The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-09-13
(Ry Herbert Corey.)

New York, Sept. l1.-Tenors and
dollars and wits will be matched in
New York this winter In the greatest
operate war ever staged. The Ham
merstein battle Of q few years ago
Will seem by comparison just a back
fence quarrel. Millions will be spent
and the world combed for singers.
No city has ever been able to main
tain more than one opera company.
New York Ii to have three. Twenty
weeks Of grand opera has been con-
sidered more than plenty. New York
isis to have eeventy-seven weeks, this
winter. More than 1000 persons will
draw $4,000 900 or the three payrolls.
By the time the Wagnerian cycles
come about dandelion time. like hives
some one. or some series OF some
ones. will be very victorious OF else
extremely broke.
Oscar Hammerstein-the Little
Black Man OF the operate field-did
It. He would lot abide by his agree
ment with the Metropolitan company
to keep out Of the field OF grand opera.
Fiftieth. street and Lexington ave-
nue.. For months his agents pussy
footed through Europe looking for
new voices. He plans to offer many
operas in English. His salary list
will touch 100000. The courts may
force him to live up to his contract.
But on the theory that they will not,
have been peering into every musical
larynx between the Rhine and We
snvius. Its list Of principals win be
.topheavy with big names. 1t has con.
tracted to pay something like 81, 100.-
goo In salaries. all the way from
Gatti-Casazza to the fourth callboy.
Milton and Sargent Aborn will
spend fully 100000 in salaries for
the Century Opera company, which is
to be located in the magnificent atruc-
ture on Central Park WeSf9whlch, be-
gan as the endowed New Theater ana
became the Century under George Ty-
Ter. The Ahorns are said to be the
only men in the world who have made
grand opera pay. Musicians think the
Hammerstein by the directors Of the
Metropolitan organization. An ex-
change of principals has been arrang-
ed between the Century company and
h organizations at Boston. Chica-
go and Philadelphia. These COM
panies have. after a fashion. been af-
Inflated with the Metropolitan. A di-
rector OF the latter is privately quot
ed as declaring:
We will keep Hammerstein gu Of
the field II we can. But If he gets, in
we will break him." "
Breaking Hammerstein.
That's what the Metropolitan did
four years ago. Hammerstein has
never pretended to forgive. The i'm
mensely wealthy Metropolitan organ-
ization ran up salaries and other costs
on Hammerstein until that individ-
uals bankroll caved in. His best ar
lists were taken from him, he found
nat ne could no longer borrow money
blow Of all-the Metropolitan man
agement discarded some Of the moul-
dy inheritances from operate middle
offered its patrons modern
operas well sung. With Hammerstein
was caught in the crack of the fffan-
cial door the Metropolitan bought him
out. and exacted from him a contract
that he would stay out Of the field.
1t is this contract with Hammerstein
Will break when he opens his Amer
ican Grand Opera House in Noyem-
Der.
Grand opera in New York showed
signs Of sagging back to the pre-
Hammerstein level last winter. Then
Hammerstein announced that he
would offer grand opera in English in
New York-contract or no contract.
For two years members of the City
club had been discussing vaguely q
similar plan. They woke up with a
start when Hammerstein spoke. There
have always been two factions in the
Metropolitan company-not to speak
Of others. This particular pair OF
factions is headed by Clarence Mac
kay and Otto H. Kahn. Mackay
Sos.n, opera in English Kahn
We'll give opera in English a
trial." said Kahn to Mackay. Twin
or lose, we'll hnd out whether the
people want It,"
So that the leading spirits in the
Metropolitan Opera company united
with the opera theorists in the City
Club and formed the Century Opera
company. To this company was turn
ed ove the Century theater, which
has been a dead horse in the hands Of
Its endowing builders. prominent
among whom are Mackay and Kahn. It
is understood that the Aborns-who
are employees only. and do not " q