The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-09-13
BATTLE Lines DRAWN FOR BITTER
Grand OPERA WAR THIS SEASON
Tenors and Dollars and Wits Will be Matched in
New York-Hammerstein Disturbance of Few Years
Ago Just a Backfence Quarrel in Comparison.

penny Of the stock-were given assur-
ances that the Century company snail
give opera for three years. no matter
whether deficits or dividends are
reaped. 1t Ia vigorously denied that
defense against the Hammerstein at
tack, although It ID admitted that tho
Century AMI the Metropolitan COM
panies share an identity of interest.
The Aborns plan to give one opera a
week. for the thirty-fve weeks Of their
season. Seven performances will be
given of each in English. The eighth
will be given In the original language.
Money Like Water.
Grand opera 10 like n other
ere. Zone must find 1 market before
one can sell 1t. We know that We
have the market here. The manner in
which tickets have been booked for
the opening weeks makes that plain.
We also know that We cannot hold
our market unless we deliver the
goods"
AS the Aborns need not consult
their own pocketbooks in making this
delivery. they are placed on an equali-
ty with Hammerstein. who never did
consult his. He is frankly .extrava-
CANT. He makes up for 1t to some ex-
tent BY a marvellous faculty for dis
covering unprecedented artists. The
Aborns will carry about eighty peo-
PIE. In their chorus. nifty to sixty in
the orchestra. thirty-two in the bal
let. and thirty principals. Hammer
stein will likely add one-third to these
figures. The Metropolitan will season
to taste. No material consideration
has ever been considered there. It's
management has spent hundreds Of
thousands Of dollars on productions.
IT has also kept in service scenery
lady singers who were on particularly
good terms with various items Of the
golden horseshoe. The Century's sea-
son will begin on Sept. is. Hammer.
stems twenty-five weeks will start on
Nov: 10. The Metropolitan. will givl
Its disnihed twenty weeks Of opera.
About the Aborns.
II the Aborns are the only men WHO
ever made grand opera pay-ani
Henry w. Savage hair a million. it
broke Hammerstein. and the occa-
sion good years Of the Metropolitan
nave been more than evened by the
bad ones-it Is because they are q
great team. Sargent Is commercially.
minded. He can spot a warped penny
n a statement and quote you year be-
Tore lasts pei capita cost Of hair oil.
pSoPAS UGA1cfS ne KNOWS
every note in every opera. Between
them they have gathered a most re-
markable list Of principals. Three.
fourths of the thirty are American,
the youngest 10 twenty-three years old
and the average age is Twenty-Five
years n seven months: all are slen.
der and most r good looking.
The great singers Of today-thoso
who bear the great .names-were
singing quite as we'll while they wer4
making their reputations," said a rep
resentative Of the Aborns. Those
who value grand opera by the size Of
the red and yellow posters will not
enjoy listening to u practically un-
known singers. We believe that real
musicians will appreciate. them. As
to costumfng and stasins-we will nut
on opera as well as any company that
has ever sung in New York"
OF the three organizations which
have signed up for the winters nght
the Metropolitan IL bulwarked by mil
lions and society. Hammerstien has
the temperament of an artist ana the
recklessness Of a spendthrift. He
can no longer live out of. the operate
atmosphere-and he feels frankly
.vengeful toward those who would
Keep him out. He has declared ne
will set the profits Of his Victoria Mu.
sic q against the needs Of his Grand
opera company.