New-York tribune., 1911-03-15
TWILIGHT" OFF FOR YEAR
Pcstponement Said To Be Due
to Errors in the Score.
KAISER'S ALLEGED INTEREST
Acceptance of Opera Ascribed
by Some to Influence Of
German Throne.

T. was learned yesterdav that Arthur
Nevin's one-act opera. Twilight" would
probably NOT be produced this season at
the Metropolitan Opera House. The reason
given is that the score is so fun Of errors
and the copying so badly done that IT VIII
be impossible 10 get II ready I'm time for
production II is said that IT will be given
next year. when .Ir. Nevir will have had
time 10 revise H.
The vicissitudes e ! will ght" and the
reason given for IFS acceptance by the
Metropolitan management have been many
No less = person than the German En-
peror. or a parsonage close 20 him. hs
been reported 70 be so desirous 20 take IN
interest IN It's presentation that he exerted
an influence which led 10 its acceptance
BY the director of tne Metropolitan opera
House. But fairy tales like this have often
been invented 20 account for otherwise m
accountable things, II Mr.. Nevin IS n he
believed. who told 4 Tribune reporter that
all that II cost him 10 have "Poia" accepted
In Berlin was tip Of q cents TO gain him
admission n the royal intendant. Oi
course. there we're some who knew that II
was two wears or more after he Eot the
ear OF we lIllFiIiilN S-ANi
performed. Under The circumstances, wha'
is 20 be thought Of stories OF this kind
There Is no doubt that objections were
raised 10 twilight" among the arrsrc
peorle az the Metropolitan. but II IS as
serted that they we're overruied By the innu-
er-e supposed to en1anate from. the throne
Of imperial Germany.
The s.,ore il was reported weeks ago
was full Of errors. and a large portion of
each rehearsal had n he devoted 20 the
correction CT these so serious d!d the
situation become that few days ago the
artists who were 20 appear in the opera
went 20 M. Gatti-Casazza and told h'n
that they could not sing the music. Nj
Gatti-Casazza asked them 70 make an
other attempt. and this they agreed TO do
Matters. however. grew worse rather than
better
The interest taken BY the German En-
peror in "Twilight." If there Is any. dates
back m the production Of "Poia," Mr.
Nevins opera. which mas given last wear
al the ROYAL Opera in Berlin Engelber'
Humperdinck. whom the Ksiser considers
the greatest living German composer. i
q friend % Mr. Nevln. and - Is said -
have been partly through his efforts tia'
"Poia" was produced Il Is certain that
the Emperor interested himself In US
PRODUCTION and that he has stood hy tho
composer despite the critical disapprova
OF the work.
The trouble over the production ''
"Poia" proves. aS some people think. tna'
while Mr.. Gatti-CasaZza IS row the sole
head of the Metropolitan Opera COMPANY
he is hv no means unhampered tn his ef'
forts bv outside influences. In this con
nection IL is Of interest to recall the state
n1ent issued by Otto Kahn last summer. u
which that gentleman said that tie opera
contest would he extended for year be
vond the limit originally set. Objections
Immediately began TO pour In. DECLARING
that such an extension would violate the
original agreement. Mr.. Gatti-Casazza
took this view of the question, and in ;ht
end the directors announced that the con
test would end or the date given when i
was first announced.
II was announced about n month age
that twilight" would be sung this yeai
AT the Metropolitan. In the cast were u
be Nine. Gadski. Mr MaNin and Nj
Witherspoon. Alfred Hertz was 20 con
duct the opera.