The sun., 1909-12-19
GOSSIP or THE OPERA HOUSES

in French more than two hundred times
and has frequently Jbeen the Beekmessey
OF die Meistersinger' representations.
He created the title role In The Flying
Dutohman" at the Opera Comique and has
often appeared, a. KHyvcndl in Tristan
und Isolde at the Theatre de Ia Monnaie
in Brussels. His frequent appearances as
Woifron in German were made in the
Covent Garden productions OF -Tann-
hauser.' In which he sang with NM. Van
Dyck and Piancon. Nine. Cosima Wag-
ner invited M. Renaud to sing Amfortds In
"Parsifal' at Bayreuth. but he was COM
PEELED to decline as Pedro Gailhard. then
director OF the Paris Opera. refused his
permission. Later he undertook the study
Of the role with Edouard Risler. the pianist.
and was absorbed in the part. The DIM
culties Of learning such q long role In q
wholly foreign Language. however, proved
doncd IL and notified Mime. Wagner that
the difficulties OF the task were too great.
He has sung some OF Wolan's music In
concert and hopes the Wagner perform
ances at the Maphattan may be 50 great
the Nibelungen operas. Then NJ. Re-
maud will appear a. Woton.
Now that the achievement of the Inn
presarios is 10 make their enterprises
extensive rather than intensive In an
artistic sense the achievement OF Oscar
HAmmerstein in arranging to give forty
seven representations OF opera In two
weeks beginning from tomorrow night
seems the operate triumph Of the winter.
Mr.. Hammerstein has no such large
company a. that which the Metropolitan
controls. but his enterprise is not ham
pered by the smaller means. This large
number Of Representations OF course
includes the activity Of the opera bouffe
company. The area over which all this
activity extends 10 bounded on the north
by Canada and tho south by Pittsburg.
The later ak REPRESENTATION in Washing
Philadelphia orchestra ana chorus there.
These forces will 20 10 Washington while
the New York chorus and orchestra will
alternate between the Manhattan and
Philadelphia opera houses. =
The Metropolitan company will this
year divide It's Boston visit into two parts.
The first five Representations. which are
to be Tristan md Isolde" .Lohengrin, .
"Tosca,' -Parsifal' and III Trovatore, $
win be given during the week beginning
January 10. while the second visit will
be made during the last days of March.
The Metropolitan directors expect a
great advantage from the opportunity
to appear in the Boston Opera House
subscribers there to retain their boxes
and seats. IL seems time for the Metro.
politan to enjoy some profit from its
much discussed alliance with the Boston
enterprise. Il has not been evident 30
far. The Boston sin6ers are TO go out
West while the Metropolitan company is
Mary Garden has a numbet OF new
roles to show herself in before the close
OF her season at the Manhattan and Incl
dentally her contract with Mr. Hammer
stsin. There seems little, doubt, how
ever, that the, contract will bex renewed,
since Miss Garden has. been 10 closely
identified with the success of the house
her way before public that expected
little from her. MiHs Garden Ia to sing
JHtsstte soon, TO tho R0mso OF, Mr.. paf-
mores. Then Il is possible that Hamlet
may be revived IN order that NJ. Reuasid
may show what he Gan can do 10. the title
course sing Ophsiia. a, role Ia which she
has several tiraes sppeared with success
at the Paris Opera. Then there Ia among
novelties -Monna Wanna by Favrier,
which. must come before the close Of the
Ps. ss ss pasS:pss q year hssrns ss.:
slight. since there b no singer for the
role Of the lover, although NJ. CrAbbA.
who has sung 1t In Brussels, 10 very anx-
ious 70 be heard, in the same part here.
cess. Of anybody In that role. however.
exoepttng Jean Perier since his experie6ce
with Charles Dalmores last winter. Then
there In .L6uise.. which has not yet been
given this year and 10 counted on by Miss
Gardens admirers as feature Of the
year. - -, '.as = =
y t--- T. n T.
ssOrfeo. which is to be tho novelty
Of the week at the Metropolitan. has never
been q popular success in New York. al
though tt has had some notable perform
ances here. Helen Hastreiter. who has
now retired from the stage and is living
nTItalY, sw&sfthe Orpheus Of the famous
eipy Of Music by the National Opera
SsRfy fRa S yss sas sstSfstiy: Siss
opera has bean as "a ckieh ~ q means of
filling out amt beratic evlhinH., Il used
to serte that pufpose in tho carly days OF
the Abbey a. 0xau regime with -Caval-
leria R1sticana.r and Sofa RAyogii was
that she, might repeat in this city the
success that made her London favorite
In the role. But the public remained
cold to -Orfeo-' -, 80,
~ .
Tho Importance of starting under Just
tho right circumstances is greater in this
country than anywhere else. and for that
reason the first appearance Of every
artist OF importance 10 likely to have an
effect on their subsequent careers here.
When, the auspices under which a be-
ginning is made are not always the best,
Il sometimes takes a. great deal to coufi-
teract such an unfavorsble start. IL
took Geraldine Farrar's triumph In
Madame Butterfly to help her 10 the
in the company denied to
her by +. her Disappointing appearances
as Jaiiefts. The latest Incident OF this
kind Ia the case OF Leo SIesak, who has not
yet attracted the attention that a tenor
Of his Importance deserves, from the fact
that he has not yet essAyed new role
under circumstances that attracted the
degree Of attention that he deserved.
II has always happened that attsntion
has been diverted into other directions.
He seems to be making his way with the
public. however. for there Is greater
interest IN every successive appearance
OF the gigantic tenor. His next rolc In to
be TdHnhdNsey. and with him will sing
Geraldine Earrar, for the first time In two
ssasons. ERsabstA. "a Ms sIezak viii have
the right sort ofattertion on this occasion.
although II hs had appeafcd on 80 aref