Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-09
COMMANDS A BIG SALARY
UNKNOWN VIXEN HE CANE HERE
Artist Had a Reputation Abroad, but
Had Been Unheralded in
This Country.

stein, manager of the Manhattan Opera
House, through his counsel, Nathan Vida
yer, filed yesterday in the United States
circuit court q petition for an injunction
to restrain Commentators Alessandro Bon
CT, the tenor, from singing for anybody
but Mr.. Hammerstein in the seasons of
19O7-19OS and 190s-1909.
The papers in the suit were not filed until
the last minute yesterday afternoon lest
Bonci himself should hear Of it and refuse
to take part in the production of Fra
Diavofo" at the Manhattan last night.
Deputy Marshal Kannengeiser went to
the opera house last night to serve the
papers The tenor seemed surprised when
cornered in his dressing room and asked
what it was about. Deputy Marshal Kan
nengeiser explained that 1t was a subpoena
requiring the presence of Bonci in the
United States circuit court some time be-
tween now and April l.
Mr.. Vidaver said yesterday afternoon
that after the first forty days referred
to the first forty days after the tenor
engagement began. The contract was
signed in Florence, Italy, on March IS,
1906. Mr.. vidaver denied that his client
had assured Bonci, through Signor Carbone,
the tenor's agent and secretary, that ne
did not care to renew the contract. In refu-
tation of the published reports to that
effect the lawyer quoted a letter written
by MIR. Hammerstein to Signor Boncl on
March 4, and Incorporated in the legal
papers, in which the impresario OF the
Manhattan admits that he did have an
interview with Carbone on February II
last.
Had a Big Salary.
He told Boncis secretary however. that
the existing agreement was amply sufficient
and that he would take advantage of clause
n of the contract. Mr.. Hammerstein also
told the tenor in his letter that he could
regard himself as engaged for the two
following seasons at the salary stipulated,
81 600 a performance for the first season
and 81 100 a performance for the second.
Mr.. Vidaver said that falling to get any
response from Bonci as to the truth OF the
r,1mor that he had signed a contract Win
Mr.. Conried to sing for 81. 500 performance
at the METROPOLITAN next season Mr.. Ham
merstein decided to take the case to the
courts.
In his petition Mr.. Hammerstein AYERS
that Bonci broke his contract on November
20 last when he demanded that the so,VVV
deposited in the Credito ltaliano at Milan,
Italy, which was to be applied as payment
for Boncis last performances this season,
be paid over to him forthwith. He also
refused to sing note, Mr. Hammersteln
asserts, until another $1,000 was turned
over to him. This Mr.. Hammerstein finally
paid on Bonci's agreement to the elimina-
zion of the clause in the contract which
stipulated that all questions which might
arise in regard to it should be submitted to
the judicial authorities in Florence
Made Reputation Here.
The impresario also declares that Bonci,
although a tenor of great reputation on the
continent was scarcely known to the lovers
of grand opera in the United States. and
that his reputation as tenor in this coun-
try was achieved solely through Mr.. Ham
merstein's management and advertising.
The contract, in which the impresario
is designated as Mr.. Hammerstein, Oscar.
proprietor and professional impresario of
New York" makes some interesting revela-
lions as to the Difference with which noted
tenors are treated. Bonci. who was en-
gagged as first tenore assoluto, was guar
anteed fifty performances at $500 per-
formance this amount to be paid in Ameri-
can gold to the tenor at the conclusion of
each performance. The tenor was not to
be required to sing more than three times
a week and never twice consecutively.
In case Of illness statement from Boncis
doctor is sufficient, though it is the tenor's
loss If he cannot keep his engagements.
Bonci made his own choice Of a repertoire
of fourteen operas; no other tenor was to
be allowed to substitute for him, except
in case of Illness, in any Of the fourteen,
and all of his costumes were to be new
and to his satisfaction. In addition to
the $500 gold for each performance In
which he took part Bonci was to be re-
imbursed for travelling expenses and
transport of luggage for himself. wife and
servant from Paris to New York and re-
turn. A cabin de luxe was to be pro-
vided on the steamers and private COM
partment in a Pullman car for any trips
American railways. Only one pianoforte
rehearsal of any of his roles was exacted
from the tenor, dthat was not to be
held on the same day that he sang in a
performance. Had Bonci failed for any
reason to present himself this season he
contracted to pay $4,000 to Hammerstein
as indemnity.