New-York tribune., 1908-07-26
-. 80 =. rr.hhielN

After f-er,,an cpera began at the Metropolitan
Opera House il endured seven years II was "iis
at the outset that il had the opposition OF WHAT
had been the established regime Of Italian opera
at the Academy of Music. but IL was pursCsu
throughout its by desultory enterprises anu
hampered greatly by the fact that the stockhoi0es
were never unitedly and enthusiastically IN & iaNo
Of It or the p-inciolos Of art which II representa-
Throughout the period there was a hankerlhg ioi
the feshpots Of Egyp- in the region of 'Ie ~ Me'o-
politan boxes. II seems desirable. therefore, ina"
though it is my purpose more speclhcaiS III m
next few chapters to tell the story OF Inc seven
years of German Opera. / should turn the hght
occasionally on the doings at rival insutuuoHs'
The first Of tho years at the AaeuoPoh'"!
Opera House was the seventh year OF Coio.ei
Maplesons tenancy Of the Academy OF MUSIC f1e
opened his season on November TO- 1854. but before
then James Barton Key and Horace McNicker eA-
leTimented with Italian opera for three weeks al
the Star Theatre. The organization was composed
of operate fosam and jetsarn such as Is always 10
be found plentif lly in New York after operate
storms in South America or Mexico, and was mel
ther better nor worse than scores OF other COM
De MES heard here before and since. Like most OF
these too, II had mouth-fllIng nane-tne Milan
Grand Opera Company-but. like few Of them II
had capital tenor. Senor Gianmini, who at
somewhat later period we shall find IN Colonel
Maplescns forces. Other members of the company
whose names are worthy of preservation were
Maria Peri tsoprano leggierol Sgnora Damerini
dramatic sopranop, Signora Mestress (contralto1
and Signor Serboni (bass) The experiment resulted
in financial failure but it introduced 70 New York
the South American opera. III lIuarany, by Seflo-
Gomez In Colonel Maplesons company
Nine. Patti, Signora Ricetti Nine. Emma Neva1a,
signor Nicoini. Sgnor Vicni and Signor CARDINAL
(tenorsl. Nine Scalchi, Nine. Fursch-Madi. Signori
de Pasqualis Cherubini. Caraccolo (bassos),
Signor de Anna tbary1oney and Signor Basse Il
GenOrD. otherwise Mr.. Charles Bassett, like Mime.
Nevada. an American singer. The subscription
ended December 2. and ii the following week
ne gave four extra performances. at two Of which
aa -z7--~ -ersra -hrp "a 7fe.F of
artistic order than the Others The relations be
tween Mgpleson and the stockholders of the Acad-
emy We're becoming strained and in speech
which made his annual benefit he remarked
upon their absence sarcastically. II plain that
their patience had given and that they were
weary OF extending to him the financial support
which had helped him through the season. In my
review OF the find this remark. which is
indicative Of their Indifference the fate OF their
lessee: The condition Of the house gives evidence
Of an unwillingness 10 sink money N unucra-
tive enterprise II is somewhat discoUraging TO the
patrons OF the house TO sit in ramshackle chairs
which threaten to deposit them inContinently on
the floor Ell any moment. and the collapse of
stall has frequently accentuated musical or dra-
matte climax in the season just ended"
The season ended with many promises unfulhlled.
for which the mPTeSario placed the blame upon
the directors. who. he said had given him
sufficient use Of the Academy stage His explana-
uons were not always wholly disingenuous, how
ever. Thus he had announced that 'l-akme" would
be given, with the composer, NJ DenbeS, IN the
conductors chair Now. in the season before Nine.
Gers;er had been desiroUs create the part Of
The heroine in America Gt being one which afforded
fine scope for her lovely powers, and which she
had studied with the eornposer) that she had
bought The performing rights But nothing came
OF her ambition. and was an open secret that
Heugel. the publisher. had ouarrelled with Maple
sen because Of unwarranted practices with his
scores in London In the midst of his troubles
Colonel Ma peson announced that he had engaged
o. SS-S6
as little foun6ation for this announcement for
the promise Of ''L1akrne."
With ruin ST fing HIM in the face, Mapleson con
GUIDED the season He bettered his fortunes trifie
in Boston and Philadelphia but failed again in
New Orleans and ST Louis. Then he to San
Francisco where the fact that Nine. Nevada was
q native Of the Pacific Slope a helpful factor.
after the close Of the season at the Metropolitan
opesa House he gave spring season Of six
Performances in one week beginning on April 20
he Repeated the performance in Boston and then
sailed for Europe, stopping in New York only long
enough institute suits at law-one against
Signcr Nicolin $4,000 fo- failing sing
and one against Nine Nevada for $1,000. alleged 10
have been overpaid her The suits in all likelihood
were merely moves in the managerial game which
ne was playing in London and New York In one
ct the Chapters Of opera printed in The Tribune
last summer described as the crowning achieve
rent Of the season the circumstances that he had
succeeded in owing Nine. Patti S5000 Sc 6D0
Nicolini PATHS husband.
More than ever il looked in the spring of 1855 as
II Italian opera had received its quietus The de-
uoralization Of the Academy Of Music com
plete In London there prevailed a state Of affairs
anomalous and startling that The newspaper
critics cudgelng their brains a effort
10 find an explanation. For the first time in 15.
years the British metropolis without opera;
for the first time in thirty years except in
1856 when fire made it mpossible) the Royal Ital-
ian Opera at Covent Garden had failed open its
doors Easter Tuesday. Mr.. Gye and his back
ers refused their again. and the
lease Of Her Mai also going begging. In
New York Colonel Mapleson had held one good
card which he did seem 10 know how 10 play:
the season compassed the twenty-fifth anniversary
OF the operate debut Of Nine. Patti There ought
for excellent and obvious reasons TO have been a
fitting celebration of the event. but there was not
On November 2s two days after the date, Colonel
NapIeson gave a performance Of Martha with
Aines. Patti and Scalchi in the principal women
parts. After the opera rout Of supernumeraries
chortstsrs and other boys and men engaged fol
the purpose carrying torches, followed the diva
carriage 10 the Windsor Hotel. where she was ser
enaded That was all II undiEnfed and
Inadequate that il provoked some of Nine Patti
friends TO arrange the banquet in her honor which
described in one Of the Chapters Of Opera last
summer Had Signor Brignoh who was the Ed
gardo to Adelna PATHS Lucia at the Academy OF
November "a 1888 been spared in life and health
few weeks longer (Sienor Brignoh died in October
lsss) his friends would probably have urged al
association OF the two artists in gala perform
auce Of Donizettis opera This would have pro
r;ded an appropriate and delightful celebration
snd y would not have been difficult 10 marshal
nurnber Of interesting relics Of the period whcI
saw the operate advent Of Nine. Patti, though al
- ,ts,, u-or,ld have appeared much worse for th
wear Of a ouarter-century than she Of the valian
champions who were leading the contendins opef
atie armies OF the time. Arditi, Maretzek an'
strakosch were still with us. The first was MI