New-York tribune., 1909-04-11
MUSIC
OPERA AT THE METROPOLITAN.
A Record and Review of the Season.


With representations Of 'Madama Butterfly" IN
the afternoon and the concluding drama of Wag-
ner's Ring des Nibeungen" (Which had been the
dominant feature OF extra week. in the evening.
the twenty-fourth regular season OF opera at the
Metropolitan Opera House came to end. It was
carried by the seventh dynasty of managers
which has had control of the fortunes Of the estab-
lishment since it built. in 1888. and has caused
more gossip curiosity. vonderment speculation and
surprise than any of Its predecessors The elements
of speculation and curiosity will still endure for
considerable space, fer to all close observers II
must seem that there exists more Generalization
at the end of year Of the administration which
succeeded that of Heinrich Conried than existed
when that manager retired from business under cir
cumstances which threatened public scandal That
! threat still hovers the institution, for MI
Conued has not been paid the purchase money
which his erstwhile associates agreed to hand over
to him, SO that they might inaugurate new ad-
: ministratiOn, and whether not they shall meet
the obligation Is become q matter OF legal adjudl-
cation. The administration began its career
amid internal perplexites and turmois, and 1t Is
possible that there will be another reorganization
before the plans for the next season are definitely
laid down Meanwhile the present time is more ap-
propriate to retrospecton than to speculation touch
ing the future. Let first have the record;
The season began November 10, 1903 Inc
subscription for one hundred regular perform
ances in twenty weeks, on Monday Wednesday
Thursday and Friday evenings and Saturday after
Moons Inc prospectus puDllSiltu q IeiiI5S - -
in respect OF the Saturday night performances which
had been given for number Of years Those at lle
reduced prices which had hitherto prevailed were 10
be limited first twelve weeks OF the SedSUl 'i
the last two The others were to be at regular
rates From the end of February till April d
series Of special performances on Tuesday ana
Saturday nights projected. Wagners aISl
fal" was TO be resumed for the customary hoHoay
performances and there were TO ce TWO pei
formances The proceeds of which were 10 go lh'o
and Iud
of which. II was hoped. would help give greater
permanency 10 the working forces Of the Hls'i'u
ton. There was a promise Of a large ttSIease u
the orchestra, as well the chorus. not only 10
give greater brinancy TO the local performances
but also 10 make possible division OF the coiii-
pany with less injury than used to eLsue Wiieh II
became necessary to give two performances VI W ~ ~
same day-one in the Metropolitan opera I1O1e9
and one in Philadelphia or Brooklyn' as 'Ne 'a70
might be.
These plans were carried out practically to the
letter Mr.. Gatti-Casazza reinforcing the lIaliaH
side of the house and Mr.. Dppel the German WI"
artists scenery and Chorsters they thought pest
under the supervision of the executive committee
Of the board Of directors of what became the Met
ropoIitan Opera Company soon as that style
could be legally adopted. The management louilu
it less easy TO keep its word in reference 10 lne
repertory. Eight novelties were promised nancy
D'AIbert's "Tiefand' and Smetana's The bar
tered Bride" in German; Catalanis La Waily'
Pucclnrs lie VIII and Tschaikowskys 'Plque
Dame" in Italian; Lapara's ''Habanera' IN
French: Frederick Converses Pipe of Desire" and
either Goldmarks Cricket on the Hearth or
Hurnperinck's 'K6nigskinder,' in English. Only
the first four Of these works produced. a
promise that three operas OF first class Importance
-Massenet's Maroon" Mozart's lie Nozze dt
Figaro and Verdi's -'Falstaf' would be revived
was brilliantly redeemed, To the subscription sea-
son of twenty weeks one added for Wag-
ner's Nibeung drama and extra performances of
Aida" and 'Madama Butterfly and Verdi's
Requiem" composed in honor of Manzon!, having
been twice brilliantly performed in the Sunday
night concerts. which extended through the season,
was repeated instead Of opera on the night Of
Good Friday. The extra performances outside Of
those of the last week the holiday repre-
sentations of 'Parsifal' on Thanksgiving Day. New
Years Day. Lincoln's Birthday and Washington's
Hospital the German Press Club the Music School
Settlement and the Pension and Endowment Fund
benefit To the latter one OF the Sunday night con
certs was also devoted At the operate benefit per
formance, also at a special performance, at
which Nine. Semorich bade farewell 10 the operate
stage in America, the programme made up Of
excerpts from various Operas-a fact which must be
borne in mind must also the double bills at
regular performances) when the following tabu-
lated statement Of the seasons activities IS studied
The table which now follows gives the list OF ali
the operas performed in the order of their produc
ton and the number OF representations given to
each in the entire season OF tventy-one weeks:
a., ve-forr1arce eiyar