New-York tribune., 1910-03-22
REPLY TO SINGERS
PREJUDICE DENIED.
Metropolitan Explains and IN
ROuRccS Longer Season.

FTom the metropolitan Opera House last
uight came almost simultaneously a de-
nunciation az attacks upon certain policies
of its present management. inspired ap-
parently hy recent utterancas of Nine.
Marie Delua. the French contralto. who
s. ve-ed her connection with A. Unexpectedly
not long aEo, after singing h. a very few
performance. and ~ Edmond clement. the
leading tenor Of the Opera Comlaue. IN
Paris. who ras not been re-enEaged. and
the announcement OF extraordinary efforts
next season Instead of the twenty weeks
81 opera that has prevailed IN the last
few seasons. there will be TWENTY-FIVE weeks
next year. with 10 subscription perform
ances. rhs Saturday night subscription
performances viii he discontinued. but a
speoial matinee series on either Wedues-
Gas or THURSDAY afternoon. is promised.
Nine Deina has expressed great iudigna-
ton AZ what she construed as slighrs during
her engagement here. and has said she feels
that under The present management OF the
METROPOLITAN opera House French art and
French artists cannot receive their due re-
spect, NJ Clement announced that he had
refused % accept re-engagement because
Il hao been made conditional upon his
learning number ~ Italian parts and be-
Ing ready 70 sing when called upon 10 DO
So IN Boston and Chicago.
The statement regarding the published
grievances Of the singers. which mentions
neither Nine. Delns nor II Clement by
name. follows:
Certain statements. emanating from ar
re-engage for next season ana nom other
disgrunted elements. have lately found
lner way INTO the press u would, OF
course, he INCOMPATIBLE with the dignity OF
the management Of ths Metropolitan Opera
company % enter into a new spapeF con-
troNerss with such artists and others,
though II would he easy 10 demonstrate the
groundlessness and animus of their charges.
The management adheres 70 the time
honored traditions of the Metropolitan
opera Company. Of nteTnatiOnaliSm IN art.
which is rightly insisted on By the publir
sno which have made the house what IL Il.
tho foremost operate institution IN exist
ence- II has no prejudice IN favor Of Or
AGAINST any school or any nationality of
art ~ artists. except 20 tine extent that
it feels called upon 10 extend special con
slderation 20 American composers and
American artists.
Its freedom from national prejudice is
CleRrly eyinced 10y a reference 20 the na-
rionalities of the artistic personnel thus
Ear engaged for next season. VIZ. Sixteen
Americans. fWenty-one Germans and Aus
tTians. eighteen Italians. fourteen French
and Russians and two % other nationali-
The management asks from the sense %
fairness OF the New York public 20 lend no
credence 90 the malicious and baseless VI9-
nOrs 10 which some circulation has been
given as 20 its intentions. its aspirations
and plans. more especially IN regard 10
any change In tie standard and number Of
German performances. II asks 10 he judged
by what n Wiil actually do. and not by
what certain persons. with whom the wish
Is the father to the thought say IL Will 10.
II holds h~eif accountable only 10 the pub
Die. 10 the board - directors and 20 its
own artistic conscience. if will pay due
heed 10 ami receive with genuine respect
the views ~ tie able and experienced
gentlemen 10 whose critical reviews its per
fOrmaICes are properly subject. but II Uiil
not he swayed IA its conduct IN the slight
est degre- by the slanderOus inSinuatiOus.
responsible clamOr and yenOmOus ill will
neither the good of one of their ciJys
great art institutions nor u the public
The announcement Of the plans for
changes next season s. contained in letter
10 the subscribers. In II Is announced \
change I'm The seating plans of the house. ~
which stalls viii replace some of the boxes
on The grand tier floor. selling a. -. as
against s. for orchestra seats. Oscar
TIammerste.u substituted a grand circle"
FOR his balcony boxes last year.
IN this circular definite announcement is
made of the determination To concentrate
the efforts Of the company az the Metro
politan opera House. This simply con-
firms what has previously been said The
New Theatre performances Of lyric opera
are 20 De abandoned There VII he per
formances on Tuesday evenings in PhIa-
delpEis. and on Saturday evenings IN
Brooklyn. with some few TUESDAY evening
performances No performance will be
given on subscription nights. however, in
any other theatre or opera house
More opera In English i promised, 10
cether with manv novelties and revivals.
hut no details are given.
When oscar Hammersteiu saw the state
ment ane the letter 10 the subscribers he
said. after reading both with grave atten-
ton
N. - a-rI- u ~. -