Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-28
CLERGY AFTER OPERA
Ministers Wage War on
Strauss New Opera "SaIome."
1T MAY BE SUPPRESSED
Olive Fremstad is Greatly Upset Over
Her Efforts in Work.
ILL FROM THE SEVERE CENSURE
Another Meeting is to Be Held To
day to Determine the
Legal Status.

day to Determine the
Legal Status.
| The chances that the opera "Salome" will
ever be presented at the Metropolitan Opera
| House again became very slim yesterday,
| when the so-called "Conried directors"
after a conference, announced their willing
ness to withdraw the production altogether.
At the meeting Of the two factions to-
day the Conried directors will declare that
1t is better to stop further presentation Of
| "Salome" than to change one line of the
score or a gesture of the action.
| The meeting Of the Conried faction, which
has hitherto steadfastly opposed the ulti-
| matum Of the real estate directors" that
"Salome" must be discontinued at once
| was held yesterday afternoon. Those pres
! ent were Messrs. Kahn, Baylies, Cottinet,
| Gregory and Winthrop.
| Their final concession to the storm Of pro-
test that has been raised against the opera
was preceded by a caustic debate, in which
practically all declared that, personally.
they stood side by side with Mr.. Conried
| in his determination to produce "Salome"
| until he had carried out his contract with
| Composer Strauss.
! Finally, however, a statement to the fol-
lowing effect was issued
| The Conried directors have finally de-
clded to ask Mr.. Haven of the real estate
| directors to call meeting at which the
| former will announce their willingness to
withdraw 'Salome' from the Metropolitan
stage. This decision has been reached with
great regret, because the play is a master
piece of opera and art and we believe with
| Mr.. Conried, that American music lovers
are entitled to hear it. But it is the desire
of the Conried directors to avoid conflict,
and they consent to its withdrawal rather
q nr TO ord
OF the score"
The two directorates will hold the meet
| Ing this morning in Mr.. Conried's sick
| chamber to decide the fate of "Salome'
Clergy Denounces Play.
"Salome" was a topic of discussion in
| every quarter of the city yesterday. Many
clergymen denounced it. society was inter-
ested because its leaders are involved in
the squabble. the music world was fairly
buzzing with it, and the rest Of the city
was wondering just what kind of opera 1t
I was to stir up such a terrific storm. And
| while all this was going on Charles Henry
Meltzer, the official spokesman for the Con-
| ried Metropolitan Opera Company, paid
his compliments to some of the millionaires
| who have been actively against 'Salome.'
An effort will be made today to determine
the exact legal status Of the case. Friends
[ OF Conr1ed admit that there may be q
| clause in his lease to the effect that he Is
| to consult the owning directorate about new
productions. Mr. Haven also says that the
| owning company is legally entitled to know
everything the leasing company intends to
| do, and that it may stop any opera of
| which 1t does not approve. In either case,
1t Is pointed out, Mr.. Haven will have to
| prove that there was a meeting Of the own
| ing directorate.
It is said that ]. Pierpont Morgan, one Of
the most active supporters Of the opera,
| would like to see the matter settled quietly.
| One reason for this is the statement that
his daughter. Miss Anne T. Morgan, is the
| person who was really the first objector to
| the opera.
Miss Morgan is deeply interested both in
| church work and music. Her intmation to
| her powerful father that the opera was an
| insult to the Bible and John the Baptist Is
generally accepted as the real motive under
| lying the Juror created by "Salome." The
Rev. Mr. Burkhart, Mr.. Morgans rector at
| st. Georges Church in East 10Th street,
| could not be seen last night. He and Miss
Morgan are thought to have had some talks
| concerning "Salome.''
! Conried's friends predict that he will not
| surrender and that he will insist that the
opera must be presented again just as 1t is.
His contract with the composer compels ten
presentations in this country this season.
Nine. Olive Fremstad. who appeared in
| the role of Salome is thoroughly upset be-
cause of the storm her performance and
dancing of the premiere danseuse who is
substituted for her during the dance of the
Seven Wells has caused. She Is said to be
actually i'll. One of her strongest sympa-
| thizers is Anton van Rooy, who sang the
part of John the Baptist.
Poor Fremstad.' he said at the opera
house yesterday. "She worked on the role
nearly every day for three months, and
thought 1t would be the browning effort
OF her life; It is too bad. pity. I can
hardly believe that the American people
will consent te-lose such wonderful work
| Of art
Some Of the clergy We're direct in what
| they had to say and D. o. Mills mem
Der of the owning company's directorate,
| also made some remarks about "Salome."
Rev. Father Ducey, pastor Of st. Leo's
| Church, Said
.'They tell me the music Of the opera
of John the Baptist, or 'Salome,' is very
| marvellous That may be, but theme so
| revolving as pictured, 1t seems to me, is
| violation of all the decencies of life
Father Ducey at mass yesterday morning
| spoke on the indecency of the opera, and
said he hoped it would not be repeated.
! Rev. Father McCready, pastor of Holy
| Cross Church, said
From what 1 have read in the papers of
| this opera. it seems to me that 1t should
| be stopped. I cannot say that it is
! religious, but the church and stage should
! be kept apart. From what have heard
| of the CHASTITY scene, where an actress
| kisses and hugs a severed head, it is most
| revolving and should not be repeated"
Mills One Who Protested.
| D. O. Mills said: IT Joined with the
| other directors in a protest to Mr.. Conried
because the production of 'Salome at the
Metropolitan Opera House had caused a
great deal of criticism. We did not think
! we could overlook the production because
| there was so much of this criticism directed
| against it. l understand that much of it
came from the churches. 1 have not seen
| the performance myself. 1 do not know
Conried refused to discontinue the perform
ance as requested: l hardly think he will
| do that, however"