Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1911-12-04
HAMMERST|EM MADE
HIT N LONDON
American Impressario Scores
With New Opera Quo
vadis," Before British
Public.


London, Eng. Dec. i.--Oscar Ham.
meraeln. former American grand
opera impressnrlo. has cancelled that
siot mship ticket Oack Ia New York
end his daughter Stella has declared
she won't need that swimming Jacket.
For the lirsl night OF the nov London
opera house was a brilliant success.
At the end OF the third act OF the
orcra QUO vadiE.' which was the
opening bill. the American imprcs-
arlo was called before the curtain
aaaln and again, and IN the end com.
PEELED 10 make "a speech. Il was the
acnl,h OF his career and for a moment
he seemed hvpnotixed By the reception
~ he haltlngly expressed his thanks
Tho audience was ~ tumultnous
and brilliant as was ever assembled In
4 ston. with the possible exception Of
TIE gala performance attended BY the
king.
For months Hammcfstcin has been
laboring under terrific difficulties
against the blttcrcst brand OF oppose
tion from Convent Garden. which con-
tinved even 90 TIE opening night. Now
he has London's real opera public at
his feet, clamorlnE appreciation OF tho
ihct that they have been given opera
mere magnificent than they ever saw
before. Covent Garden for years has
been 1.ondon's social club. so when ha
FIRST announced his intention 60 build
q rival house. he received far more
sneers than when he decided 90 be-
come q thorn 10 the sldc 81 the Metro.
poliinn by building the Manhattan
opear house Nobody believed that
America. OF al countries. In the world.
could show England hcw TO produce
opera.
WYATT until they secs the sort Of
opera I give" was Oscars only COM
ment all summer. Tonight he proved
that the management OF Covent dhf-
den had met In him soeman worthy
% ifs steel.
Gle singer In his cast who was ever
oven heard OF In London before. The
exception was Maurice Renaud. the old
Manhattan fayorite. who sang the role
90 Pstronsus with the same feeling
that characterized HIS many roles 30
well known 10 the New York public.
He proved that with unknowns he
could give operas as perfect ~ Dossl-
BILE. and ~ far AZ scenic invcstitures
are concerned. well. Rome burned az
never Rome burned before.
The honOrs 81 the evening vent 10
Aine vaitandri, a young coiorafura
soprano discovered by Hammerstein In
u school In Paris. She aanK the role
OF the slave Eunicc. and her rare
beauty. luxurlant cal hair sweenlng 10
her ankles. combined with a lovely
voice. made a great HIT. Eva Olchan-
nki in the role Of Lygla. and Jean
Auber In the tenor role OF NiniclnS.
gave added proof that IIammcrstoin
has been true 10 his ward and found
new singers Of excellence 60 aid him
IN producing opera AZ he alone knows
how.
A great scenic effect that brought
thu audience TO its feet was the COLI
scum showing tile massacre OF Christ
lanE Untli the last moment Oscar
was hampered with difficulties in the
way Of opening on time. Saturday
the London county council presented
IL compliments In tho form or dozen
OF 50 orders 30 change the plans OF
the house. sunday his chorus claim
"a 10 be overworkcd and went on
strike. An extra force OF several hun
drcd men ovcrcamc the sirst trouble,
and BIG banquet put the chorus in
good temper. and tho curtain went up
promptly af = o'ciock as advertised.
For an hour previous 10 the opening,
Klngswax. where tho hulldins Is To-
Gated. was iamsned with autos and
inxis allied with London't elite, all anxs
lous 10 get there early and take look
around the new opera house.