The sun., 1916-10-01
By w. J. HENDERSON.

House Of1ceS because the radiORraphlc
conductor. Arturo Toscanini. still hesi-
tates to abandon his country in the
hour Of her need. Mr.. Toscanini's
patriotism commands solemn respect,
but It brings tears to the eyes Of sew
eral Of the opera company directors.
particularly those who believe that the
art Of the world is made in Italy and
that T%oscanini is It's chief cxpounder.
Doubtless some music lovers will
regret the absence Of this eminent con-
ductor. but there can be no question
that to the great majority OF opera.
gocrs the effect OF his absence Is one
created wholly by their " imagina-
lions. For there Ia nothing in music
of which less is known than the real
meaning Of conducting.
Put a screen around the conductors
chair n then let Toscanini conduct
the first act. Polaccr the second and
Bavagnoli the third. and give no In
formation Of the changes to the audi
ence. You will probably hear from
not a few that Toscanini was at his
best In the third act.
Hundreds OF good people cannot be
persuaded to believe flat Bodanzky Is
as competent a conductor US Hertz
because he makes so little fuss about
what he is doing. When Col. Roose-
welt shakes his fist toward heaven.
half closes his eyes. grits his teeth and
shouts: II hate a crook. no matter
whether he is a Republican. "A Demo-
crat or a m~ollycoddle,' most people
are convinced that they have Just
heard an important u%tterance. Con-
Quoting Is construed by most people In
a similar n
In opera II is always n mystery e
the uniformed. Therefore IL has no,
been so very difficult to persuade some
people that the scores OF Puccini and
Verdi actually streamed from the furi-
ously agitated end OF Toscanini's
baton. Yet the opera season Of 1915.
1916 pursued its curse to the enc
without the assistance of this potent
stick OF wood n the public seemed
to be fairly well pleased.
II IL indeed unfortunate that Mr.
Toscanini cannot return In IFS Inn, &,
is by no means as unfortunate as
some OF the directors would have II,
believe. The fate of an opera season
does not depend on "A single can.
ductor. Some observers are inclined
to feel that ~tteution mich, nroh.,i,
1n r.e. T.-.. G - A.,
loss and directed to IN. want of nov
singers Of good quality.
We are usually told that ,hcre mr.,
none. Just now WI, ar, also In.
formed that Il, Is inpossible 10 20
them owing to the restrictions i'm
posed by the war. This. OF course
seems singular in view OF the fac
that In the other departments q
music the war conditions make +, al
= together too easy 10 get stars. W,
. are overloaded with them. Their mum
: Der has increased the rise OF the lid,
? on the main coast.
Tho policy Of the present director
: of the METROPOLITAN Opera House 4,
respect OF singers is one which ha
= mys,ited more thar one hahitual oh
}. server II musical do!nss. But ther
: is no mist surrounding the bald fac
that the vocal standard is lower no,
u than 1, formerly was. certain sing
. .rs who seemed 10 promise vel, dis
appeared with astonishing swif,nes
rom the public gaze and s~uhs.ouer,l
were found among the Stars OF m
concert platform and the p~hon,oranhl
records.
OF others who vcrc ncy.r snspcci.
~ abilities to climb 10 the hrs, ran
tho urcss agents ~tynewri,cr nov,
y ceases "a sing rho triumnbs Wbi,
n such ,h.prs h,y, be.n going an ~
a have been urged 70 give onr con.it
u GRAFTON exclusively IN tho pre.,n..
e of Mr.. roscanlni and later to she
y our unavailing tears 2 his absenc
IL Nothing "ould be erected by
. closer examination OF the process,
by which the character OF the pei
l. formances at the Metropolitan hs
Is reached its present stage. Po!nts
comment IL attended by hazard 10 Il
In commentator. as well as by fulfill
n in result.
n. The general public and the pres
the doings OF the Metropolitan, III
they should be careful not to V
estimate their influence. The dom
70 mating power In the guidance " u
~ institution is Society. IL Society lik'
1t, "A singer. the matter is settled. ~
'' pnx-shaDar 0>rilAS tn SttypNSs thl