New-York tribune., 1909-03-28

fore he threatened to take It away unless the city
provided him with the means. not TO pay for the
building, but TO carry on his artistic enterprises
there and In New York The year opened with
loan Of $4,000 in prospect and in fortnight tne
vast sum was in his hands. provided, 1t was salu'
by E T. Stotesbury Of his own pocket
runnor went forth that the managers Of the Metro
politan Opera House were after Signor Zenateno,
and this Quieted by a statement on January
that he had signed contract for three years WIN
Mr. Hannnerstein On January II the indefatigaDie
manager announced that he would begin season
Of operas at popular prices on August 10 HarolE
had he opened his opera house in Philadelphia De-
fore there came q protest from the clersymen ot
the city against the threatened producuon oA
"Salome"; then appeal to the Mayor OF the CITY
who refused to forbid the performance Two rep
reservations Of the pestentia product OF the pru-
rient minds of Oscar Wilde and Richard strauss
however, served to point out the course OF "lse
discretion TO the impresaro, and after one more per
formance outside Of the subscription ne wltndre"
the work, which was. his greatest stroke IN Ne"
York Ten days before the date for which the first
production of ''Salome' had been set down MI Ham
merstetn announced that he had engaged Lima CaE
alieri to relieve Miss Garden of the opera OF IhalS
SO that she would have time for Louise ana
"saIome" But Miss Garden did not want TO De
relieved OF an opera which is so ingenlousIy
fitted TO her charms That's. She rebeiled. Being
a woman of Scotch birth and American bringing
up she felt herself better fitted to sing IN Frenoh
along the artistic lines chiefly exemplihed IN
"ThaIs" had been gained in Paris. 1t was pretty
quarrel which automatically ended py MISS
Cavalier writing letter, in which she yle4oeo tle
opera 'ThaIs" TO Miss Garden (receiv1ng her re-
ward IN unusual popular demonstration "hen
she effected her first appearance in Iosca }. ana
Miss Garden renewed her contract with MI. HAM
morstein for another year, with condition audeu
that singer other than she should appear IN d
role which she had created or should create IN
America Mr.. Harnmerstein accepted the condition
and then informed the public that Miss Garden
would roles in America (after 'Sa-
lone of course) ''Monna Wanna an opera based
/ Maeterlincks drama, with music by Fevrler'
had its first performance in Paris at this juncture
and Mr.. Hammerstein announced that he had pur-
chased the American performing rights. 1t Is an
opera along the lines ''ThaIs'' and 'Salome IN
the of disroDing-as much further along as
the performer is willing TO go and remain within
her cuticle. The delectabe prospect of seeing Miss
Cavalier in the opera is held out for next season
Mr. Hammersteins grandest stroke, the produc-
ton of "Salome" followed January q 1t was
the managers trump card. He gave it first on an
extra night at double the usual cost OF admission
but shrewdly incorporated 1t at once into his regu
lar reDertory, and at the last made a Saturday
opera Of it. Thus he managed to fill his house ten
times with it. The significance Of the fact will bet
ter be understood in connection with the observa-
tons TO be made presently the past, present and
future OF Mr. Hammersteins enterprise.
The production Of such novelties as lie Jong-
leur de Notre Dame and 'Princesse d'Auberge"
and the series Of performances headed by Nine.
Melba, who opened the sixth week of the season
on December II With La Boheme" and en-
riched the repertory on Christmas night with
"OteIlo.'~ too dignifed 10 be treated
things making chiefly for publicity nor
the announcement Of the prospective departure
| OF Sgnor Cleofonte Campanini be thought OF in
that light. Some time before the word had gone
! forth that Sgnor Campanini had been re-engaged
musical director for next season; but March
S SiEnor Campanini word to the newspapers
! that he had failed 70 come to understanding
with Mr. Hammerstein. and that his engagement at
the Manhattan would terminate with the season
which ended yesterday. II is due 70 both gentlemen
/ 10 say that the rupture Of relationship due
wholly 10 a prospective change IN policy which Will
come in for comment presently Mr.. Campanini has
been the nainstay OF the ho since its opening.
His zeal. devotion. energy and endurance have been
/ amazing. and Mr.. Hammerstein did not say one
word too much when on Friday night, before his
( audience he confessed his belief that had It not
/ been for Signor Campanni the standing Of the
! Manhattan Opera House would not be what Il is
/ However. Mr Hammerstsin as has been intimated
must look for his future along new lines. whicI
cannot carry him into Italian fields. either new or
/ old. and for his purposes he must have somebody
/ IN more complete sympathy with his aims and
methods than any conductor IS likely TO be who
/ thinks It necessary to spend month more in
! getting a new opera ready. for performance.
A few more words Of records. Nine. MeIba- who
/ began her engagement December u with La
| Boherne" ended II January Il with "Rigoletto-
| Her performances were confined TO these two op-
/ eras and "Oteo.' Sehor Constantine a tenor who
had not sung in New York before. though known
throughout the country. effected his entry on Mr..
! FIarmerstetn's stage on December in 'Rigo-
letto" and esta ablished his right to high admira-
! ton and respect Since the beginning OF the sec
/ ond week Of the season Mr. Hammersteins artists
/ have also given four performances week at the
new opera house IN Philadelphia and four extra
! renresen+atious ar which all the operas represent
! ed in New York have been given. besides Faust
/ and I'm Ballo in Maschera.'
/ Observers who believe themselves able to read
the lessons Of the day in the records Of the past
may find the following table OF performances at the
/ Manhattan opera House suggestive. II not nlu-