., 1907-12-23
HE MAY STOP OPERAS
HammerStein Thinks New
Workers Unappreciatiye.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT LACKING
InIpresario Sends Letter to Sub
scribers, in which He Complains
of HIS Onerous Responsibility.
Believes He Could Do Better in
Philadelphia, Chicago, or Boston.

New York, Dec. 22.-The subscribers TO
the season Of the Manhattan opera House
will receive by mail tomorrow notice
sent out by oscar Hammerstein to the
effect that unless better support Is forth
coming from subscribers and the public
Mr. Hammerstein may quit the opera
field here next season.
Mr.. Hammerstein says that he can do
better in Chicago, Philadelphia. or Bos-
ton than he can here That is TO say. he
can conduct opera with surety that he
will not lose money. AS things are run
ming now, he is losing money, and does
not propose 10 go on.
The note 10 the subscribers mentions
that owing to the fact that Nine Melba
was unable. through III health. 10 fulfill
her contract. Mr.. Hammerstein obtained
the services Of Signora Lulsa Tetrazzini
for the balance of the season, as well as
for three TO five seasons following. The
rest of the letter follows:
'In securing for my subscribers such
an addition 10 my already existing in
comparable forces at an enormous salary,
and at a time a business depression is
affecting in 10 small degree the attend
ance at all operate and theatrical insti-
tutions, 1 am compelled 10 remind not
alone my subscribers. but also the opera
loving public. of the necessity Of their
strongest possible support Of my efforts.
speaks OF Sacrifices.
In presenting in quick succession the
/ IL Of
to this country, at an expense incredible
to the leyman. I am accomplishing some
/ thing Of which the devotees Of music
may be proud-no other institution here
or elsewhere having ever attempted any
/ thing Of the kind
by devoting the Manhattan opera
House. Of which l am the sole owner
| standing on the records in my OWL
name), to grand opera only, l am Civ.
ing up yearly rental value Of $4,000 tC
| the cause OF music; i am shOuldering q
! responsibility of contracts for a single
! season amounting TO nearly three-quar-
/ ters of a million dollars: above an this
am devoting my own personal efforts
| exclusively 70 the purpose at an almost
! incessant physical and mental tax
''As my wealth Is computed to-day, ]
am not even a wealthy man. Arraye6
! against me. a single. solitary figure. IS
an institution Of operate pretensions
| created, supported. and conducted 10y mer
/ OF almost unlimited means"
! Mr.. Hammerstein had no statement tC
make in addition 10 the letter, but in his
/ behalf IL was said:
/ of
Mr.. HaInmerstein believes that as he
is carrying this enterprise all alone
he deserves support. especially as hi,
good work has forced the other house
70 improve the quality OF its operas.
! 'The season has been hard. but in spit,
Of that returns have been good. The ill.,
ness of Miss Garden has hurt a great
deal. BY her absence from scheduled
! performances it is figured that close u
$4,000 has been lost.
when signora Tetrazzini arrives it i,
expected that she viii prove a money
making factor. but at the same time IN,
expense is very great
/ The matter OF building the Phlladel
phia Opera House was held up becaus,
Of the thirty men who made a guarante,
only twenty-three were sure. Mr.. Ham
merstein said that he would not go aheaC
on those terms. He will not build il
Philadelphia until the sureties are absO
lutte. But he can take a company ther,
without danger OF loss