New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-05-20
OSCAR DEF|ES OPERA CO.
Ready for the Metropolitan 10
Try to Shut Him Out.
PRICE DOWN TO ST NOW
In Letter to Board of Directors
He Says He Will Give Opera
the Year Round.

Oscar IIammerstein last night dcied
the BOARD Of directors Of the Metropoli-
! tan Opera Company To proven, him from
giving grand opera I'm the house he is
now erecting At Lexington avenue and
5lst street Mr. Hammerstein's defiance
was In a letter in reply TO one sent "a
him by tho board in which they state
their intention Of taking legal steps al
the proper time 70 prevent Mr. Hammer
stein presenting grand opera I'm Now
York. The Metropolitan directors base
their position on the contract signed
with Mr.. Hammerstein. in which tho
imprcsario agreed not to give grand
opera in New York. Philadelphia Boston
OF Chicago.
Mr.. Ilammcrstcin In his reply declares
that the Metropolitan has violated this
! contract by giving opera In cities other
than tho ones specified these cities. &C
coriing 10 him. having been reserved 70
his operate projects. He further states
that he is anxious that the Metropolitan
take immediate steps 20 decide the ques-
ton IN the courts.
Meanwhile. he says. he will continue
VIII NiA" AiAfIAi'iA Va rlfAAH 'liI Fl iif any
language he wishes. and at either 81 or
81 seat Among other things in his
letter. he saws.
The conduct OF grand opera is my pro-
fession. You are trying 20 take from me
the power 10 execute the same. For the
concessions ! made you paid me nothing
You bought the great Philadelphia opera
House costing me- bills Of cost rendered.
81. $1,000. paying me $4,000 after deduct
ing mortgage OF $4,000. This is the
only sum Of money ! received from you.
without any further payment but as a
computation OF value ceding me the terri
tory outside OF New York. Philadelphia
Boston and Chicago. ! gave YOU 1850 or
worth Of costumes and scenery sole
rights OF production. rights OF operas
worth $4,000 and all the contracts OF
world-renowned artists. worth hundreds
OF thousands Of dollars I'm addition.
"Not coutented with all this. you in
duced my SON. Arthur. 10 be a party 10
this agreement. In which you bar him
from being interested in grand opera for
term OF ten years for no consideration
whatever I was mortally ill In Europe
when this contract was in conference and
concluded by my son without previous no.
tics TO me
Il have purchased the Lexington ave
nue. property in my name; ! am erecting
an opera house on the same In my
name. / intend 10 devote Il exclusively 10
grand opera all the year round. ] have
made and I am making contracts with
great artists for this sole purpose il
nv name. I intended To devote the ediice
solely To a permanent institution for
grand opera in English at - the highest.
You twenty-four hours after my an
nouncement 10 this effect. announced the
creation of another institute. at s. the
highest Under the guise OF philanthropy
YOU nevertheless solicit aims from the
public. inveigling the Mayor and others
in public authority 20 further nothing else
but a sinister scheme TO destroy my ap-
solutelv financially disintercste1 efforts In
a noble cause. Consequently, ! viii pro-
duce grand opera at certain periods at u,
al others al 50 a seat. in any language.
excepting one particular one. which your
conduct deserves, but which is unfit TO be
printed"
otto r. Kahn, chairman Of the Metro
polltan board OF directors. said that he
could not discuss Mr. Hammerstein let
Ter as the Metropolitan did not wish to
enter into any newspaper controversy
with the impresario.