New-York tribune., 1908-02-25
OPERA WARFARE B00MS
PLAYS ABOUT DALMORES.
His Contract 1cith Hammerstein
Binding, attorney Says.

The opera horizon yesterday was Illuminated
by statements and couded by nebulous rumors.
well pretty well authenticated reports
First of all, IT given out on the authority
of Louis Mathot, counsel for Charles Dalmores.
that Mr. DaImores cannot Join the Metropolitan
Opera Company because his contract for three
years with Mr.. Hammerstein is binding Then
Mr.. Hammerstein said that if the Metropolitan
people hoped to keep Enrico Caruso they must
pay the tenor "s9.00OO0O minute" Again. a
close TO the management OF the Metro
politan said that Nine. Emma Eames had been
approached by Mr. Hammerstein's agents with
view to engaging her for next season, as her
contract with the Metropolitan ends with the
present season Finally. the Conried Metropoli-
tan Opera Company issued a statement saying
that it will not go into liquidation but will
continue its existence" as in the past.
There a long conference at the Man
haitian Opera House yesterday afternoon, in
which participated Mr.. Hammerstein. with
Judge Dittenhoefer, his counseG, and Louis
Mathot representing Mr. Dalmores. After the
conference Louis Mathot wrote the following
letter to Heinrich Conried:
After the public announcement made by you that
three years from thu expiration Of the present
Hammerstein that he had no right TO make such
contract with you After receiving such notifica-
ed ed to me an Informal memorandum. signed by my
Hammerstein for period of three years from the
expiration Of the present season
Although this memorandum is most informal
have advised my client that it is legally binding
upon him unless Mr. Hammerstein chooses 10
with Mr.. Dalmores he tells me that he was not
aware aware Of the fact that the paper he signed was
until a formal contract executed by him with
MI. Hamrnersten he was free to enter into
naIs As Mr. Mammerstein refuses to release Mr..
tract it will not be possible for my client full
While Mr.. Dsimores regrets this embarrassing
situation; he feels that it is largely relieved by the
the directOrship Of the MetropoHtan opera Hou2e 1
as r- ainoTes WoqId not md It agreeable TO
Nj Damores has the highest esteem and respect
| the management of his artistic career to so ex-
perienced and accomplished gentleman yourself.
| dence in those who have been designated 70 sue
| ceed you.
| At the time Mr.. Damores gave out the fol-
| lowing explanation in regard to the contract.
Since the public announcement Of the fact that
expiration of the present season certain facts Of
which had not been aware have been called Ito ~
was not free to enter into such engagement. with
As the latter refuses to accord me such perrns-
sion feel ! am legally and in honor bound to con-
! tinue with Mr. HanTnerstetn;
c,jrnstanca Of Mr. Conrfe!s Tignafjon from the df-
| rectorship Of the Metropolitan Opera House, under
| whose personal management was led 70 believe
| would be expected to render my services
| Mr. Hanmerstein remarked after these state
/ nents were handed out: You see, I play my
| hand when it is ready I had these contracts
with Mr.. Dalnores but they were in the pos
session of my secretary, BrignoIe in Europe. I
| waited until I received them by mail before
made any attempt to contradict the stories that
! Mr.. Dalmores was to go to the Metropolitan
| You see l was right, but I wanted the legal
/ proof"
| Mr. Hamruerstefn laughed and waved his
| hands when asked as to the rumor that Nine
Eames was to go to his opera house. 1T is
! too much TO talk Of now he said. When the
! tales of his engagement Of Mr. Caruso were
! mentioned ne said: IF they want 10 keep him
| they can-at 100000 a minute" When he was
told that Otto H Kahn, a director of the
| Metropolitan Opera Company. had said Caruso
| was bound by contract to that company.
| Mr. Hammerstein replied: Did he2" Then he
| went away from the lobby
| Neither Mr.. Kahn nor Mr.. Conried could be
| reached last night. and Ernest GOeriitz. gen
| eraI manager of the Conried Metropolitan Opera
! Company. said he could not discuss the Dal-
| mores case. Earlier in the evening. however,
the following statement was given out at the
| Metropolitan:
To dispal Observation-Disclosures and defeat attempts
70 u1fsIead it is deemed well to state that all con
s+aGfS tGs Watr6poIitsn Opera House are made with
Conred Metropolitan Opera company a. q -
poration and VII III ETr SGn'Ig Fn1rfeis retirement
| The Conried Metropolitan Opera company VII
Efen6e conduct its operations and retain its legal
status exactly heretofore; az tnat nts C-la7So
| IS the control of its stock and its management