New-York tribune., 1909-11-28
%. lillian serrcys Petit.

that tire German operate stage would
ind innumeTable rents ia ats garment
OF many oolors should all the Ameri-
cans Be torn from il, for there is scarce
H. q town IN al the I7atherland where
there is no American patch 70 its oper
stic ooat. Here IN Berlin there arc Eve
now at the Royal Opera and two at
the Komische opsr. which coTre-
sponds 10 the opers Comique. IN Paris.
A great deal Of jealousy of Americans
exists. enc often intrigue against tho
particular unfortunate who happens 10
be the only one in fhe personnel az
one of The smaller fovns. There is,
horsvzr no room in Berlin for that
sort of thing, as an are too busilv oc-
cupisd in doing their duty.
At the Royal Opera military discipline
Prevails. ThsTe is an enormous per-
sonnel. with duplicate chorus and or
eaestras each II these numbering more
then a hundred persons. About forty
principals are actively engaged. four
conductors for fhe orchestrs-Dr. Carl
Muck VINO has 5ust been re-engsged for
another term CT five sears Richard
Strauss. Gernlany's foremost contem-
porary composer: Leo Blech and Ed
Eand Vcn Strauss managing. commit
tee ~ three, three conductors OF the
chorus and other GtaEe music other than
for the principal Add 10 these the
scene painters. costumieIs, friseurs and
staee mechanics cf every description.
and one appreciates the military disci-
pline involved when one realizes that
ute.
Every costume IL found Tor the sing
ers.- end each is cleaned aud pressed
sfter each wearing. A large force OF
sewers is Kept constantly busy refitung
costumes Ger the singers who are next
e. -Resr them. fer there are ~ least two
principals for each role. anu In some
cases four or Eve Of the singers are
ready al any moment 10 jump in FOR q
rcle. SO that they seldom have TO send
." another city Tor a guest in emer-
sency II q singer scheduled Tor ccr-
tain part suddenly falls nl.
r erything goes by olookwork. and
any individual is heavily fined for beinE
late. A heavy fine is also levied FOR
serious mistake in the music, and more
for a repeated error. one pays well.
TOO. for being caught behind tho scenes
without permission. when not in the
cast. T.le singers are the servants 81
tila Emperor, and subject. - such. 10
the count laws and etiquette rather than
io the laws Of the land. and some Of
fences are punishable by arrest. No
contract goes into eject without the
Hafee~'S l.oreopal signature
THE SALARY ARRANGEMENT.
The payment Of salaries is upon as
comfortable basis any singer could
wish. Two-tliTas of the yearly salary
IS paid ar Il retaining fee regardless n
lorformanCes. the other third being di-
yidod into as many parts as the num-
ber Of appearances each contract calls
for in the season, and after each per-
formancc tia proper fraction OF this
last third is paid a. ''spielgeld. or per
fornance money. Il a singer has 10 call
of performance for which he is sched-
uied. because ar illness. no lUses only
tlc small amount allotted as ''spiclgeld."
j. however, lle be called upon TO sing
more often than is stipulated in his
contract, he H. paid only The same small
smouut extra Tor each such appearance.
The maBagcm mt reserves the right to
fipc or Withhold "arlaub" or leave Of
absence. for gucst' performances ina
other oIcra houses or for concert en-
gagemcuts. Tho vacations during the
season vary according 10 each con-
tract, tie opera being closed during the
summer for the two months between
the middle ~ June and the middle OF
August
ono a. tIc cnyiable privileges OF bC-
iu- among Uhe opera house forces is the
uae of the artists box. which is free 10
fho principals of thc company very OIL
ten Though no ono may take a guest
into II. the artists often receive seats in
the body Of the house FOR thoir friends
Is3g opera is tie haiscr's own. and
81 an institution which holds such "A
D. gE place that a. IS perhaps tho only
ono Of its kind in the world which can
anord 90 snap its fingers AZ public Ia
Nor or critical opinion. They 20 on at
fLeir own SWEET VIII, down there az the
1907 Oper. turning neither to right nor
70 left fer TIA expresses opinion Of any
enc outside ~ The inner pale. They are
tendance, a Wagner house selling
out entirely at raised prices within
short y hlla after a work of his is an
sounced Tlds audience. however. is
perhaps tle coolest iB the world. even
D. THE point 90 being blast
Tho Emperor tskes lively interest,
s''sEGing often ion quite unostentatious
manner, and upon an gala occasions
attending in state. Whcn . new opera
Is put on, or ono revived. he attends
=, vcusl Tei.oaTssls Offering many iIn-
pCrtani suggestions. For SarGi.loPol,'
great spectacular psntomiEle. he &C.
sfncd an tie costumes and piannea the
slsge EcttiuR. besides overseeing thc re-
ho3rs2is lac alsO tosk 4 special inter
81 IN the revival 90 Moyerbaor's "flu-
paSG0tton." ar IL tells tire story of his
rrsLosrs aud fCr this productions ho
also designed nfany Of the costumes
A. present Be h. usaia experimenting
tie prcpare uoa.s Yer a great revival OF
NGs'erbec-G Prophet
EMPEROR HowoRs AMERICANS.
IL. indeed considers himself la tie
liCht of a ooileagas 70 ;he principals OF
his olstra, and greatly enjoys talking 10