Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1910-04-02
ATLhNTA'S COMING SEASON OF
GRAND OPERA.

Sales of season tickets for the grand
opera season in Atlanta are rapidly
approaching the $4,000 mark. There
appears to be no question of the pro
nounced success of the musical festi-
val this year from a financial stand
point The artistic success was Of
course, assured VIXEN the Metropolitan
Opera Company, with its staff of the
greatest singers of the world, was en-
gagged for the occasion. The patriotic
citizens who underworld the season
of grand opera to the extent Of 100000,
thus making it possible, viii probably
have their money returned to them in
full But if not they will have the
satisfaction of knowing that they have
done for Atlanta something that no
other city of this section has been able
to achieve.
Atlanta is doing great things nova
days, but none of them is greater than
this week of grand opera. It is an
announcement again~to the world that
Atlanta is something more than q
mere material town, that it does not
propose that its entire life shall be
absorbed in the erection of great
buildings and the expansion of it's
wonderful trade possibilities, that it
realizes that there is another side of a
city's life to be cultivated and that it
proposes to cultivate it. 1t puts the
world on notice that out of the abund-
ance of wealth that Atlanta has gath
cred together enough shall always be
forthcoming to promote movements
that have for their purpose the eleya-
ion of the city from the standpoint Of
true culture. 1t is even more than that
it is clarion call to the entire South
to assert itself along these same lines.
Savannah is to have a festival of its
own, not on so great a scale as that Or
Atlanta, but equally as fine from an
artistic standpoint, other cities will
be encouraged to attempt similar
things. The result will eventually be
that the leading cities of this section
Will every year, in all likelihood, have
a season of grand opera at which the
stars of the musical world will appear.
Atlanta is certa My entitled to the
credit of laying the foundations, of de-
monstrating that it is psz bic to bring
a great opera company to the South
without heavy financial loss, that it s
possible to engage the highest priced
singers for a series of concerts and
even make their engagements a source
of profit to the association having the
concerts in charge. 1t took nerve 10
make the demonstration and Atlanta
is to be complimented on its success Of
1909 and the even more brilliant sue,
cess that apparently is in store FOR
1910.
Mr.. Frank Weldon, one of the best
known newspaper men of the state,
has been appointed manager for the
festival this year, which ensures a
bus;ness-like and thoroughly enthus-
iastic administration of its affairs.
These musical festivals are apt to be
a permanent feature of the life of the
capital city and an experienced man
ager, such as Mr.. Weldon is, can do
much to ensure their repetition year
after year. And next season, if posi-
BILE, it would be distinct triumph for
him, for the Atlanta spirit, and for the
South as a whole, if it were made pos
sible to arrange a tour of grand opera
embracing Atlanta, Savannah, Charles
ton and Richmond, widely separated
points with a sufficient tributary pop
ulation to make such affairs a success.
Surely all of these cities could finance
such an undertaking once a year.