Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-02-08
WHAT OF THE OPERA?

To the Editor Of EUening Ledger:
Sir-"What do you think of the opera for this
Tuesday nght?" seems to be on the lips of al
most every one at all interested in music.
My question is just n little different: 'What
has Philadelphia done to deserve this? The
very beginning of the season a raw deal
To be sure the house was packed for All Trova-
tore and at first sight you might think that
the answer. But how many in that audience
were the real genuine music lovers of Phlladel-
phia who are regular patrons of the o1- .ra and
help make it possible in this city? Wasn't the
audience made up largely of youngsters and old
fogies who go to hear I'll Trovatore" because
1t is one of the few operas within their COM
prehension, and who go to hear it every time
1t is given just the same as they 20 TO see
"Ben-Hur" or East Lynne?
The EVENING LEDGER has already commented
upon the amentable fact that have so far
been afflicted with Madame Rappold three times
this season. Her performance in I'll Troya-
tore was almost inexcusable, and while in
"Lohengrin" and "The Magic Flute she did
not have to scramble around for her high notes
as she did on her first appearance / would
certainly beg to differ with one of the Phila-
delpha critics who said that she sang 1.-THE
Magic Flute" as though it had been written
for her.
Aside from the way we have been stung sew
eral times on the singers (some of this may
have been due to the great amount of grip
this season-Oh, welcome 'gTip'D, how can we
explain the selection of operas? OF course,
everything that has been given has its place
in complete operate repertoire, but that Is
no reason for giving the same things over
and over again year in and year out: witness
"The Magic Flute" La Boheme," 'Lohen-
grin" la Tosca."
Why cannot Philadelphia get some of the
newer productions? Surely We have not had
enough of Boris" and "The Three Kings"
From the way things have gone so far tbis
year, we may easily believe that all we shall
see of "Prince Igor and "Goyescas" for the
next two or three years will be the press
notices from the New York papers. When YOU
glance over those papers and read the big Iist
OF operas produced there every week ii makes
you feel as though Philadelphia We're getting
only the dregs.
And now we must have Lucia dl Lammer-
moOF'l If the Metropolitan Opera Comnanv
could feel the undereurrent of sentiment against
the presentation of this revival in Philadel-
phia, perhaps they would be made to realize
that we are deserving OF a little better than
this: let us hope that 1t win be strong enough
to spare their latest reviyal-"Rigoetto -
We might however, welcome a few OF the
Ring Cycle" Tristan" "Parsifal" or even
"Tannhaeuser'; but it Is almost a sacrilege To
mention them in the same paragraph.
The whole thing looks as though this Is mere
ly another manifestation of what Prof Scott
Nearing calls the great American philosophy
speaking, We are down. we are absolutelv al
the mercy of the Metropolitan Opera COMPANY.
Being practically In state of operate star
walton, we crave for more opera, and ike tha
proyerbial hungry dog, grab after all the
crumbs that are thrown to u.s. l suppose the
Metropolitan Opera Company take that as an
overwhelming indication OF our approval ~
their policy in this city: their policy OF handing
US Caruso-or a Wagner-"sopt once IN a
while just to give ps something to distract
our attention from the rest that they give US.
isn't there some way In which the manage
ment Of the Metropolitan Opera Company can
be made TO realize that Philadelphia does moi
always want to hear repeats, ana most en-
and ends 81 the operate Junk heap thrust upon
il. oven though Il Iz Tor tie purpose d sIfo.sIzss
OF sonas particular reinaE kaaia aiasefs kass