New-York tribune., 1911-01-09
WHY HE DROPPED OPERA
Tyler Gives Reasons for Aban-
doning MasCagni'S "YSobel."
ACCUSES HIM OF "H0LD-UP"
Liebler & Co. Charge Composer
with Repudiating Contract AT
ter Accepting Large Sums.

Pietro MascaEni's opera "Ysobel." which,
n the original plans had been carried out,
would have been tho first piece OF its kind
10 be given first production in this coun-
try. will not BE produced here by iiebler
& Co. who had contracted to present the
opera here. with Miss Bessie Abott in the
principal part This announcement was
made yesterday by George {. Tyler, man
ssing director Of the firm. who explains
fully the reasons which led up 20 his de-
oision
MIR Tyler said that some lime aso Macs
tro Mascagni made a contract with ms
firm whereby he was 10 complete the opera
''Ysober aud deliver II 10 his publisher IN
Milan who was to make an orchestration
and forward the opera, material and or
chestration to Iiebler & GO. At the same
time Maestro Msscagnl entered into sep
srate arrangement regarding concerts.
Subsequently, the opera having been COM
pleted and delivered 10 the publisher and
tho orchestration being in course OF prcpa-
ration, artists were engaged and sailed for
America.
Under the 'Ysobel contract" said Mr..
Tyler. "Liebler & GO. were 10 make fur
thor payment OF 5000 francs to Maestro
and for that purpose at great expense we
kept our representative I'm Milan
The artists having sailed and Maestro
Msscagni having received upon demand
The 5n6nl francs. Liebler & 60. assumed
that he was about to leave for this country,
and Immediately prepared for the premiere
Of Ysobel' and advertised il 10 take place
81 Tho New Theatre on November ~.
Composer Decides Not to Sail
After the payment OF vast sums Of
money both 20 the compose and publisher
and for procuring tho production and ar
ranging for and advertising the premiere,
and at practically The last moment. word
came from Italy that tho orchestration was
not completed and that Maestro Mascagni
would not then sail As a result the open
ing performance was deferred
Liebler & Co. then informed Maestro
Mascagni by cable 10 leave home on the
first ship sailing after January and that
the opening performance of the opera
would occur the latter part Of January,
thus allowing sufficient time for rehcarsals.
1T must he remembered that Maestro
Mascagni obligated himself TO direct re-
hearsais and TO lead the orchestra for
number Of performances: that without the
o. oichestration the opera could not be pro-
duced that with the orchestration but
without Maestro MasCagnis presence at re-
fearsals and to direct, the success of the
opera would be Seriously endangered
Realizing the large amount OF time de-
voted by us 10 the production of the opera
ihe vast amount Of energy expended in con-
nection Herewith. 10 say nothing of the
enormous sums Of money paid out by us
and the interest with which the American
public awaited its presentation. Maestro
Ndscagni. for the first time. in tho form Of
written communication delivered 10 our
foreign representative, Ralph Edmunds,
demanded various notifications of his con-
tracts and additional sums of money, TO
which he was not entitled. and this, too
otter every condition had been fully per-
formed by Liebler & Co
I'VE were then confronted with a serious
situation. To refuse the demands would
result in the operas not being produced
To accede 10 ,hcm would enable Maestro
Msscagni 10 make further demands which
might require the Bank Of England to sat
iSfy. and however great our desire to pro-
ouce the opera, we could not conscientiously
accedc to his outrageous demands. and by
cable Informed Maestro Mascsgnl accord
ingly.
MascssnTs Ultmatum.
subsequently early in December. Macs
tro. Mascagni wrote Liebler & Co. remind
Ing them Of the demands he had made upon
ihtlr italian representative, and saying that
unless complied with, he would not come
hsre TO direct the opera The demands TO
vhich Maestro Mascagnl referred are set
forth in a letter. which explains the situa-
tion fully"
The following is copy Of the letter sent
10y Liebler & Co. to the composer:
Your communication OF the % inst. is at
hand. Its statements are surprising be-
cause they are, for the larger part. incor-
Tect. Your attitude is unreasonable and
OnWarranted. To the uniformed you ap-
lsrently are the injured party, when, i'm
fact, the reverse Is the case
Our every obligation under the 'Ysobel'
and concert agreements has been fully per
formed, and we were ana are ready and
willing 10 carry them out To the letter.
The "Isobel' agreement provided, in ad-
dition to the other large advances made
you, that we pay you 5000 francs upon
your departure for America The intent OF
This is clear. J.. e, that the last mentioned
sum oe handed you when you were about
10 sail. To strictly perform this particular
provision, as we'll as others. we caused Mr.
l:dmunds, at great expense. TO remain in
Milan prepared 10 pay you accordingly.
Meanwhile, artists were engaged with
your approval, and thereafter, when YOU
demanded OF and received the money
from Mr.. Edmunds. we had a right 10 in
fer that YOU were on the point OF leaving.
Upon receipt ~ a cable TO the effect that
The artists had sailed for America with
your knowledge and consent. we expended
largo sums Of money in preparing for and
advertising the premiere OF "YSobel"
Thereafter and for tho first time you
made the following demands upon us.
taD That the concert agreement be in
Cluded in the "Ysobel" contract;
(b) That advances mot agreed tor be
made you under the concert agreement;
tc) guarantee (not agreed to) IpOn the
concert agreement and,
(dD a paper writing 20 the effect that you
have fully performed your agreement aud
releasing you from all liability under both
agreements
InaSmuCh as these demands were not
only not contefnpla ted by IL. but also were
unrea Sonable we could not and would not
comply with them
II may we'll be that appreciatnE the
enormous advances MADE by our firm 10
you and your publisher and the tremendous
expense incurred by MS i'm connection with
the enterprise. you felt that You could Sc
cure from MS anything under the sun, how
ever arbitrary IL might be. But we cabied
you and Mr. Edmuuds repeatedly that.
come what may under no circumstances
would We agree 10 your proposed mOuill-
cation Of the existing agreements.
In your last letter you say That III IL nee
ossary that all MISUNDERSTANDING should
first be overcome. IpOU our part there
10 overcome: upon your part. however,
there are the unreasonable and unWar-
rantcd demands 90 which We have referred.
You say further that 'VOu sent a mote To