The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1914-11-17
THE WAR AND GRAND OPERA

Midsummer indications that this country along
with the other deprivatons that it. though innocent
is suffering due to the folly of the European war
would be compelled to listen to grand opera of an
inferior character as compared with that of other
recent years, have vanished for the opening of the
season IN the Metropolitan opera house, New York
last evening, brought with it opera fully up to the
former standards set in that center of the best
music that Is afforded in America Judging from
the comments of the music critics in this morning s
New York papers the gathering in the Metropolitan
last night was brilliant as it ever was both from
the standpoint of the culture represented in the
audience and the artistic work of the singers
There appeared at the outset of the war to be
grounds to justify the apprehension that many of
the leading stars of grand opera would be lacking
for the winters operate performances in the United
States. The military laws of many of the belliger
ent nations which provide for compulsory military
service, are respecterS of persons In the ewes of
these laws there is no more reason why a grand
opera singer should not be put up as a target for
the enemys bullets than that man of less artistic
attainments should be sent out to be killed or
manned Indeed many artists in the world of music
as III other cultured pursuits, and men of intellect
and men OF rare attanments in all walks of life
have been pressed into the military service and the
world is the loser for the fact that some of them
have perished in the strife.
1t is unfortunate that it must be that man dis.
hnguished above his fellows for what he has done
Tor the human race who can contribute conspicu
ously to the world of art music letters science or
business, Is no more immune from military service
than the man OF no unusual ability. In war a man
is lighting machine and that is all and his loss TO
the world for his other attanments cannot in the
nature of things excuse him from going to the front
If ordered to do so.
1t was this thought that led to the apprehension
that grand opera in America would suffer this sea-
son, but fortunately Giulio Cattle Casazza the won.
derful Metropolitan impresario has found a wav
TO procure enough artists of the highest type To he
a0e to present grand opera which loses notbino in
comparison with the grand opera of other seasons
How this wizard has accomplished this we cannot
undertake fully to explain. OF course partial ex
pianatlon lies IN the fact that many of his artists
are women who are not subject to military duty
ana In the tact that some of the male operatic stars
notable example of whom is Caruso. who took tbe
leading role in the Metropolitan last evening are
citizens OF Italy nation that has not gone TO war
How GattiC Casazza has contrived to retain tho
services OF other male singers who presumably are
SUBJECTS OF nations involved in the European strife
VIII not be questioned closely by the lovers of music
IN the United States. 1t is sufficient for the Amer
lean patrons of music that, judging from the first
night at the Metropolitan, New York grand onera
VIII not suffer from the crisis abroad which is de-
prNhg the nation, innocent it is of causes of the
great conflict, of many other good things