New-York tribune., 1909-06-30
OPERA FOR THE MASS
TO MAKE
PRICES LOW IN FALL.
Back from Europe Enthusiastic OOcr
.Ne5c Scheme and His
Spanish Tenor.

oscar Hanlnerstein. who returned yesterday
on the North German Lloyd steamer Kronprinz
Wilhelm settled back in a capacious chair in
his private Office at his Victoria Theatre last
night and announced that the preliminary sea
son al the Manhattan. including September and
October. would he devoted to popular opera
This did not mean that the repertory would be
light. he said. but the prices would be SO
low that every lover of high grade music. no
matter what his means. would be able to get a
seat; ..Elektra.' "ThaIs." "Salome" Louise. ."
all in French. and in German "Tannhauser,"
'I.ohengrinr and the '8Ieistersinger'' would be
in the repertory
Mr. Hammerstein was too fatigued to give
out his complete plans including the results Of
his trip abroad. but he not roo tired TO
wax enthusiastic about his scheme for the first
two months Of his open season The prices
will be 81 for the seats in the first four rows
in the orchestra, The remainder in that part
Of the house will be 81 81. The cheapest seats
will be 80 cents IN the first few weeks. the
impresario said. he would know whether his
plan would be a success. and if it should be
popular. then he would continue the perform
ances elsewhere.
But the great artists will. not sing at the popu-
lar performances. That does not mean. Mr..
Hammerstein said. that the singers will not be
of great merit He had many. very many.
singers he declared. and none mediocre.
over 100000 he had advanced contracts.
Awaiting him at his office were seven cable
messages relating to contracts. which he closed
forthwith. AS for mail he rIffied his hair in
despair when he saw the big stack of letters.
The impresario engaged while abroad seven
barytones, six sopranos and four tenors. He
had "ransacked Europe" as he expressed 1t.
and then he went into raptures about his new
equal Of Caruso." he said Senor de Carasa is
twenty-five years old. He carries eight
year contract as the result of his interviews
with Mr. Hammerstein. That is the longest
contract 1t was said. that any singer has sue
ceeded in making.
I will have the same company, practically,
and many additions" Mr.. Hammerstein said.
Miss Lima CavaIeri will make her debut in La
Belle Helene and But the impresario
trailed off into his plans for the popular expert
ments The full orchestra will not play at these
he said but there will be sixty-fve pieces He
believed. he declared. that there was a great
class which would pstronize opera if the prices
were popular. They genuine music lovers.
those who wanted the meat" of the musical
compositions and not the candy" he said
Much of his reflective time abroad was occu-
pied in considering the feasibility of the popular
price plan. and when Mr.. Hammerstein had de-
cided that the time ripe for experiment
he delved more deeply than he otherwise would
have done into the search for more singers. He
had surprises he said. and none would be more
pleasing than Sefior Carasa
When the impresario is rested, has answered
his mail and purchased hat to take the place
of the one macerated in Paris. he will get down
to the preparation of an announcement of his
complete plans for his 1909-1O season at the
Manhattan.