New-York tribune., 1909-10-31
FIRST OPERAS OYER.
Hammerstein's Regular Season
Begins After Weeks internal.

Oscar Hammerstein's preliminary season
of grand opera came to an er.d with last
nights performance at the Manhattan
Opera House. There will BE- weeks in
terval before the regular season begins, On
November s. with a performance OF Mas
senet's 'He-odiade.'
Though financially the season has not
been all Mr.. HGnmerstein might wish, he
has brought out number OF singers that
may prove CT use to him in his regular
season. and has produced three operas not
often seen in New York. Two OF these
operas, Meyerbeer's lie Prophets" and
Halevys La Juive," showed no special
drawing power. but. contrary to expectd-
uons. Balfe's tinle-wcrn bohemian Girl"
sung in English, proved one Of the most
popular productions OF the season, being
given four times during the last two weeks.
each time TO large audience 1t was the
hrst time that opera in English had been
given at the Manhattan Opera House.
Mr.. Hammerstein made good his promise
70 lring out during the popular priced sea-
son number Of his French novelties oy
producing Charpentier's Louise and Of
fenDach's Les Contes d'Horman." Often
hachs opera proved one of the most popu-
lar offerings of the season. but the popu-
larity OF Louise seemed exhausted after
the first two performances.
Other operas that showeo good drawing
capacities were AIDA Carmen and
the double bill OF 'CavaIIeria Rusticana"
and 'Pagiacci." The operas requiring.
above all. fine coloratura soprano. such
as ''rravita" and Lucia had little pop
ularity, though 'Rigo!etto" did slightly
better
OF the new singers, those who will likely
prove of most service to Mr.. Hammerstein
are Nine. Marguerite sylvia, Nile. Alice
Barren. Nine. Marguerite D'AIvarez. Nine.
Walter-Villa, Nine. Lalla Miranda, Mr..
William Eeck, Mr.. Nicola Zerola, Mr.
Fredrico Carasa, Mr. Jean Duffault, and
Mr.. Henry Scott.
An interesting incident OF the season
was the struggle between Mr.. Hammerstein
and The Italian Grand Opera Company for
the services of Nicola Zerola, the Italian
tenor. Mr.. Zerola opened the season at
the Academy of Music in the italian
Grand Opera Company's production of
Aida His powerful voice at once at
tracted attention and after one more per-
fOrmance he stated that he was i'll and
could not sing. Shortly afterward Mr..
Hammerstein announced that he had en-
gagged him for the Manhattan Opera Com
pany, and in spite OF legal efforts made
by the Italian Opera Company to prevent
him from singing, he made his debut at
the Manhattan IS Radames in Aida -
Since then he has sung regularly for Mr..
Hammerstein.
Last nights performance was special
bill consisting of "Pagliacci," the last act
of Carmen the third act of 'Trovatore'
and the last act OF THE Prophet" The
largest audience that has attended any per-
foImance OF Mr.. Hammersteins prelimi-
paTy season was present After the third
act OF "TTovatOTe." in response TO cOntin-
ued applause, Mr. Haramerstein stepped
upon the stage and made short speech TO
the audience.
This preliminary, or educational, sea-
son, as / have called il, ends tonight. Ac-
Cordns to the roX office report, one hun
dred and fifty thousand persons Witnessed
the various performances. I think ] am
( entitled to say that a large proportion of
| the one hundred and fifty thousand people
Witnessed an entertainment strange TO
them. / think I have succeeded in what
tried to do Financially 1 have been sue
cessfui. ] expected to lCse $75,9J0 and lost
only $4,000. An enterprise like this should
be supported by rich New Workers. but
while rich New Workers build museums
theatres and opera houses for their OVID
use they think little Of educating the