Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-08-09
PLAN EXTEN1ION OF OPERA
THROUGHPUT UNIFIED STATES
Idea Is Launched by Music Masters to
Cultivate Universal Interest in
Singing.

CARLSBAD. AUSTRIA. Aug. s.
Messrs. GattiCasazza. DIPPED and
Kahn met in conference this morning
to discuss measures for increasing
the influence and scope Of the Met
Iopolitan Opera OF New York City
in fostering operate art and culture.
A plan was adopted for making the
Metropolitan the centre of nationa!
movement for extending opera
throughout the United States. The
plan Is modelled after the university
extension idea. One general object Is
to create a universal interest in oper-
attic chorus singing.
Hitherto in the United States Choir
al effort has confined itself exclusive
~ to oratorio. Now an organized eff
fort is to be effected inviting general
attention to the beauties and delights
OF operate singing. Local musical So
cieties are to be induced TO study
ope: as suggested by All advisory coun-
Gil composed of competent authorities.
Preparations for the performance OF
an opera may be carried as far as To-
cal talent and enthusiasm will per-
nit. As far as possible the Metropo.!-
tan Opera will. whenever requested
lend its cooperation by sending eff
cient soloists and furnishing what
ever else may be requisite to enable
a satisfactory performance. Commu-
mites that are favorably situated ma
want a whole cast including scenery,
the visiting cast comprising a small
stock chorous of experts to act as
leaders OF the local chorous with
which it is combined.
A National League OF Metropolitan
Opera Clubs will carry the plan into
Cp.ratinn. Lectures. illustrated by
Photographic records and stereopticon
slides picturing scenes from the oier'
rs. will be supplied TO promote the
organization of lnca! clubs for the
study and performance OF the opera.
A graded list Of operas recommend
ed for study will he issued. AcV.ce
will be furnished as to where and now
reliable vocal scores CT these operas
may be obtained. and for suitable pro-
duction Of opera will be suggested.
whether with or without scenic rep
RESERVATIONS. performances varying az
cording TO the financial ability ana
Willingness Of localities. from operate
concert or opera in concert form u
the staging OF whole acts. ana the
giving Of an entire opera
a museum and library is 10 be de-
yaloped. possibly in connection with
the New Theatre. for the collection
of books. manuscripts. photographs
costumes. and whatever else may be
helpful TO The fullest obiaiEa5c IN
formation concerning opera in all its
bearings With II will be connected
A bureau Of information for the use
of members Of the National League
Of Metropolitan Opera Clubs.
SOM, of the beneficial purposes
which The managers c. tho NctTopoi-
itan Opera expect 20 accomplish
through the working of the education
al enterprise are these: Greater nUT-
her q people NAV become acqaain'ei
with the delights of opera. TO the en-
richmcni e heir lives. 4 stimulus
will bc afforded 70 the idea 81 private
and public endowment Of opera in
MANY FNsi.llsS. y Nb.t-Nl'l d1 iAa''A
csa IN opera will bring ont original
/ effort along operate lines 81 that the
numbers ci American writer's Of iib,
rctto and composers Of music VI.
grow aud American artists may IN
Creasincly compete with the artists nj
other countries !r winning honors IN
the field cf operate creation and in
1 tcrprctaiicn Incidentally the Metro
poIitan Opera hops 10 solve tat
| troublesome problem nf recruiting al
Intelligent chorous with0-i having %
d-pCnd upon going abroad 10 search
81 Desirable material. Participat On
ty lovers of music IN the local opeTa
chprouscs viii NO doubt develop AZ
abundance q latest talent
The chief thcGgh' behind the or
raaizaiion 81 the National League NJ
Metropolitan OPERA Clubs IA ths
opera is the most cffcicnt agcncg "a
spreading musical calture. The In
crease % tho leisure hours 81 N
working maa in this country calls
fer q corresponding inrreas" n! aesir
abio forms ~ amusement. for 60.
; welfare % society alone. 10 fCf NJ
other reascns Music, because Of tkI
III "