New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-09-20


monarch of the operatic world of America For
brief space he also extended his reign to CoVent
Garden, but the time not ripe for that union
OF interests between London and New York which
has so long seemed inevitable, and his foreign
reign was short. SO was his American dictator
ship; but while IL lasted It was probably the most
brilliant operate government that the world has
ever known from financial point Of view, and its
high lights artistically were luminous In the eX-
IRENE AT the end of the period Mr.. Grau had re-
tired from operate management forever, for
though his desire remain in active employment
was intense. his mental powers unweakened and
his viii strong. his health hopeessly shattered.
and before another lustrum had passed he had
gone down to his death, his last thoughts ongingly
fixed on the institution which had brought him
fame and fortune in abundant measure. For sew
ersl years he had maintained beautiful summer
home ST Croissy-Chstou, on the Seine. about ten
miles from Paris He died in the French capital
March Il. 1907. Of disease OF the heart which
had compelled his abandonment Of active man
agerial life.
Mr. Grau was an Austrian by b:=th his birth
place being Brinn; but he brought TO New
York by his parents in 1854. when he five years
old. and all his education and business training
American. He passed through the classes OF
che city's public schools and graduated from
the Free Academy. now the College OF the City OF
New York. in 1857. He then entered the Law
School Of Columbia College, and read law in the
Office OF Morrison, Lauterbach & Sptgarn. His
uncle. Jacob Grau, operate and theatrical
sn hts opera house. This opened the way into the
atrcal life which proved have such destinations
and hold such promises that he abandoned the law
without having sought admission 10 the bar. and
On 1872 also abandoned the service OF his and
embarked his manager. In associa-
fion with Charles A. ChiZzola. the Joint capital
amounting TO $500. he engaged Aimee. q French
opera bouffe singer. who had made hit two years
before at the Grand Opera House for a season Of
seven weeks. His first week. in Bridgeport, Conn,
paid the expenses Of the entire engagement
Aimee came 10 America again and again, and al
ways under Mr. Grau's management The same
year he managed the American tours of Rubinstein
and Henri Wieniawski, both Of whom came to
America with the financial backing of Messrs.
Steinway & Sons. II was before the days OF phe--
1omenal honoraria- Rubinstein was content with
sec a concert, and in eight months his energetic
young manager had cleared $4,000 his engage
nent alone The next year he organized the Clara
Louise Kellogg Opera Company, continued his man.
sgement OF Mile. Aimee. and brought to America
the italian tregedian, Tommaso Salvini. In 1874 he
managed three opera bouffe and operetta COM
panies, besides Adelaide Ristor and became lessee
of the Lycsum Theatre. in 18th street There was
season Of financial stress. and in 1875 he severed
his connection with Chizzola, after another period
of bad luck. In 1876 he gave concerts directed by
ofenbach. in the Madison Square Garden which
were a failure, but he recouped his losses from a
forfeit Of $4,000 which the Italian Rossi pad 70
MIN rather than give up successful season In
Paris A highly successful tour Of seventeen
months in South America, Cuba and Mexico with
an opera boufte troupe, headed by the tenor
Capoul, and Paola Mariee, continued his successes
in 1888 began his association with Messrs Abbey
and Schoeffe. whose experiences together with his
own, at the Metropolitan Opera House have re-
peatedly formed the subject Of discussion in these
chapters of operate history.
The story OF the management Of the Metropoli-
tan Opera House ended in Chapter with an ac-
count Of the disasters which overwhelmed Abbey
Schoefa and Grau in 1897. Before the end OF
Mr. Graz,
ouently been limited at in the neEzsraners +b.+
though he should obtain lease Of the opera
house he would not give opera in 1Se7-'ss The
announcement had been received with incredultv
for though misfortune had overtaken the unanag-
ers in Chicago and of their other enterprises
hao been unfortunate. the New York season had
turned out IN all things successful Besides though
PerJurfa ridet arnaltun Jupiter" the public had
long before learned to laugh at the oaths Of man.
ayers 1t turned out, however that Mines Mel
be and Eames, who had become favorites of the
stockholders were not available for the next sea-
son. and the directors. who had learned to have
confidence in Mr.. Grau, were willing to let him
make the experiment of a year of famine As IT
turned out it cost them nothing except the per-
formances, and Mr.. Grau and the friends who
had rallied around him very little money. The
annual rental Of $4,000 made up to them by
eubrentals of the building TO other managers
chiefly TO Messrs Ellis and Damrosch. Mean
while the year Of quiescence put to a good
purpose In Strengthening the hold which Mr.. Grau
&oo AcSOAfeO 70 OOldiu Oh opera IN LONDON as well
New York Mr. Grau and his friends organized
the Maurice Grau Opera Company and easily OBJ
tatnsd lease Of the Metropolitan for three years
and release from the bankrupt corporation Alb
hey, Schoefel & Grau Qltd.). On May the old
company accepted q report which recited the
story Of the 1896 81. recommended that 1t
80 out OF business and released Messrs SchoeffeI
and Grau from obligation which they had en-
tered into with the company not to engage in
opera management All that remained for il to do
was to realize the only valuable asset which
G. ovned-the fremont Theatre, IN Boston This
a did by selling the property TO Mr.. Schoef-
EEL who has managed II since.
The way now being open, Mr.. Grau organized his
new company, composed wholly OF his friends.
These were Edward Lauterbach, Charles Frazier.
Robert Dunlap Roland T. Knoedler, Henry Da-
zian. B. Franklin De Frece f. w Sanger John
W. MAckay. er.. and Frederick Pullman The
capital stock. paid UP. was S15aoOO of which the
Metropolitan Opera and Real Estate Company
subscribed 10 $4,000. Mr.. Grau elected presi-
dent and general director Nr. Lauterbach vice
president and Mr. Frazier treasurer. Mr.. Sanger
was made associate manager, with the specific duty
Of looking after the affairs Of house itself and
DIR. Ernest Goerlitz was appointed secretary.
There was no regular subscription at the Opera
House the Of 1S97-19s. but the public
not without comfort From January Il to February
IL 1885, the Damrosch and Ellis company gave a
series OF performances which provided excellent
substitute. Opera-lovers were not even called
TO forego the pleasure Of hearing Of the sing
ers whom they had come TO consider essential TO
their happiness under the regime Of Damrosch and
TlIis's rivals Nine 8Ieba mot available for
Mr. osran but she for Mr.. Ellis. who man
aging all her American business. and she headed
the company. With her were Nine. Nordica and
Nine Cadsh and among old popular favorites
were Emil Fischer and David Bispham- Other
members of the company were Gisela Staudigl.
who had been heard in the first German seasons;
Mile Seygard, Nine. Brazil. an American contralto
with good presence, real warmth of feeling and
aid al1y