Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1910-05-24
CALLING FOR GRAND OPERA IN
ENGLISH.

Baltimore is having grand opera in
English, not with the greatest sing
ers of the world, but with high class
artists, and the success of the ventur
has been highly gratifying. The peo-
pie have focked to the opera in sufi-
GENTLY large numbers to make it a
paying investment for those behind
the venture, and, what is more to the
point, the audiences have seemed to
genuinely enjoy the performances. An
impetus has been given to musical Gull
ture in the city as a result, and it is be-
lieved that with every year a season
of grand opera can be had that will be
both an artistic and a financial sue
cess.
Governor Brown recently voiced the
desire of the people for opera of this
class in English. In France, it Is
said, the people insist on operas being
given in their native tongue, regard
less as to what language they were
written in. The demand is acceded
to. The time will come when there
will be sufficient number of music
lovers in the larger cities of this coun-
try to make the same demand and Sc
cure the same concession.
Discussing grand opera, Manager
Ford CT the Baltimore opera house,
where the recent season was given,
says:
Heretofore when grand opera has
been brought to Baltimore the largest
audiences have been secured through
the qualification Of the public's curios-
ity to hear great singers, rather than
complete musical productions, Il is
a singular fact that in this country,
with the exception of New Orleans,
New York is tie only city able to
maintain Grand opera Why? The an
swer is he cost Of the production. This
is not occasioned by the necessary fix
ed charges. but by the prices pad the
leading agtists-and these prices are.
not paid elsewhere.
rope receive more than 5000 a per-
Torrance, and many of them much
less. There is scarcely a city in Eu-
rome of 10000 inhabitants or more
VIII Oh, does not maintain season of
grand opera-not one week nor scat
tered performances, but covering sew
eEal weeks. Why is it possible for
New Orleans to have grand opera ev-
cry. season? Because the cost of pro-
5uction can be confiael there within |
reason.
In the words of one of our ablest
New York critics, "The truth is that
most Americans do not go to grand |
opera to get the best out Of this art. |
/ is impossible to do so when the
language is foreign to our tongue. |
There never will be a widespread ap-I
probation Of grand opera in this
country until t is sung in English. In |
Europe all opera is sung in a tongue |
sOmpreEended by the audiences. Any
hing else would be absurd In this
country many persons go to opera |
without knowing much about it. They
20 to see, to be seen, or to hear as
/ concert in costume, and many really /
hink it would be vulgar to listen to
opera sung n English. In spite of
his the demand for grand opera is
growing to such an extent that it
seems likely to become a permanent
institution in all our large cities.
Mr.. Abo n is accomplishing results
which will be Of untold value not only
o the great mass of music-lovers, but
n his generous efforts to give oppor-
.unities to young Americans WHO are
capable, well-tra'ned artists as yet
without the reputation necessary to
;reate a demand for them.
AS soon as we become reasonable
enough to have grand ope a as an art.
md not as a social fad, we can have
t. To do this we will have to appre-
;iate the works themselves and not
TX our standards of grand opera by a
ew sensational artists in the leading
'oles.
1T is great satisfact'o on to feel
hat this generation is beginning TO
awaken to the educational and cul-
ufal qualities of this, one of the great
st forms of music.
Ine man who hath no music in
lmself and is not moved by concord
i sweet sounds, is fit for treasops
and spoils. There is bar-
lony IN every immortal soul. which
frequently not felt because of a mud
y vestufe of decay which SO grossly
edges US in