New-York tribune., 1908-07-05

Of 1881 when she came on a concert trip. The trip
was more or less failure. the public not yet oeine
prepared to pay $40 for a reserved seat TO near
anybody sing After singing at concert for the
benefit of the sufferers from forest hres IN Micni-
gan she announced a reduction of prices TO s2 for
general admission and S. for reserved seats Uhuer
these conditions business improved somewhat OUT
in February 1882, she found 1t necessary 10 organ
ize an opera company in order to awaken interest
fairly commensurate with her great merit ana
fame II was sorry company, and the perform
ances only a few, took place in the Gernania me
atfe in Broadway, at 18th street. formerly wal
lacks but they were received Win uluch ei-
tbusiasm So far as London was concerned she
was under engagement at the time 10 MI Gye'
Colonel MapIeson's rival at Covent Garden MI
Abbey claimed that ne had an option on any Amerl-
can engagement for opera, but she appeared next
season at the Academy, and the doughty Enghsn
manager held her as his trump card in the battle
roval which ensued the opening of the Metro
politan.
In the twenty years of Nine. PATHS absence
from New York Nine. Nilsson who had come TO
the metropolis in the heyday of her European
fame in 1870 had her way deep into the
hearts of the people. In 1888 she was no longer
IN her priu1e neither her voice nor her art having
stood the wear OF time as well as those OF NINE
Patti who six months her senior IN ase
and five years in stage experience, but she was
more than a formidable rival in the admiration OF
the public She less happy in the COM
nanionsbfp of Nine Sembrich junior partner
than Patti was with Nine Gerster both OF tne
younger singers were fresh from tneir hrst greal
European successes. Three years later Nine Ger
ster went back to Mime. Marchesi. her teacher
ter ber voice irreparably damaged. THE penalty
of motherhood" said her friends; the result or
worry over the failure to hold her place IN the
face of opposition said more impartial OBSERVERS
Nine Sembrich went back to Europe TO continue
her triunphs after disaster had overtaken er hrse
American manager. and in decade returned 10
remain an ornament of the Metropolitan ever
since.
In Mr. Abbey's ranks were also Nine Furscn-
Ma Mime. Scalch Nine. Treoelh. Nine. La
bIache (who gave way to her daughter till a quar-
rel over her between the impresarios was deter
minedl and Mime. Valleria. who had come TO the
Academy some time before from LONDON thoush
she was Baltimorean by birth-a sterling ARTIST
who is remembered by all connoisseurs with graf
itrde and admiration. Chief among Colonel Maple
SONS masculine forces was Sgnor Galassi. some
what rude but otherwise excellent barytone AT
the head of the tenors was SlSnor NlcoLnl' tHe
husband of Mime. Patti. who sang only when she
did but not always The circumstance that NINE
Patti Insisted upon his engagement also Wnen-
eer she signed contract gave rise to malicious
story to the effect tlat she had two prices one o.
let us say merely for Illustration bWO francs Ior
herself alone one of 1000 francs for herseIt anu
Ncolini The rest of the male contingent was com
posed mostly of small fry-Vicini, Perugini ana
Fa1letti tenors; Cherubini and Lombardini. basses
and Caracciolo buffo Mr. Abbey had carried on
three admired men singers from the Academy
Camnanini Del Puente and Novara-and brought
an excellent barytone Kaschmann. from Europe
and a redoubtable tenor, Stagno
There was little to interest public supposedly
weary of the hurdy-gurdy list in the promises
made in the rival announcements. Colonel Maple
son held forth the prospect of Patti in Gounods
Romeo ct Juliette" and ''Mirela' (both in Italian
OF course) as we'll in Rossnis La Gazza
Iadra" forgotten opera then and again forgotten
now. other old works which were to be revived for
her and Nine. Gerster were 'Crispiro e Ia Comare
and 81, EIjsir d'Amore" Nine. Pappenheims pres
ence as the dramatic soprano of the company Ia
less necessary parsonage in the companies or that
day than now led to the promise of Norma ana
..Oheron" Only the Italian work was given. Mr.
Abbey's book of good intentions embraced twenty
four operas all of them familiar except La Clio
conda - which mad leen the novelty of the pre-
ceding London season
The outcome of the battle between the opera
houses was defeat for both. The Academy of Mu-
sic survived for campaigns. out of which
the new house triumphant. while the old
went down forever. 1t was different with the men
Mr. Abbey retired after season. forswearins
opera as he said, for all time: Colonel Mapleson.
though defeated was a smaller loser, and he was
not only brave enough to prepare for a second en-
counter, but also adroit enough TO persuade Nine
Patti to place herself under his guidance again
Mr. Abbey's losses have been matter OF spec
ulation ever since 1t was known at the time that