New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-19
AbORN BACK WITH
| CENTURY CONTRACTS
Predicts Big Success for Many
Operas of Which He Has Ex-
elusive Producing Rights.
WILL REPEAT "TIEFLAND"
To Interchange Singers with
Boston and May Secure Great
Russian Ballet and Extra
Company from London.

Milton Aborn. director of the Century
Opera Company, who has been abroad for
several months I'm search of singers and
operate rights, returned yesterday by the
Cunard liner MGrretania, laden with
contracts for the opening season Of opera
at the Century Theatre. While abroad he
arranged to take over some of the MEM
bers OF the Boston Opera staff
Il heard some exceptionally fine sing
crs." said Mr.. Aborn, among them many
Of American birth. ! have engaged the
most desirable of them for the Century
Company. Among those with whom I
signed contracts are Lois Ewe!l, Ivy
Scott, Evelyn Scotney and Elizabeth
Amsden, sopranos; Kathleen Howard,
contralto; Gustav Bergman, Walter
Wheatley. Morgan Kingston and James
Bardsley. tcnors; Thomas Chalmers and
Louis Kreidler barytonos; Alfred Kauf-
man. basso. and Hugh SchusSler. bass
barytonc. Misses Scotney and Amsden
are regularly under contract with the
Boston opera Company. and are to be
loaned 10 US.
In Paris Mr.. Aborn secured the eXclu-
sve American rights for Louise" Sam
son and Daiiah," "Manon," lie jon
zleur" and Julien" An offer was made
saint saens 10 come to America to con-
duct Samson" but his age prevented, he
being nearly eighty "Tiehand,' when
failed here II the Metropolitan, was Sc
cured. and will be presented at the Cen
tury options were secured also on 'Du
Barry" and Joan Of Arc" Henry VIII
was secured from Saint-Saens. Don
Quchotte" will be produced In the spring
at the Century by permission OF Campa-
mini, who has the rights for two years.
4 PROPOSITION was made Sir Joseph
Bcecham 10 send his entire Russian ballet
and opera company 10 the Century. IL
the offer IS accepted 20 persons VIII give
exhibitions such as never have been seen
I'm this country.
Mr.. Aborn declared that much of the
artistic atmosphere Of the European capt
tails was honeycombed with graft con-
corning the influence of American dollars
in procuring hearings FOR singers OF
mediocre talent Mr.. Aborn said:
AN ordinary singer can procure a
single performance in one OF the fore
most opera houses II he can and VIII pay
thousand dollars or so TO an agent VINO
has some connection with the manage
ment. on the other hand. really great
artist has a long and almost hopeless
struggle unless he has lot OF money
with which 10 buy his way to a proper
hearing.
There are agents who will give
Young singer or musician concert APP
pearance FOR n stated sum. furnishing
the audience. the clacque and the crit
clsms FOR various additional payments
on every hand there arc teachers pro-
noting ordinary singers, whose hopes
are kept at a high pitch by predictions
OF operate trlumphs to come the
higher the pupils hopes the faster ne
pavs his money 10 the teacher.
The American opera producer VINO
goes abroad to engage artists Is ne
,lesed hv agents and teachers. who waste
three.ouarters Of his time in having h'm
listen 10 singers who have much money
but no talent"