New-York tribune., 1909-09-06
HIS BIG OPERA SEASON
Ur. Hammerstein Announces Vim
ter Plans at the Manhattan.

In a preliminary prospectus which he is sending
out to-day to Manhattan Opera House subscribers.
Oscar Hanmerstein announces that he will produce
during the regular season number OF operas never
heard before IN this country. Some of these are
works Of Massenet and Richard Strauss. and many
others revivals OF operas heard in Europe but
never given here.
The fourth Of Mr.. Hammerstein's French
and italian grand opera will open Monday even
Ing, November 10, with Massenets "Herodlade
which will be heard here for the first time In the
cast will be Maurice Renaud. Charles Dalmores'
Hector Dufranne, Lima CavalieTt and Jeanne Ger
Vile Reache, who Manhattan stars last sea-
Richard Strauss's "E;lektra' will also be pro-
duced, two singers here alternating IN the titls
part. Nine. Carmen Melis. who has been singing IN
Italy, and Nine. Mazarin. who comes from Berlin.
The prospectus says:
Mr.. Hammerstein considers himself justified In
ensemble of artists far superior to that existing
IN i another m in this city X and also so ta{ an IS
unique am9ng im9resarios and directors o. URgr Rjr
cannot be produced by any other house in this
the masterpieces Of LIVING aT
those that have been rejected by Mr: Hammer I
eScessiSe expeDdgTes bnt by G the condenoe
S9ssed by authors and composers in the abilities 6r OF
R Strauss Mr. @ univ Tita
smafl number Of opera houses in Europe that have
been able to bring this opera before their audiences
and s1fcen @ srtste sF and @p1 stadoEs 1H
the role Of EiektTa made it almost impossible TO
secure competent carriers of the part Mr Ham
its proper orchestral execution it will require the
services of one hundred and twenty musicians
Other operas to be produced. IT IS announced. are
''Griselidis' (1rst produced in 1901, "Seppho"
ds9O and "Cendrillon" Us99). all by Massenet:
Richard Strauss's "Feuersnoth." The Violinmaker
of Cremona' and "zaza." by IeoncavaIIo will
also be given. "Natomas," an opera written by
Victor Herbert and Joseph D. Redding and not yet
finished, will be produced during the season
Operas given last year-"Salome.'' "ThaIs,
Louise "Peeas ct Melsande." Samson ct
Dalila.'' lie JongIeur de Notre Dame and Les
Contes d'TIoffnlann will be repeated. Wagner's
''Lohengrin." 'Tannhauser'' and Die Meister-
singer will he heard in French. Meyerbeer's LIE
Prophate. of the operas of the preliminary
son ar popular prices. viii be given when the reg
uar season opens. The remainder of the repertory
will include Carmen" Faust Aida Ia File
du Regiment Lucia dt LanmerInoor "Rigo-
letto,' Ia Travtata," La Navarraise.' "Pagli-
acc.' "CavalIeria Rusticana," 'Crispino e Ia Co
mare" (Giordano). la Boheme" "Ils Tosca' "si-
IBERIA CRicci brothers. and ct Puritani'
In the list of singers with whom Mr.. Hammer
stein says he has renewed contracts are Mary
Garden. L1isa Tetrazzin Cer1IIle- -Reache Augusta
Doria, Emma Trentni, Lima Cavaiieri Charles
Dalmores. Maurice Renaud. Hector Defranne,
Charles Gilbert, F1orencio Constantine Giovanni
zenatello, Mario Sanmarco. Armand Crabbe and
spectus. will consist of seven tenors. nine bary.~
tones four bassos, FIVE dramatic sopranos three
light sopranos, four nez5o-sopranos and contratos
Occasionally the cast will be further strengthened
by participation Of members of the Opera Conioue
organization.
The comic opera performances will be given on
Tuesday and Saturday nights, and possibly at a
wednesday matinee by group OF twenty-five
French singers, Of which the prrna donna is Hen
rlette de Lcrnle and the leading tenor Henri de
Nries Lima Cavalier will also appear in comic
opera, her first performance to be in Ofenbach's 8
La Belle Helene" The chorus will consist of fifty
French singers. Among the operas to be produced
besides La Belle Helene" are La Grande D,I-
chesse de Gerolstein' (Ofenbach), "Chauve Souris
"FIedermaus'' (by Johann Strauss), lie Jour ct Ia
Mutt" La Dame Blanche (Boieldieu), "Orphee
aux Enters (Ofenbach), La File de Madame
Angot' (Lecoco). La Mascotte" (Audren), lie
Roi d'Ys" Oalo) and Les Dragons de Villars"
There will be subscription for the comic
opera the prices of seats for which will range from
81 90 10 50.
Six conductors have been engaged. They are
Messrs. De Ia Fuente Anselnli, Strarana Cartier
Charlier and Scognamigo. There will be two or
chestras one hundred and fifty in the chorus and
Jacques Coini will continue principal stage man
sger. Mr.. Hammerstein says that his new costumes
and scenery Will cost 100000.
The subscription books for the regular sea son
will reopen on September Is.