New-York tribune., 1908-02-11
MUSIC.
THE oPERATIc REVOLUTION.

The solution of the problem which has been oc-
cupying attention Of the directors OF the Met
ropolitan Opera and Real Estate Company anu
of the Conried Opera Company for nearly year
and irritating curiosity both sides or the AT
Iantic is imminent. Unless the plan falls or IS
modified at meeting of the directors OF the first
corporation to be held to-day, this is What Is
likely TO happen:
The Conried Opera Company will be reorganlzeo
under a name; there will be change IN us
directorate the resignation of Mr.. Conried Will be
offered and accepted to take effect at the emu VI
the present season-the fifth that has been unoer
his management; Mr.. Conrieds interests present
and prospective, will be purchased by the ne"
company for a round sum, and his stock In the
corporation which he organized hVe years ago
acquired by the interests which have OF late peen
iniInical TO his administration; the Metropolitan
Opera and Real Estate Company will either moo1-
fy the existing lease with the Conrled opera
Conpany or grant new one to the reorganized
company IN order to permit 1t to make the expert
ment for year Of giving opera under lhe JOINT
dictatorship of Giuio Gatti-Casazza and Anareas
Dippel, with Arturo Toscanin1 ana Gustav 1haliieE
joint conductors.
Under this double-headed, rather quadrupie-
headed. arrangement it is expected that Aessrs-
Gatti-Casazza and Toscanlni will look a1ler the
artistic end Of the italian performances and
Messrs. Dippel and Mailer after those of the Ger
man; the two directors WILL presumably adnlln-
lister the business Of the opera house with the
assistance of the reorsanized corporation headed
by Mr.. Otto Kahn.
To students Of operate doings IN Europe only
one of the four men who are be charged with
the conduct OF the next metropolitan season Is
unfamiliar. It is that of Signor Gattl-Casazza-
Nothing is known OF him beyond the fact tnat ne
is the manager of La Scala in Milan. Two reasons
are offered to explain his appointment: Signor Tos-
canni, who much desired because OF his con-
ceded eulinence as a conductor, made II a condl-
ton precedent to his acceptance Of the offer made
to him, and the concerned in the revolution
wit
of the manager of La Scala would bring prestige
to the new administration. The belief that dI-
rector of La Scala must necessarily be a man OF
artistic ideals knowledge and capacities was rude
Iv disturbed by statements made by Mr.. Cleofonte
Campanini. artistic director of the Manhattan Op-
era House, when the name Of Gatti-Casazza was
first brought forward in connection with the
local operate Inuddle weeks ago An at
tempt will now be made TO account for this
oiscoura ging disclosure touching the Mianese
manager the ground that Mr. Canpaninl
was himself a candidate for the dictatorship
of the Metropolitan. From the point of view
which likely to be shared by all who have been
hoping for years to see New York's foremost oper-
attic establishment put upon permanent footing
and raised the plane of truly artistic fnstltu-
above the reach Of managerial greed, the per-
sonaI caprfces and ambitions of individuals and the
whimsies of fad and fashion, the influence Of MI
Ian in the American metropolis will be deplored II
has already worked much harm TO the local roper
tory, lowered the standard of performance ana VI
tiated popular taste Will pS oOIiA4aiil 4"
only q natural conclusion from the present status
of affairs at the Metropolitan. In Mr.. Conrieds
first subscription there were 81 German per-
foruances and 50 Italian; in his second, 10 German
and 35 italian; his third, "a German and Is 4tai
ian; in his fourth II German and Il Italian ms
wear thus far out of g. subscription performances
Il have been German and 45 italian. and the only
novelties brought forward have been "Adriana 4e-
couvreur" and ''Iris'-two failures. French opera
which Messrs Abbey & Grau sought to put on an
equal footing with the Italian and German mas
been all but ignored, wherefore Mr.. HaTn1nersleIn
has had occasion for gratitude Gounods Eausl
has had three performances in French TN uou-
bic bill Of 'Hansel und Gretei' and "Paglaccl
credit has been given to both the German and Ita-
ian list) But the change in the character OF the
repertory, it be feared, VIII not De the on4y
result of italian or rather, Milanese domination
Signor Toscanini is an admirable conductor anu
an artist of strong and aggressive methods He IS
the chief representative OF Wagners music IN
Italy where Wagner's music does not mean n1uch
against Signor Puccinis. Mr.. Dippel needs no IN
PRODUCTION. He had soma business experience IN a
bank before he became a singer. No doubt ne ana
Mr. Mailer will labor for q liberal repertory Tor
the engagement hish-class singers for the retor-
nation of the stage management, now wTetchedIy
bad and the betternent OF the ensemble. 1t IS TO
be hoped however that the directors Of the Metro
poIItan Opera House will retain in their hands
something more effective censorship OF the
repertory With two Italian directors equal in au-
thority there is likely to be need occasionally Of
some one with a deciding voice. VIII it be the
president of the opera company? II E K