New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-13
City Club Luncheon Speakers
Hint at 35-Week Century
Theatre Season, with
Metropolitan Aid.
"W0N'T HURT ME"-0SCAR
Mr.. Hammerstein Refuses to
Consider That Anything
City Club May Plan
Would Affect His
Opera in English"

| |,
New York will have thirty-five
weeks season of grand opera at popu-
lar prices. beginning October /, accord
ing TO present report. This season is
TO take place at the Century Theatre
and will be given with the cooperation
of the Metropolitan opera Company.
The project is the outcome of the
movement founded by the City Club for
popular priced municipal grand opera,
as published exclusively in The Trib-
was for season of only sixteen weeks,
eight in the spring and eight in the
autumn At a luncheon given by the
club yesterday no announcement was
made Of any change OF plan. though
Edward Kellogg Baird, the chairman OF
the clubs committee on opera. an
nounced that he had little doubt of the
guarantee fund Of $3.50, 900 being raised.
a fund of that size having been planned
in the original prospectus.
1t was learned. however, at the close
of the meeting that the plan OF an
eighteen weeks season would in all
probability be abandoned and con-
tinuous one of thirty-fve weeks be
| CT tcI ho.x h. 4 70
june /. The performances will all be
given at the Century Theatre and will
be conducted with the aid OF the Metro
politan opera Company
Steady, 35-Week Run Probable.
Otto II. Kahn, chairman Of the board
Of directors of the Metropolitan Opera
Company who was one Of the speakers
at yesterdays luncheon, when asked in
regard To the change in plans. acknowl-
edged that something might come of il.
81 cannot speak officially" said Mr..
Kahn. but think il likely that a sea
son of thirty-fve weeks may be the
ultimate outcome instead OF a divided
one OF only sixteen weeks. a plan that
would necessitate taking the company
on the road.
Definite plans will probably be an
nounced in about six weeks. The
Metropolitan Opera Company will do all
in its power TO assist the new enter
prise with its scenery and its advice.
and some OF its directors will un-
doubtedly assist In other and more
direct ways
Mr.. Kahn in his speech at the
luncheon. after telling Of his lifelong
interest in music and art had pledged
the goodwill of the Metropolitan 10 the
new opera scheme. and said that
though he knew its directors would
meet with much trouble, he was sure
that they would be successful.
Edward Kellogg Baird. chairman Of
the City Clubs committee on popular
opera, who presided at the luncheon.
said that. though he was not yet per-
mitted to make public the names Of
those who had already subscribed TO
the fund of $4,000, he could say that
the responses had been most generous
and that he anticipated no trouble in
obtaining the requisite amount.
Tribute 70 Mr.. Morgan.
Mr.. Kahn in his address paid trib-
ute to j. Pierpont Morgan, saying that
IN him more than TO any other man had
been due the change in the view in
which the business world had come TO
lregard the artistic life.
T.. n. Hartman was also referred to
in affectionate terms as the man who
lbad encouraged him in his artistic
ideaIs when others had told him that
artistic interests would injure his
financial success. In closing Mr.. Kahn
said:
1--WE have the best public in the
world. a public neither blase nor de-
codont hut are anxious TO follow true
nronhets. even if at times it does follow
nronhets who are false. The city Club
&C. doing a worthy and splendid work
IN turning its attention 10 popular
onera a work that is indeed difficult
ono but one in which feel sure 1t Will
succeed. | pledge the Metropolitan
Onera Company in its cooperation In
the clubs new field
| Other speakers were Gardner Lam
con DIR. Leipziger and Herbert Wither-
noon The prospectus issued at the
luncheon spoke only Of a season Of six
too, weeks. but it is understood that
,ho nrospectus was only a tentative
one.
yvben oscar Hammerstein was told
,ho intention Of the promoters Of
,,,s now opera scheme to give a season
- ,birtv-fve weeks in opposition to
.;n o,vn project for opera In English
-, new opera house. at Lexington
onre and sd street. his only COM
ment was: ~.
Ike opposition exists to my method of
I'm, onera. | shall continue as have
begun. A.. =, ho r,o
,antion. New York will have three
MS ,ra houses. giving simultaneous per-
orces OF good opera throughout
next season.
NJ :, Is understood that the perform
., the Century Theatre Will be
aov,dcd between opera III IhsiiSh ana
|