New-York tribune., 1919-10-26
Concerning German Opera

were once confronted with the phe
a seasons first night opera. Mr.. Con-
RED. who succeeded Mr.. Grau. pro-
Tossing much, did little for German
opera, yielding more and more to the
preludlces of the boXholders. till il as
Well as French opera, began to fall
INTO a decay Low ebb for both was
reached in the early part of Mr.. Gattis
cohsulshlp SO fac as the subscription
performances were concerned, but they
became a strong prop for the extra
hlghts and afternoons, and so they Re-
mained until the United States was
dragged into the war by the criminallv
insane policy of Germany.
The Neutral Period
\, Throughout the period of neutrality
Mr.. Gattl's policy of maintaining Ger.
man performances was righteous and
1ustifable. 1t was upheld by The
lrlDune's music reviewer with as much
energy as he could muster. But 81
was the act Of Mr.. Gatti in banishine
ene German tongue and the German
s.ngers after our country was en-
orolled in the war. The Question had
become not one of art, but of public
poilcy The singers had become enemy
aileehs, and 1T was wise and right, as
wen as proper and practical, for the
sake OF the institution and public
peace to put taboo of silence upon
.hem. There was no reason why. for
the sake OF an artistic abstraction. the
people of the United States should
put money into their hands which
would, or at least might, in time be
turned into aid and comfort for our
enemies. In sense it was merely a
part OF the commercial warfare which
would of necessity follow the military
1t compelled a departure from the
principIe adhered to with practically
entire consistency that operas should
be performed in the language en-
ployed IN their composition. But no
one familiar with our operate condi
tlons dreamed that it was the purpose
.! Nlr; Iattl to continue the anomalous
situation any longer than could
be helped. Something of artistic
excellence might be sacrificed for a
space, but for this there was com
pensatlon IN the granting Of larger
measure Of privilege to the vernacular
"a privilege for which q large clamor
not altogether wise nor altogether
blameworthy, had been made.
1t was unfortunate for them that the
cancellation Of their contracts wrought
hardship to q few excellent artists: but
1t IS now doubly unfortunate for the art
which they represent that they have
thought it their privilege, though enemy
aliens, to provoke controversy. foment
disorder and increase the hatred which
loya. American not of German birth
or antecedents have come to feel
toward the German language. 1t is Of
little consequence whether or not the
hatred is reasonable. 1t exists, and in
the hearts of many who have suffered
affliction because Of the war it is felt
to be righteous hatred. Some Of the
principal singers Of the Star Opera
Company have done things which have
proved and will continue to prove to be
harmful to an art which should know
no geographical or national boundaries
Last Monday was not the frs. time
that the police authorities were called
on to qucll riotous disturbances which
these singers invoked, however innocent
may have been their purposes.
Ghoulish Rejoicing
And it is a hundrcdfold more un-
fortunate and deporable that man
should have been permitted to lead
the agitation in favor of restoration
of the German language in public per-
formances who had lifted his voice in
ribald rejoicing over Il crime which
the heart OF a single loyal American to
forgive, forget or condone-the murder
on the free and open sea of the hun
dreds who sailed in the steamship Lusi-
tania on her last voyage to Europe
Mr.. Goritz has said that he had sup
posed that that act of his, committed
when the United States WAS neutral
nation and he was enjoying the gencr-
Gus hospitality Of the American people,
was thing of the past. The thing it.
memory. That must remain ever present
70 long as Mortified American imagina-
ton shall picture agonized faces Of
strong men and innocent women and
children going unknellcd and uncoffincd
into the bubblng depths of the ocean
We cannot purchase artistic pleasure at
such cost Of honest manhood The
most shameful, and as it will prove, the
most hurtful incidents at the perform
ances Of German opera at the Lexington
Theater have been the ovations ten
dcrcd by German American audiences
to Otto Goritz.
The riotous conduct Of the men who
sought TO prevent the performances at
the theater is not TO be excused. 1t
~as not only unlawful; 1t was i'll
advised and calculated to defeat what
Was It's oatensible object. The new in
stitution has no affinity with German
opera as 1t won triumphs for Itself and
the general cause Of art at the Metro
pol!tan Opera House. 1T cannot take
the place of that which once WAS, and
its persistence for 4 space would Work
no harm TO the German opora which