The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-14
WOULD BAN OPERAS
OF GERMAN ORIGIN
Metropolitan Box Holders and
Subscribers Conducting
Quiet Campaign.
no DEFINITE STEPS YET

Although 10 definite steps have as vet
been taken it is true tina; there is a
strong feeling among the Subscribers
against the performance OF German
operas NJ the Metropolitan Opera House
next season. Quietly but with de;er-
mlnatlon many OF the boNhoIders are
making summer propaganda against
the performance of works which conn.
from nati7u not so beloved hv many
~ the United States just now as & may
nave been in the past. Those who are
most active in this direction hope there
Will he enough interest In the campaign
by autumn To convince Giulio Gatti-
Cdsaz2a and the directors hack or hin,
that 'he German operas may well be
omitted for while from the repertoire.
Last fall one II the most influential
directors OF the Metropolitan Opera and
Real Estate Company tried to bring
about the abolition of all German works
from the announcements for the season
strong as the feeling was I'm certain
quarters at that time his efforts failed.
The situation is somewhat different now.
There " every condition to favor the
success Of The new plan, which IL just
now being discussed with the greatest
tervor IN Newport and Roslyu. Bar
iarhor and Lemon and wherever the
subscribers and stockholders of IN.
opera house meet
The sudden departure Of Frleda Hem
pei. VINO next year is 70 be a lyric and
not C0'ordture soprano and Will he
busy in the German repertoire, does not
mean, as many persons supposed. that
she returned to GcrmarN because she
felt there would be little opportunity for
her next winter Al the Metropolitan
Under her agreement with G'ulio ,iatti-
'asa22a Mile. llempcl had n night 10
return to Germany this summer, or i'm
fact to leave the United States All the
artists engaged for next year We're ex-
pcct"d 10 stay here I'm order that there
might he no difficulty about their pres.
erce here when they viii he required
Mile. Hempcl, as u matter Of fact
was called TO Germany by cabIa mes
sage announcing the sudden and grave
Illness of her father She received this
news one day and departed the next 70,
Chrishania. She will return as soon AS
her fathers condition Is improved -
her return II Germany was I'm no wa,
connected with the effort of many pcr.
sons to eliminate German operas from
the repertoire or the MrtropOlitlr
Opera House.
The fact that the country of Giulit
Gatti-Casazza is AT war with Germany
and the Royal Opera House in Rerllr
has already barred the works of Puccsn
, leads those interested IN the propagandg
against musical works Of German origir
/ to hope for sympathy from him. 1t mus,
I b" borne in mind. however. thai
! there are many German subscriber,
20 the Metropolitan Opera House, that tn,
/ German operas are practically only In,
Wagner operas and that they have beer
an important part Of the repertoire fol
years Then, II has been pointed out II
some quarters, this is not "A good tim,
10 offend any generous supporters Of tn,
opera, which the German citizens OF New
York most assuredly are.
But there are many persons interested
In the unofficial attempt to ban opera,
in German and they are hopeful o.
carrying through their plan during IN,
Approaching season.