New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-01
'DAMROSCH TRAPPED
BY FLASHLICHT
Composer Objects to Use
of His Name as Backing
Opera Academy Plan.
DINNER BECAME
ADVERTISING SCHEME
Warns Ambitious Singers to Be-
ware of Henry Russell's Pro.
posed Paris Venture.

Walter Damrosch wants il thorough.
ly understood that he is not concerned
in Henry Russell's plans to uplift i'm
pecuniouS opera singers with $4,000
scholarships. lie was present at a din
ner at the Claridge last week when Mr..
Russell and others discussed Mr.. Rus
sells scheme for the international
Academy of Opera in Paris. But Mr..
Damrosch thought he was going to the
Claridge simply 20 eat dinner with
David Bispham.
lie was surprised to find Mr.. Russell
and about a dozen others there dis
cussing the Russell project. He was
still more surprised when a fashlght
was taken. lie was painfully shocked
when the photograph was reproduced
in newspapers with articles intimating
that Mr. Damroch was connected with
the international Academy of Opera.
All this and more he recounted in
letter to The Tribune. In part his let
ter IS as follows:
Last week Mr.. David Bispham called
me up by telephone and invited Mrs.
Damrosch and myself to dine with him
at the Hotel Claridge. No mention of
any other guests was made and ! &C
ceptcd. assuming IT to be a private So
cial function. Somewhat to my aston
ishment I found 1t to be a dinner got
I'D by Mr.. Henry Russell, who figures
in the announcements OF the lnterna-
tional Academy of Opera as director
and for the purpose of advertising this
enterprise. A fashlight camera had
been installed in the private dining
room. together with publicity agent
as one Of the guests in order to use
"A picture OF those present for sdver-
Using purposes"
Mr. Damrosch says that he informed
Mr.. Bispham Of his disapproval of such
methods, and was promised that neither
his name nor his picture would be
used
THE preliminary prospectus of the
enterprise" he continues, paints the
advantages to be gained by young
would-be operate singers from con
nection with it in very alluring colOrs.
Il prints a long list OF princes, dLNes.
duchesses, etc, a. members OF the
Paris Committee but 1t withholds in
formation on several important points,
notably in whom the financial respon-
siblity is vested whether IL Is a
philanthropic institution or com
mercial enterprise.
ut seems TO me, therefore, that, as
the price of a scholarship is $4,000
and as every recipient is obliged TO
sign an agreement with the Academy
by virtue Of which a percentage OF mis-
or her subsequent operate earnings
must he paid to the Academy until
such time as the entire $4,000 is re-
funded, much more detailed guaran-
tee as 20 the integrity of this enter
prise should be given before American
musicians or philanthropists allow
themselves to become identified with
it."
Neither Mr. Damrosch nor Mr.. Rus
sell would discuss the matter last
night.
Mr. Russell's project was to help not
only young and unknown singers, but
composers as well. Primarily 1t was
for artist war refugee The Academy
was to occupy the l. tire de Champs
Elysee, at which Mr.. Russell had three
months of opera last spring, with an
understanding that the remaining nine
months were 10 De ueFONeu 70 mOHlnS
pictures de luxe. Mr.. Russell is versed
in the ways of the artistic tempera-
ment, and last May was sued by Flor
encio Constantine for $4,000, under an
alleged contract with the San Carlos
Opera Company. The Spanish tenor
was himself under arrest for breach of
contract.
On the Paris committee TO which
Mr.. Damrosch referred are the names
of the following: Prince de Monaco,
Princesse Murat, Comtesse de Bearn,
Comtesse de Chevigne, Duchesse Dou-
deauville, Duchesse de GrammOnt, Mar
quise de Ganay, Jean Hennesey, Miss
Yznaga, Otto Kahn, Paul Lebaudy,
Comtesse de Noailles, Prince Orlof,
Princesse de Polignac, Duchesse de
Rohan, Baronne Henri de Rothschild,
Mime. Louise Stern. Mrs. Rutherfurd
Stuyvesant, Duchesse de la Trcmoille,
Duchesse Dues, Lord Grlmthorpe and
Rena Lara.
At the dinner which Mr.. Damrosch
attended were David Bispham, Mr.. and
Mrs. FIR TX Damrosch. Nine. Frances
Aida. Theodore H. Bauer. John Brown.
Dr. Holbrook Curtis, Henry L. Merry,
Miss Belle Greene, Miss Lille Lawlor,
Mr.. and Mrs. George c. Riggs Kate
Douglas Wiggin), Mrs. Gertrude Ather-
. Harry Eusspll