New-York tribune., 1907-01-27
TRY TO STOP "SALOME.'
OWNERS OF HOUSE ACT.
Directors Ask Nr. COnred Not to
Repeat Strauss-WiIde Drama.


COnried after a meeting. hastily assembled. OF
the directors of his company. the COnried Metro
politan Opera Company, the lessee OF the house.
decided not to abandon performances without
an effort and asked for a conference between his
executive committee and that OF the Metro
politan Opera and Real Estate Company This
viii probably be held on Monday. But George G.
Haven, president Of the real estate company.
said last night that there was no chance Of his
directors changing their minds. However. tick
cts were stil on sale last night and the adj
vertisements were left in the papers.
The objection to the StTauss-VFiIde opera
started in the family OF one Of the most intfu-
entail and powerful Of the boxhoIders who ss
also member OF the executive committee nr
the real estate company. This objection was so
strong that 1t resulted in a meeting OF the board
Of directors. and the following letter was re-
eeived by Mr.. Conried yesterday morning;
The directors OF the Metropolitan Opera and
Real Estate Company consider that the perform
ance of "Salome'' is objectionable and detrf-
mental TO the best interests OF the Metropolitan
any repetition Of this opera.
To say that this letter was a bomb IN th-
/ Conrted camp IS putting It mildly. The hous~
| is almost sold out for next Thursdays per-
formance already; the work is the climax oe ths
season from Mr. ConTied's point OF view, ana
ne has released il for six months. and spent
much money on the production. Finally, Arr,
Conried IS under contract to Richard Strauss
to play the opera ten times this season In
America Not to do so means to forfeit many
thousand dollars to the composer. II not to stanS
a suit for damages. and to give back all TIA
money taken in for next Thursday alone wouls
hurt
CoNRIED ISSUES 4 DEFENCE
Accordingly. there was wrath at the ops-s
house. and the Conried directors met at his
home. No. IS West list street at o'clock After
the meeting the following statement was gfvsn
out, dictated by Mr Conried himself:
The letter from the secretary Of the Metros
politan Opera and Real Estate Company has
been received. and the subject OF the letter is
now being discussed between the directors Of
the Conrted Metropolitan Opera Company and
Company.
/ Mr. Conrted holds that the production Of
'Salome'' is a great artistic achievemenE has
much as this music drama has been acknOwi%
/ edged by the musical world as one Of the most
important, II not the most important musical
Producuon since wagner and has been. produced
in many OF the most important opera houses in
Europe. including the Royal opera houses 0f
Dresdeq and Berlin, as well as La Scala in
Milan and in Turin IN Italy and Is now ia
preparation for production at the Imperial Opera
House IN Vienna and the Grand Opera House IN
/ Paris, Mr.. Conried said that it was his duty u
/ the musical public Of New York to produce this
work He had spared no effort or expenza ~
make the production in all respects worthy
one. There have been numberless acknowledg-
ments OF the greatness OF the work, and the sue
cess OF the production. and but few hostile crit
icisns. The only religious persOnags in the
work, John the Baptist, Is treated with the Ut
most dignity and reverence Mr.; Conried hopes
that the directors OF the Metropolitan Opera and
Real Estate Company. upon full consideration
Of the subject. will withdraw their objections
and will share his view that the musical publio
is entitled to an opportunity to hear this mas
terwork Adequately produced
Although accompanying the statement vas
a memorandum saying that "the directors
Of the Metropolitan Opera Company had uaas.
It was unod1cially said that only the executfvs
committee had got together. The time was too
short to get full meeting Of the board. Mr..
Conried has been confined to his home for six
weeks. owing to nervous breakdown follow
ing the CarusO incident. and It was necessary
to hold the meeting there. Mr.. Conrisd was
prOpped up IN bed.
ALFRED HERTZ SURPRISED.
Alfred Hertz called on Mr.. Conrisd as soon .s
he heard OF the protest against "saIome." sa
order 70 express his surprise that the produc-
ton over which much time had been spens
had been the subject OF official protest MA
Hertz left before Fl. Rogers Winthrop and Ott,
H Kahn. OF the board Of directors Of the Courta.s
company, arrived In an automobile with Erus~s
Goerlitz. business representative OF Mr.. Com.
ried. who has been acting as manager OF tha
IA
Paul d. Cravath the lawyer came. ana "a.
meeting was held at Mr.. Conried's be.sxida
Ex-Judge Dfttenhoefer, Mr. COnried's regulars
counsel. when seen last night said he had nos
been consulted about the case and could .av
nothing about It. Regarding Mr.. Cravath's vfsls
to Mr. COnried. he said that so far as he krss,
Mr.. Cravath had not been retained as counsel
When Mr.. Kahn and Mr.. Winthrop cana
downstairs they refused TO talk about the rset-
Ing. saying statement would be given Qua
later by Mr.. Goerlitz. Mr.. winthrop was asksa
what he personally thought Of "SaIomss
THAT is hardly fair question" he replIsa.
did you see both performances OF the operaY-
he was asked.
'fYes,' the answer
you would not have attended the second RAJ
you not considered the play perfectly urouss
one2'' was asked
Certainly not Mr.. Winthrop replied.
Mr., Winthrop denied absolutely the runos
that Mr.. Conried's management had not bee,
satisfactory and that he had been asked to re-
sign.
I'VE found Mr. Couried much better" said Mr..
Winthrop. 1--WE expect he will be able TO sec
out In time. and the opera season viii go On IS
planned"
ADVERTISEMENTS NOT WITHDRANN-
When Mr.. GOerIitz came downstairs with the
statement which had been. dictated by Mr. Con-
ried he was asked if any change had been made
In the plans for the next production OF ~SaIOms.
which is scheduled for Thursday morning.
"Our advertisements have not been taken Que
OF the papers, he replied land tickets are stu
sale"
tickets at the box office have been sold out. al
though the sDeculatOrS still have a good srpnlv