The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-11-06


begin with; then she declines to go fur
Their south than Washington city. Mr..
HammersteiA, | found to be most force
full personality handsome, frowning
distingue, beautifully groomed Jew of
probably 55 years. There's force and
temper in every line of the picturesque
head under the famous hat! No wonder
he is called the indomitable, redoubtable
untamable Oscarp The things he at
tempts and does make your wits spin
like a buzz saw to even think about.
He is lately back from three months
abroad running down singers. Says
Roosevelts lion hunting is tame by COM
parison-for lions are sane, if wild, and
all singers are crazy! Says he's exam
ined 500 new voices, picked out his me-
nagerie % and has them on the spot.
His daring (and some say foolhardy)
scheme of giving opera in August-stand-
ard opera at popular prices-50 cents to
81 per seat, certainly has proven great
success, for all that art and ardor could
do was done in the matter of stars,
singers, chorus, orchestra, ballet and
stage presentations, paying out 100000 per
week. Think of it, And now that the
populace has been educated 60 up to
real opera, they are anxiously awaiting
the opening Monday evening, which will
be superb Think of it! Massanet's Her
odiade with Lima Cavalier, Gerville-
Reache, Dalmores Renaud and Crabbe,
with M. de la Fuente, the new conduc-
tor behind the baton. I can't help feel
ing that we will miss the inimitable Cam
panini, matters not how great the other.
Lively times are under the Manhattan
roof. In one room upstairs (and that s
where I'm generally to be found) EURO
works six hours per day steadily on his
choruses He has three sets, for Ham
merstein has three companies all training
at once. One permanent for New York
and two for the road. The BASES of the
New York chorus are lovely beyond
words. And how they work. There are
$50 voices in all training. They get $40
per week per person! Then downstairs
the orchestra is buzzing away. Two con-
ductors there are for the season. They
are already mentioned, and Anselmi-but
no Campanini Carasa (whom many des-
ignate as the past tense of Caruso), the
Spanish tenor, made good In Educational
OPERA" and is retained, as well as Mar
guerite Sylvia. heard her at rehearsal
last week, and she sang like thrush
and looked like a peach or a pink rose
in a rose-colored suit and a wide white
hat loaded with pink feathers and one
of the new white lace wells. She Is very
handsome, with great dark oriental eyes.
Mr.. Hammerstein's office Is interesting
In the extreme, not alone for the people
who throng 1t, but from the pictures on
the walls. One Of Mary Garden Is the
''Well Scene" from "Pelleas and Melis-
ande;' another gorgeous one of her as
'Salome." Scenes from Strauss new
opera, Electra" and by the by he gives
the following new operas by Strauss (by
new I mean this is their first American
presentation: ''Iriselidis," "Feursuath,"
Electra" Among his other novelties
for the coming season are Xavier Lerouxs
U1~qo 80
"Aphrodite," Leoncavallo's ''Zaza," Her
bays violin Maker Of Cremona," Victor
Herbert's ''Natoma."
Every Tuesday and Saturday night dur
ing the regular subscription season opera
comiQue will be given with Andre Mes
sager leading. The first will be la File
de Madame"
Today as I went into the Office saw
talking to Mr.. w. L. Garde (Hammer-
STEMS most courteous and able secretary,
whom you and I know so pleasantly,
since 1t was through him you had a
glimpse of behind the scenes when you
were here. and the manager of the great
railway system In consultation about the
size of the crowd expected opening night
SO as to know the number Of cars needed
to handle the opera-goers. I inclose a
bill of the coming week. Tn going every
night. Although I've attended rehearsals
until nearly know the operas by heart
i cannot keep awayi It's perfectly fascin-
ating to me. love to watch them work.
The lean. dark, vivid foreign faces, alight
with interest ana art lore; tho care
full, prayerful attention; the passionate
abandon of leadership; the now then,
don't drag, the music is too beautiful to
ipjure IT," etc., inspire the onlooker (me)
until feel like exolaiming with an en-
thusiastio small boy knew once, who re-
1ieved himself of overstress by. crying out,
"Oh, I wish I was a -band-and-a-band-
Observation-Disclosures Strong work,
beautiful ensemble. great tender concern
for true conception. for vivid interpreted
ton make subtle calls on the listeners
heart. There's nothing like music, any
wayl u wish had time to tell you of
hours spent in the various studios and
the interesting things one sees and hears
ana learns in such Seats of tho
Mighty" I'm literally stuffed with new
music, new ideas. new energies. But II
there were just more time! That's New
Yorks cry-more time, more spaced