The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1907-08-14
Big OPERA PLANS
FORHARLEM SEASON
Van Den Berg, Successful
lmpresario, Announces
His Many Stars.

New York, Aug. 9.-New York is
rapidly becoming the musical cen
ter of the new world and in fact it
promises to closely compete with the
capitals of Europe ii this particu-
lar With a Conreid at the Metro
politan and Hammerstein at the
Manhattan there is still room for a
Van den Berg in Harlem. This was
proven beyond a doubt last season, for
the enterprising impresario of the
West End theater reaped a fortune
with his grand opera in English and
popularsprices for uptown New York
ers. Jose Van den Berg has leased
the same house for the Fall and Win
ter season of 19O7-1908 and at pres
ent he is working night and day to
whip into shape an operate organiza-
ton which will be a credit to this me-
tropolis.
In the midst of several rehearsals
which were running in different parts
of the West End yesterday, Mr.. Van
den Berg, who virtually lives in the
theater at present, mopped his stream
ing brow with one hand, while he
touched a match to a big black cigar
with the other.
Eyes, can tell you my plans, for
the coming season" said he, and the
first and most important statement Is
to be found on that placard. The
placard was repeated many times in
- ~, 4
as follows:
NOTHING BUT ENGLISH
TOLERATED HERE.
"All Of these ladies and gentlemen
Of foreign extraction must speak Eng
fish during rehearsals. 1t is hard for
some of them but I regard it as the
Keynote of success, in view Of the
fact that our operas are all to be rem
dered in English, 1 propose to give
American opera for Americans.
have secured a great deal Of celebrat-
ed talent but there will always be a
place here for the unknown singer Of
merit. Busy as | am Will always be
ready to hear voice and to give its
possessor a chance to distinguish her
self or himself.
II have leased big building at
149th street and Lincoln square and
elaborate scenery for the many operas
we will produce is being painted there
BY Mr. Frazer, the famous scenic ar
fist A corps of twenty-five seam
stresses are working night and day in
the theater on the costumes and re-
hearsals are In progress as you see in
al parts of the house."
MY chorus will be selected from
\ who have sung in both the
opera houses and l have secured sew
eral voices of youth and beauty from
among my patrons in Harlem. The
was done in answer to popular de-
mand.
Among the prima donnae thus far
secured are Nine. Noldi, Miss Jennie
Lindon, Miss Magda Dahl the Swed-
!. 18Th nightingale, Miss Almeda Nor
ton, the beautiful and talented niece
Of Nine. Nordica, Miss Mae Calder,
Miss Grace Belmont, Bliss Albertine
Margadant and Miss Pauline Perry.
Among the men already signed are
ignorsAlberti, Mr. Hubert Wilkie, Mr..
Robert Perkins, Mr. VIM. Schuester,
Mr.. Allan Turner, specially engaged
from the Carl oRsa Opera company,
Of London Mr.. II. II. McKloskey and
as comedian Mr.. Claude Amsden. My
musical director will be Mr.. John
Brahana, so we'll ana favorably known
in this city and he will be assisted by
Henry Braume, formerly musical dl-
rector at the Staat theater, Hamburg
Mr.. Charles Jones, for many years
associated with Henry w. Savage and
his English Grand Opera company
will be, the stage director Negotia-
lions are now pending with Mr.. JOS
eph Shinn, Mr., George Tallman and
Mr. Julius Walter the latest musical
wonder of London and l think that all
Of these gentlemen will accept my Of
fer
The opening bill on September 2
will be Flotow's superb opera Mar
tina" in which Miss Almeda Norton
will make her first appearance in the
role of Lady Harriet and Miss Jen-
ME Lindon will make her initial bow
to Harlem music lovers, as Nancy
martha" will continue through the
week, the bill being changed on Sept
to Andrans Mascot" which will
mark the first appearance of Miss
Maude Holins as Bettlna and Mr.. Hu-
bert Wilkie as Pippo, On September
49, Rigolette will be the opera, the