New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-25
METROPOLITAN TO
END SALARY GRAB
Will Grant No More In
CreaSeS and One Artist
Must Even Take Cut.

The Metropolitan Opers Company
ia about 20 take decided stand
against the eXactions OF singers in the
matter of salaries, and for the first
time in many years will refuse 10 con
sent TO any increase which they may
demand.
One singer, woman, will even be asked
10 accept a smaller salary next season
than the one she at present receives,
and if she refuses this offer she will
not be re-engaged. This singer will
be the only one the amount of whose
salary per performance is TO be re
duced. but there are several others
who will be forced TO agree 10 fewer
appearances. There is no intention,
however, of reducing the salaries Of
the smaller singers or Of the chorus
and orchestra. Enrico Caruso will con
tinue to receive his $4,000 a night, a
sum which in his case is considered
even cheap.
An official Of the Metropolitan
Opera Company, in explaining the
contemplated action, said that II
should have been taken years ago, as
each year the singers were demanding
more. and unfortunately their de-
mands had usually been granted. The
company faces substantial dehclt
this season owing 10 the smaller size
Of the audiences and the inability OF
the management to arrange Tor IT'S
artists to appear elsewhere than IN
New York. Many artists were engaged
with the understanding that some OF
their guaranteed performances were 10
take place with the BOSTON ana Chl-
cago companies, but the failure OF
these organizations 20 open their sea.
sons has deprived the Metropolitan OF
this source Of revenue.
"lf the Metropolitan was wiling 20
exact its last pound of flesh II could
have most of its artists Tor halt tne
price il is paying them now" said TINS
official. THE best artists now IN Eu-
rope are only too willing 70 come 10
America at small salaries, as the war
has cut Off all chance OF their appear
ing at home. Yet we do not want 10
be unjust, and we are not going 70 Jake
any unfair advantage OF the SITUATION
but the fact remains that our expenses
have greatly increased and we are rae
ing serious deficit.
"The exactions OF singers have been
continually increasing until they nave
become unbearable. In the past,
through weakness, we have gwen IN
70 them. The war has simply pre-
sented US with the psychological mo-
ment TO put an end to these exactions'
and when their contracts come 10 an
end we will refuse 10 increase the
amounts the artists receive, and in the
case of one highly paid soprano we
will even ask her to accept less.
I'VE simply feel that the high sal
AIRED artists must realize that they
can no longer dictate TO US. If they
trv 10 there are plenty Of others will
ing TO take their places. Enrico Caru-
so. however, stands in class by him
self. and only this year we have vol
UNFAIRLY raised the amount he receives
to $500 a performance. lie Is worth
every cent Of it, and more.
cit must be understood that the Met
ropoiitan is not trying to make money
/ for its directors. Any surplus Will be
devoted to the pension fund, though
it is only during the last two years
that there has been a surplus. But
there is no reason why America should
continue to allow itself to be mulcted
by artists who are already receiving
vastly more than they are worth to the
opera company