Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-12
PLAN FOR A NATIONAL OPERA
BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.
Written for The Star Chicago Record Herald.

/ BY VILLA.
Written for The Star and
| Andreas DIPPED. director of the Chi
cago Opera, has been in Washington fol-
| week on a mission OF IN
1 DlppeIS usual interest. He has been
trying to interest the official;
| AA0JeS'' of the government and pup
lie men from various parts of the country
in a plan to organize a National opera
Company. with its headquarters at Wash
| ington. which Is considered neutral
ground, and should not excite the Jealousy
Of any rival city. He proposes local or
carnations in the twenty-five cities OF
largest population in the country, eacn
Of which shall provide and support Its
| own chorus and orchestra from local tai
ent to be instructed and trained by con-
ductors authorized and sent out by the
central organizations The opera season
| is to be divided among the cities belong
| ing to the association. each being allot-
ted SO many evenings. company Oh
| first-class soloists. with few First
stand instrumentalists for the orchestra
with trained stage hands and the neces-
sary scenery and costumes. will go from
| place to place according to schedule ano
| give performances with tie support OF
the local chorus and orchestra. the pro-
ceeds. after the payment OF expenses, ~
| be devoted to a general fund ana not u
the individual benefit of any one. &C .,e,
cording to Mr.. Dippers calculations, the
expense of producing opera would be thus
reduced about one-half.
1t is proposed to give the standard
| operas in the English language, ana have
kzI oNfnd
| that purpose,
The prices are to be as low as expenses
| will permit, and as no profit is to be
made from the perform
Reasonable ances Mr.. DIPPED believes
that they can be brought
11lceS. down to a scale that will
enable wage earners and persons OF
small salaries to enjoy the educational
value of the entertainments. He believes
also that the training Of local choruses
and orchestras will bring out much
talent, as in Germany. Italy and other
European countries. and that great
schools of music will develop from the
movement. The choruses and orchestras
can be drawn from amateur as well as
the professional musicians OF each COM
munity. who will receive no compensation
except the benefit Of the instruction.
Chaperoned by Representative Mckin-
ley of Illinois. who Is devoted lover OF
| music. Mr.. DIPPED has had an opportunity
to present his plan to President Taft
Vice President Sherman. Speaker Cannon
and various other public men in Wash
ington. who have given him great dea
of encouragement. and have shown 9
| deep interest In the movement. Mr.. Dip
pei does not ask amy appropriation from
the government. although every one al
palities not only substitute but actual!
| manage both operas and theaters as
part OF the educational system. Congress
| may be asked to pass a bill giving q
charter to the proposed organization
| but that has not yet been decided upon
When ! asked him for the details OF
| his plan, Mr.. DIPPED replied:
| II have during the past few months
| sworn allegiance to the United States:
am no longer for
Responsibility eigner. Every Ameri
Of Citizenship. measure ~ his ON:
portunity, responsible for the making Of
America. I have asked myself just what
my responsibilities to my country are.
! am convinced l have a certain responsi.
bility. growing out of my profession. out
| of the work which / have been engaged
in for nearly twenty-five years. l should
like to take a foreign art and make II
native: should like to domesticate grand
opera upon American soil.
Let me impress upon you that the en-.
deavor to create an interest in American
opera should not be considered as a move
| to discredit or suppress or compete Will
| the splendid performances OF grand opera
given in the original languages by the
Metropolitan Opera Company Of New
York. the Philadelphia Chicago and Bos
ton opera companies. These cities car
and will always support opera in the
original languages, with an array OF in
| ternational artists who appeal to thu
| taste and traditions OF the cosmopolitan
| public, and these companies have ex
pressed their willingness to support any
thing that tends to create American
| opera In the yernacular, and promise Il
give in English some OF the standard
operas Of their repertoires which are bes
adapted to the English language.
1.-THE ladelphia-ChicaEo Opera Com
pany. which I have the honor of con
Quoting. is going to produce at the enc
| OF this month Victor Herbert's Crane
D. Redding. Californian. who has de
| lighted to delve into the history and 70
nance Of the early days Of the Pacii,
| coast. Set to music by ono OF this cOun
try's most eminent composers, "NatOma'
should make a strong appeal to those wht
have been longing to hear an opera tina
is American in every sense Of the word.
y X
"The Metropolitan Opera Company o.
New York has offered a prize OF 1000
for an American opera.
American have no doubt that the com
| 49, bined efforts of the organiza
| 0PeA"' ton I have mentioned will
ultimately succeed in laying the founda
tions Of a national conservatory which
will be devoted to the development o
native talent. and TO the establishment
of classic style for voice production ant
dramatic conception of grand opera il
the English language.
'"rhere has been much discussion /,
past years Of the question of giving Crane
opera in English mostly by individual
artists, composers or musical amateur
lacking experience in the management
and production of opera. This discussion
has mainly centered itself about tw,
points: First, the difficulty OF gettin,
soIoists to sing in English. and second
the great advantage to the nearer of be
ing able to comprehend what is sung
OF these two points the first is of no i'm
portance. | speak out of my own ex
perience as an opera singer when / sa,
that principals will learn parts in an,
language. 1t is only few weeks sine
Mime Nordica, for instance. learned th
part OF Isolde in French in order to SIM
it in Paris. Now. II is certainly of grea