New-York tribune., 1908-04-05
In a fortnight it will be necessary to ad

I =
ward distngenuous apology for his adninistra-
ton. comparing the cost and difficulties Of pro-
ducing opera in the preceding season with the
cost and difficulties under Mr. Grau The matter
was one which concerned the stockholders Of his
company only SO far finances were concerned;
10 the difficulties. Il was not easy TO see how
they could be greater when there had been
much more money TO spend and SO much had been
spent in improving the facilities for opera giving.
As for the patrons of the establishment, they
found plenty of ground for complaint in contrast
ing the artistic achievements with the gorgeous
promises which were made when the new admin
istration came in These promises by the way, have
found almost literal echo in the utterances OF
Mr.. Kahn and Mr. DippeI, who are speaking for
the season TO come. Mr.. Conred's first aim TO
raise the standard OF performance and the thought
OF profit was foreign 10 his mind. He to
continue the employment OF the finest stars in
the world. but not the star" system. The season
III Philadelphia was 10 be abandoned, that there
might be more time for rehearsaIs and less ex-
haustion Of the artistic forces. Opera in English
was to be made new feature. French and Italian
works were to be given they had been under
Mr.. Grau, in tie languages native to them, and
German opera be ed 10 q higher level Nearly
all this may be read again IN the pronunciamento
Of the reorsanzed company, published in the news
papers OF yesterday. But the Philadelphia per
formances were not abandoned. and there is
intiuaton that they Will be next season. instead.
plans making TO give q series Of representa-
tons besides in Brooklyn. But this is "a matter
which concerns the future, and may be left for dis
Cussion in the future There were evidences of
lofty striving at the outset OF Mr. Conrieds ad-
ministratiOn in the enga cement Of like MOttl
of the stage. But little came Of the strivings,
was told over and over again in the reviews of the
records Of the four Immediately preceding
that which has just closed There were sensational
features, like the production Of 'Parsifal" and
''Salome" and hurniliating features like the per-
formance Of Die Fledermaus' and Der Zigeuner-
baron" The Of large capabilities brought over
from Germany found opportunity to do the
things for which il said they had been
gagged, and in respect Of stage management and
the other factors of prime Importance IN ensemble
work there was ste: dy retrogresson toward the
doIeful depth which reached in Nr. Conried's
firth season The season was heraIded. however
as fits predecessors had been. Mr.. Mailer TO
bring out Don Giovanni "Fidelio," Der Fref-
schultz" and ''Nozze di Figaro in the manner
which had caused so much adTniring comment in
Vienna. He succeeded in getting two of the operas
upon the stage, but Don Giovanni had 70 make
shift with iTnprovised stage dress and after two
performances its carefully prepared musical en-
senlble disrupted by the departure Of artists
hired for only a portion Of the season. 'F1delio'
was produced too late TO win the recognition which
II deserved and which II indubita5ly would have
received IN time for it was a delight to the eye
and its only musical defect the unconscionabIy
bad chorus-the one feature which should have re-
ceived attention II Mr.. Conried had known how
realize the reforms which he promised five years
ago. It's incapacity delayed the production of
Fidelio'' till the closing weeks of the season yet
Nr- Ha1l1nlerstein organized his chorus only two
years ago. and in his season produced more
operas new TO singers as well as the public than
Mr Conried has done in five. II was due to the
inefFciency OF the choral and mechanical depart
rlents coupled with the Philadelphia season. which
made I impossible 10 produce four Of the operas
which Mr. conred IN his prospectus inviting sub
scrptions 10 his fifth said had already been
prepared" for performance-"OtelIo" Andrea
Chenier'' (Which M. Hamnerstein brought forward
after five other novelties. though he had in
cuded il in his prospective hst). Der Freischutz
and ''Das Nachtlager in Granada" Other promises
made and not kept referred TO the reorganization
Of the chorus (te best singers 10 be retained and
new members TO be selected from the principal
opera houses Of Italy France and Germany. the
retention OF the flying ballet brought over last
year for La Domination de Faust" and 10 be in
reduced in other operas well. The latter state
rnent srnacked OF the ludcrous did the inclusion
q Couradin kreutzer's ''Nachtlager," moss
grown German work Of which students Of musical
history alone had knowledge. But truce to the
I'D prospectus; We shall meet It's like again very
soon
One new opera was added to the Metropolitan
list. and that q failure without parallel
'tIea's ''Adranna Lecouvreur' 1t is not likely TO
BE heard Of again under the administration Of
lie men who coming from Milan introduce
The methods OF La Scala al the Metropolitan Opera
House. ''MefstofeIe' revived for the sake OF
Nj Chauapine, the story Of whose engagement, II
told with all It's details, would be the most remark
able tale in local operate annals IL had all the
representations that could be given II. and the
Russian basso put into many, performances
- MS extremely limited repertory admitted; indeed
le had 10 add Don Giovanni 10 his list, and even
hen he could not be employed in many repre-
entations az his contract called for. He spoiled |
9ossinis Barber Of Seville but made the thought
ess and ignorant laugh and this was sci down To |
lis great credit Had Nj Gilbert been spectator
= hts antics ia this opera he would probably have
,,l,ed Ia them the remark whch he made 10 or
,s comedians who defenfed irrelevant bit of by
Iav bv saving: But I get laugh, sir. So |
,ot, would II you down IN pork pie, said Mr. /
;ubert But Mr Chaliapne, II is 10 be hoped, also |
,.lonvs 10 the past 50 far New York is con- |
erned though he been enumerated among the |
.-s discovered BY signor Giulio Casazza.
There IS a text for preachment on the subject /
. be ra,ages made in musical appreciation by Puc-
i,e onera. out of sixty four Italian performances
HE season. twenty-th were devoted 10 lAe
-, of tbis composer. There were four OF his
- 5n ne list: all OF them but one had the full
-, of subscription performances allowed oy
- r.,licy Of the management all Dat one had an
- ,,e-forrnsnce on Saturday night. and one Of
-, las given twice 10 the Saturday night audl-
Assuming that It q popular craving
,icr was thus satisfied, II VIII be interesting 10
a, afect of this taste upon future Tepertories.
-, read not be said at this tuncture' unless II be
,rsss 2 hope that the singers OF the Metro
-, Onera House In the years 10 come may ue
- 70 learn the music Of other e0uteu1SerA1