New-York tribune., 1908-10-04

leve had single ap. .earance), Lima 'aT"lierl '"n'
endured the end). Geraldine Farrar Cstiil WIFE te
company and bearer o. high hopes on the part %
opera lovers for the futurAl Emma Abbott "a win
singer of extremely light Calhre), Marie Matt
field (an acquaintance of "a Damrosrh days..
Nine. Schumann-Henk (rctmred for a single sea
SOM. Marie Rappoid. Nine. Kirkby-Lunn. Carl
Burrian, Soubeyran and Rousseliere, tenors; Strac
ciari. barytone and Caalrin and Navarini BASES.
The list Of German dramatic sopranos was aug
rnented in the last year by Nine. Morena and Nine
Letter -Burkhardt, the tenoCs by Bonct twho had
been brought u America the year before as oT-
position to Caruso by Mr.. Hammerster' Ric-
caydo Martin Tan American. Georges Lucas; the
basses by Theodore Chalapine, Russian and
bufo. Barocch- Among the engagements OF the
first season which gave rise TO high hopes in
serious informed circles was that of Felix
Mottl, conductor of the German operas and
Sunday night concerts (Which it was announced
were be given symphonic character and dig
nitv) Anton Fuchs Of Munich. as stage manager
ana Carl Lautenschlager. Of the Prinz Regenten-
theater, Munich stage mechanician, or technical
director. These two men did notable work In
.'Parsfal" but in everything else found them
selves hampered by the prevailing conditions
that after a year they retired to Germany, op-
pressed with feeling something akin to huma
ton. Likewise Herr Mottl, who made an effort III
the line OF symphony concert on the first Sunday
rsight of and then withdrew, to leave
the field open the od-fashioned popular oper-
attic concert which Mr.. Conried commanded and
the public unQuestiorably desired His experiences
in putting half prepared operas on the stage also
discouraged Herr Mottl and he went through the
season in a perfunctory manner and departed
shaking the Metropolitan DUST from his feet and
promptly installed his polished boots n the di-
rectorship of the Royal Court Theatre 1T Munich
The season opened on November %, 1903, with
''Rigoetto"; Nine. Sembrich reappeared Giida
and Caruso effected his American debut the
Duke His success was instantaneous. though
Lace t,IIag eSzpd byTr fer on
that occasion than his last appearance. FIVE
years later. In the interval admiration fer beau
tiful voice had grown into alteration OF singer
an alteration which even sustained him through a
scandal which would have sent man of equal
e.rinence in any other profession into disgracefu
retirement The season compassed fifteen weeks
from November % to March 5. within which period
there were ninety-seveu performances Of twenty
seven works. counting in a ballet and a single
scene from ''Mefstofee." in which Mime. Calve
VINO Joined Mr. Conried's forces after the season
two-thirds over. and yet managed &c give
four performances Of Carmen helped to i'm
prove a trif7e the pltiful showing made by the
French contingent in the list The French element
which had become a brilliant factor IN the Grau
period, began wane, and subsequently the Ger
man was eliminated as far as seemed practicable
from the subscription seasons. The boxholders
were exerting reactionary influence. and Mr.
Conr1ed willingly Yielded them. since he could
thus reserve certain sensational features for the
his purse. This policy had q speedy and striking
illustration IN the production of Wagners Par
sifsl" which made Mr. Conrieds first year memoir
able or thought. notorious. Certainly no
theatrical incident before since set the
world ringing did the act which had been long
In tho mind OF the manager and which was
one Of the first things which he announced his In
tent.on to after he had secured the lease from
the OF the opera house The announce
ment was first made unoffically n newspaper in
nd cOunrT ed in ~ official
which set down Christmas the date Of produc-
ton protest-nany protests. ndeed-followed
Nine. wagner's accompanied with Il threat
of legal proceedings The ground OF her appeal
/ to Mr.. Conried that to perform the drama
which had been specifically reserved for perform
ance in Bayreuth by the composer would pe ir-
reverent aud Illegal To this M. Conrted made
that inssmuch "Parsfal" was not pro-
tected by law In the United States mis- perform
ance would not be Illegal. and that Il was more
rreverent to Wagner to prevent the many Ameri-
who could not go To Bayrouth from hearing
Ina work than TO make II possible fer thaIn 70 hsA<