Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-12

| usual year of music in America
The directors of the Chicago Grand
Opera Company announce that there will
be no performance this season. due to
the difficulties in securing musicians
Heinrich Hensel, their leading German
! tenor. is in the German army. The di-
rectors have decided to return over
100000 to subscribers. The failure Of
the opera company to supply perform
ances involves a loss of more than $780,
900. A slight offset to this loss may be
made by arranging for short seasons at
popular prices. the parts to be taken by
singers now In this country and available
for contract.
The abandonment of the season by the
Chicago Grand Opera Company debars
Philadelphia and
Singers Are Fighting Baltimore also
in European Army. onepa since the
same performers make up the schedules
in these cities. Subscriptions approxi-
mating s1oo.oOO will be returned to opera
subscribers in Philadelphia Edward
stotesbury. the president of the Phila-
delphia Opera House has announced the
intended endeavor of the directors to
secure some operas from visiting mem
bers of the Metropolitan Company of
New York. The Boston Opera Company
has issued statement that since at
least fourteen of its artists are al
ready in military service in Europe, it
will be impossible to provide the per-
formances scheduled. Most of these sing
ers are in the army of the allies. Luain
Muratore. the husband of Lima Cavalieri
Alban Grand Edouard Tournan and An
thony Dubois are in the French army,
Leo Devaux and Clement Deru are fight
ing with the Belgians.
The responsibility for grand opera n
America this season now rests with the
Metropolitan and the Century opera COM
panies of New York. Many doubts had
been expressed regarding the perform
ances of the Metropolitan Opera Com
pany. especially if Italy should declare
| war. These were set at rest last week
by the formal announcement that the
company expects to carry through the
entire season with some alterations In
the schedule first planned. Its season In
New York will open November l6 with
Carmen Geraldine Farrar will sing
the title role for the first time. and Ca
russo will sing the part of Don Jose. II
is understood that the Wagner cycle will
be omitted because so many German
singers are in military service.
The Century Company will open earlier.
The proceeds for the tickets sold for the
first two perform
Money May Go ances will be ap-
piled to the work
Society. The first performance will be
for the Red Cross work of the allies and
the second for the work in the armies in
Germany and Austria. Society women
under the direction of Miss Mabel Board
| man have arranged for these two mon
ster benefit performances. Large blocks
of tickets have been distributed and sold
weeks in advance.
The Boston Symphony Cancelled its en-
gagements for the fall tour because Of
the impossiblity of assembling the or
chestra. The tour was to have been made
in October previous to the regular Bos-
ton season. All the important members
of the orchestra have now been heard
from, so it is believed that there will be
no doubt regarding the regular concert
schedules for the season of 1914-15.
The Philharmonic Society of New York
has lost at least two members of the
orchestra. Henri Leon lie Roy. the first
clarinetist. had returned to New York
but was obliged to go back to France for
service in the army, and Joseph Gotsch,
the leading cellist is reported to be in the
fighting front Several other members,
| including the conductor. are yet to be
| heard from, but ARRANGEMENTS will be
made for their substitutes Leopold
Stowski. the leader of the Philadelphia
Orchestra. announced recently that eight
cen of his musicians are being held in
Europe. though he expects to secure sub
stitutes for them Their absence may
prevent the presentation of Mahier's
Eighth Symphony, an elaborate compo-
sition. which had been a cherished project
for this seasons performance.
While the performances of grand opera
companies and symphony orchestras are
being interfered
Individual Concerts with by the war,
to Be Numerous. tna l prenle.ea 'hat
certs by individual performers will go far
to make up for the lack. Nine. Sembrich,
who had Cancelled all her American en-
gagements for this winter, has reconsid-
cred her decision and will sail from Rot
| terdam early in October. Tina I.erner,
the Russian pianist. Will come to America
at least a month earlier because of con-
ditions in Europe. Miss Lerner had a
! concert tour planned late in the season.
but decided to sail at the earliest oppor-
| tunity. She has already had some diff
culties in crossing the borders of her ma
tive land. Germaine Schnitzer, a distin-
guished German pianist, who has been
spending the summer in the United States
with the intention of returning to Europe,
has Cancelled her European engagements.
She will devote this season to concert
work in this country. Those in touch
with musical conditions intimate that
many other distinguished artists will come
to US; so instead Of continuous schedules
of long arranged events the coming sea-
son will be rich in surprises of many
kinds.
The abandonment OF the regularly
scheduled operas will open the way for
the appearance of many unknown artists.
Already in several cities the organiza-
ton of temporary companies is being con-
sidered. Such companies will bring for
VI i,ia