Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-27
J. Pierpont Morgan's Daughter Said
to Be Back of Movement.
MADE A PROFOUND IMPRESSION
Director Of tho Opera House Defends
the Work and Declares It an
Artistic Success.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Deen taDOoeo Dy the owners OF the Metro
politan Opera House. The second regular
performance, scheduled for next Thursday
morning. may never be given, unless Herr
Conreid and the directors Of his opera
company come to an immediate understand
ing with the directors OF the Metropolitan
Opera and Real Estate Company.
Heinrich Conreid, who Is still Ill at his
residence in West list street, today re-
ceived this communication:
Heinrich Conreid. Esq:
Dear Sir-The directors Of the Metropol-
itan Opera and Real EstRte Company con-
slider that the performance Of "Salome'' is
Objectionable and detrimental to the best
interests Of the Metropolitan Opera House.
lucy, therefore. protest against any repe-
tition Of this opera. By order.
(signed) FRANK N. DODD, sec'y.
1t was understood that this surprising
action taken by the directors Of the Metro
politan Opera and Real Estate Company
was due directly to the influence of
daughter Of ]. Pierpont Morgan, who is
one of the directors This daughter is said
to hays5Yatpessed the first performance Of
"Salome" from her fathers box, and since
that time has been persistent In urging him
to have the opera house directors take ac-
ton that would result in having 1t taken
or the stage 1t Is reported. however, that
after meeting had been called Mr.. Nor
gan had some difficulty In obtaining
majority fn~ hts favor.
While there has been much and wide
spread adverse criticism of the Strauss
Wilde creation. 1t transpires that the only
formal petition for its withdrawal came
from an organization of ministers
The box-nolders were petitioned by well
known ministers and elergymen to take
action.
rf~. A Sensational Fight.
If there is a second performance (three
more are scheduled in this city, it will be
at the end of the most sensational and re-
markable fight that music and social cir
cles have ever known In New York.
Ernest E. Goerlitz, who 10 acting director
OF the Metropolitan in the illness of Helm
rich Conried, said:
Il see no reason that New York should
take exception to 'Salome' in view of the
scandals in public life, and in private af-
fairs here can hardly see that New York
can put itself on record as Directing to the
opera as immoral. Europe has accepted 1t
as a masterpiece.
There are a few phases of the opera
which I myself dislike. Perhaps the scene
where Salome kisses the head of John the
Baptist might best have been omitted"
DO you think that Oscar Wilde's con-
nection with it may have Influenced the
public in the natter" he was asked.
hnf ~ to
such a thing as writer's personal reputa-
ton should not be considered. 1 think all
true artists will praise 'Salome' and not
condemn it.
There are at least two plays now In New
York which are more vulgar than anything
In 'Salome.' yet nothing 10 done to stop
them.
THE beauty in 'Salome' more than makes
up for whatever Objectionable features
there may be. Strauss might have devoted
himself to better subject, but his work In
'SaIome Is finished masterpiece.
Emperor q Strict Censor.
1.-THE opera was presented in Dresden
and Berlin at the direction of the court
and in Vienna under the sanction Of Empe.
ror Franz Josef. The emperor is a strict
censor Of opera. and when he passes favor
has merit. In Milan and other towns in
Italy it was presented with favor"
George G. Haven. president of the Metro
politan Opera and Real Estate Company
when interviewed tonight said that he could
see no reason for supposing that the ddrec-
tors would In any degree abandon the posi-
ton they had taken.
The Metropolitan Opera House is owned
by the boxholders, who are also sharehold-
ers in the Metropolitan Opera House and
Real Estate Company. while the Conried
Opera Company has charge Of the produce
lions.
A meeting Of the directors Of the Conried
Metropolitan Opera Company was held this
afternoon to consider the protest of the
Metropolitan Opera and Real Estate Com
pany against the production Of "Salome."
A Statement Issued.
After the meeting the following statement
was issued:
1.-THE letter from the secretary of the
Metropolitan and Real Estate Company has
been received and the subject of the letter
Is now being discussed between the direc-
tors OF the Conried Metropolitan Opera
Company and also Of the Metropolitan
Opera and Real Estate Company.
Mr.. Conried holds that the production Of
SaiOme Il q great artistic achievement.
Inasmuch as this music drama has been
acknowledged by the musical world as one
Of the most important, II not the most Inn
portant, musical production since Wagner.
and has been produced in many of the
most important opera houses In Europe,
Mr.. Conried said that 1t was his duty to the
musical public OF New York to produce this
work. He had spared no effort or expense
to make the production In all respects q
worthy one There have been numberless
acknowledgements Of the greatness of the
work and the success OF the production and
but few hostile criticisms. The only re-
ligious parsonage In the work, John the
Baptist As treated with the utmost 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 objection and
will share his view that the musical public
Is entitled to an opportunity to hear this
master work adequately produced.
A meeting Of the directors of the Opera
and Real Estate Company and Of the Com
ried Company will be held tomorrow.
This IL the first time In the history of the
stage here that owners Of an opera house
/ or theaters have seen at to .cai su1on the
artistic management to stop the presenta-
ton of any piece on its boards.