New-York tribune., 1908-02-12

Photograph
For a long time they have consistently denied
the rurnors OF shake-up This is the explana-
ton:
The directors of the Conried Metropolitan
Opera Company announce, with great regret.
that Mr.. Conried has Informed them or MS IN
ability, owing to the state Of his health 10 con-
tfnue in charge of It's affairs after the eXplTa-
ton of the present season. and of his conse-
Quent determination to retire as PRESIDENT anu
director Of the Conried Metropolitan Opera Com
pany not later than May 1. Until then. ms
health permitting. he will remain in complete
charge and exercise authority as heretofore
CoMPANY"s NEW NAME.
The Conried Metropolitan Opera Company.
while continuing its corporate entity; VIII
change It's title and will henceforth be known
under the name OF the MetroPolIlan opera ON
pany It has leased the Metropolitan opera
House for a term Of five years, beginning June
l. 19oS.> It has engaged. with the approval OF
the Metropolitan Opera and Real Estate Com
panv Julio Gatti-Casazza, manager OF La
Scala in Milan. as general manager. and AndreaS
Dippel as administrative manager Inc tradi-
tionaI system of having the manager share in
the profits will be abolished The managers
will receive a fixed salary and neither fhey
nor any other empIoye will have any financial
interest in the affairs Of the company.
ANY profits realized will be used for the estaD-
Ishnlent Of an endowment or pension @ Iuno or
for some similar purpose for the advancement OF
the Metropolitan Opera House as an art 1nstltl-
ton. The customary annual performance lor
+7a heneft of the manager will be abolished. and
800. aacb YEAR, the entire proceeds of which
will be devoted to the fund for endowment or
pensions, etc.
MAILER ALSO ENGAGED.
Gustav Mailer until recently general musical
director of the Court Opera in Vienna, and Mr.
Toscaninf musical director of La Scala in Milan
have been engaged as joint musical directors.
We all deeply regret that Mr.. Conried's illness
,or,raIs his retirement We hope that relief
from the strenuous and eNhaustlng work, TO
which he has so devotedIy ana ernclenuy given
FCr laCf five
com npIetelv restore his health. We shall take
occasion TO give more formal expression TO our
rspect for his accomplishments and our appre-
citation Of his work.
GATTI-CASAZZAS S RECORD.
As n his successors, Mr Gatti-Casazza is a
gentleman of the highest standing, profession
ally and personally, and of thorough muslcaI
and general culture. For nearly ten years he
has been in entire charge OF La Scala IN Milan,
where he has done admirable work as general
manager and stage director. La Scala IS the
foremost opera house in Italy, one or the Oldest
in the world, and the dignity or us arIlSIc ira
ditiOns IS second to none. Under Mr. GattI-
CasazZa's management IL has been distinguished
by the cathoIicity of it's repertory. Cultivating
equally the classical operas and the works or
modern French Italian and German composers
The qualifications of all the candidates have
been carefully and cOnscienJiously examined, and
we are convinced that Mr. Gatti-Casazza will
amply Justify the selection which has intrusted
him with this much coveted position.
PRAISE FOR HERR DIPPEL.
Mr. ti-Casazza's assistant will be Herr
Dippel. already Of the Metropolitan Opera House,
long known to and liked by the New York pub
lie as a sterling artist OF remarkable musical
ability and vast experience, tactful resourcefuI.
enjoying universal esteem ana sympathy as an
artist and g gentleman
We consider ourselves particularly fortunate
in having secured the cooperation as equal and
Joint musical directors of the famous conductors.
Massrs Mailer and Toscanini, a combination
which no opera house in the world can match
Our contracts with the great artists who form
SO Iira0 IlT1ar3 re nj
course. not affected by the change in manage
ment-
learn that the Metropolitan Opera House, which
has become an art institution Of worldwide
prestige will hencef0rth be administered without
any thought to pecuniary benefit II any season
results in a surplus such surplus will be devoted
to the establishment of an endowment or pen
sion fund or 10 some similar purpose Tor tne ac-
vancement Of operate art
In assuming the lease Of the Metropolitan
Opera House for another term of five years, we
wish TO testify to gratitude and high respect
for the directors of the Metropolitan Opera and
Real Estate Company and TO the sense of in
debtedness which we. IN common with all lovers
of opera, feel for what they, as representing the
founders and owners Of that famous house have
done TO establish and promote the cause OF oper-
attic art in New York. They have stood by 1t
when giving opera in New York meant loss and
disa ppointment. and il is primarily 10 their sup
port TO their wisdom and foresight TO the dura-
bic foundation which they have laid and the
high standard which they have set, that the
credit Is due for having made the Metropolitan
Opera House what it now is universally con-
ceded to be. the blue ribbon" OF the operate
world.
Mr.. Conred is nearly hfty-three years old. d
native of Bielitz Austria, where his father was
a manufacturer He received a classical educa-
ton, early showing an interest in studies bear
ing on his future career. In 1872 he made his
first public appearance, speaking the prologue !
at the opening OF the Residenz Theatre In
Vienna Soon afterward he became a member |
Of the company of the Burg Theatre in the Aus
f-iau capital Mr. Conred came TO this city in |
1877 10 take charge Of the old Germania The |
atre. Since then ne has had charge of the !
Thalia Theatre. the Irving Place Theatre and /
was connected with the Casino. In 1905 Mr. |
cog.-ied was chosen 10 succeed Maurice Grau a
I,anascr Of the metropolitan Opera House.