The sun., 1909-02-28
OPERA co. TO KEEP DlPPEL
10 HAVE 4 LARGER SHARE Nv
THE ".iRTISTIC MANAGEMENT"


His COnnectlon-He aud Gattl-Ca-
sara Issue Peace statements Pro-
Sramme for Next Season soon Out.
Peace reigns at tho Metropolitan Opera
House. This state OF mind was not due
to the fact that Oscar Hammerstein has
taken his grand tier boxes out OF the
Manhattan. II was the result Of the post
roned meeting OF the directors which
was to take place on Thursday Its ac-
ton was TO continue the two directors
IN their present posts
otto II. Kahn, Edmund J.. Baylies,
X. s. Cottenet, Eliot Gregory. A. II. Win
throp and 7. De Witt Cuyler were present
Al the meeting Of the directors Of the
Metropolitan Opera Company. At the
close Of the meeting the following state
ment was made public:
n has been agreed between the board
of directors Of the Metropolitan Opera
company and MIR. Dippel. with the con-
'urrencc OF the general manager Mr.. Gatti-
Iasazla. that MIR. Dippels Il contract as ad-
ninstrative manager. which provided that
either the company or himself might ter
inmate the same upon notification on OF
lcforc February. os, will remain In force
unchanged. Mr.. Gatti-Casszza. while pre-
serving the authority inherent in his posi-
ton rs general manager. has willingly
consented TO the assignment to Mr.. Dippel,
besides his administ trative functions, OF
an important share in the artistic manage
mont Tho division OF activities thus ar
ranged for will not be along the lines OF
tho nationality Of composers or conductors,
hut the management will bend their united
Efforts toward obtaining the highest stand
ard of performances In whatever language
and by whatever composer.
Mr.. Gatti-C -Casazza was sought out after
the meeting and had prepared his views
and plans for the next season in the
following words:
Mr., Dippels continuation as administra-
i've manager meets with my cordial satis-
faction.
II was but natural that at the beginning
Of the new regime there should have de-
Ncloped misuDderstandings and even dis
cord and that IL became necessary 10
clarity the situation by emphasizing the
position of the general manager as head
of the organization. However, that phase
of affairs is fortunately behind us. There
exists now between Mr.. Dippel and myself
perfect accord and amity and full under
standing on all points covering our re-
spective spheres of activity.
! should like to emphasize particularly
that MIR. Dippel is as much opposed as my
self to the idea OF having line OF demarca-
lion according TO nationality in the man
agement Of the Metropolitan Opera Com
pany. shall be as much interested and
concerned in the German as in the Italian
and French productions and so Will Mr.
Dippel. The management viii know no
preferences and no division OF RESPONSE
hilities in this regard, and all productions
should be considered those not OF Mr.
Dippel or OF Mr.. Gatti-Casazza but Of the
mana cement OF the Metropolitan Opera
Company.
The programme for next season viii
shortly be announced. ! think we may
safely predict highly interesting season
and a more diversified repertoire than ever
before. Among other things which will
greatly help toward that end apart from
new engagements will be the construction
Of new rehearsal stage and an orchestra
rehea rsal room, the lack OF which facilities
has prevented US this season from utilizing
TO the hoped for extent the services OF our
great conductors and OF our double or
chestra and has greatly handieapped US in
many other ways. incidentally IL may
ne worth mentioning that notwithsta nding &
The fact due in part to the regrettable
illness OF several OF our leading artists
and in part to a variety OF other causes.
that the management have not been able
10 accomplish all that they had hoped to do
during the present season the attendance
Of the public at the Metropolitan Opera
House has been larger than in any previous
season.
Mr. Dippel, next in order TO he inter-
rogated, had followed the example Of
his associates and had prepared this opin-
ion for distribution:
indorse Mr.. Gatu-CasaZza's statement
unaualfedly and can add but little to It,.
! appreciate the spirit OF the action and ex-
pressioHs OF the board OF directors and OF
The general manager and sincerely Tecipro-
cate it, Whatever differences of views
may at one time have existed between Mr..
Gatti-Casazza and myself land these IL =
ferences have been greatly exaggerated
IN the public mind have now been dis
solved into complete harmony and unity
Of purpose. Perfect accord exists between
us as to the division OF work and all other
matters. ! am particularly gratitied that
the unfortunately now prevalent idea OF
a division OF the Metropolitan opera forces
into two antagonistic camps. one Italian
and one German, cannot under the ar-
rangement provided for next season retain
even a semblance Of reality. ! am looking
forward to the opportunity OF demonstrat-
ing. as Mr.. Gstt-Casazza has already
notably demonstrated in h S own case by
his VIII known stand for German and
modern French opera at La Scala. that my
artistic sympathies are not confined within
The frontiers OF any nationality and i
shall bestow as much interest and pains
taking care upon my part OF the work In
tho production OF Italian and French as OF
German opera,
This settlement Of the questions OF
management at the Metropolitan leaves
the situation as II was before the disa gree
ments between Mr., ti-Casazza and
Mr.. Dppel. The contracts remain in
force unchanged. There is 20 be busi-
ness manager appointed. who will be
named. it is said. by Charles B. Dilling-
ham