The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-06
STARSSTRIKE,
HALTING OPERA
Singers in aida at Lexington
Theatre Refuse to Play
without Being Paid.
1,2O0 ARE DISAPPOINTED
!I've Been Swindled,' Manager
Says, His Backers Having
Ignored His Needs.
1000 ARE DISAPPOINTED

Financial difficulties with some OF
the cast caused a postponement of
the New York Opera Associations an
nounced performance OF Aida" last
night at the Lexington Theatre after
an audience Of 1900 persons had waited
patiently for nearly two hours. Their
surging through the lobby and vain at
tempts TO get their money back at the
box Office necessitated summoning re-
serves from the East Ffftyh street
police station.
Their money will be refunded. ac-
cording to an announcement from the
stage, at the Office Of Allen Sabiani,
Inc, 1oi West Forty-frst street. by
presentation Of their ticket stubs there
to-day between 8 A. M. and P. NJ.
Theodore Van Hemert. manager OF the
association. which has for It's purpose
the development OF young singers. told
NEW YoRK HERALD reporter that the
postponement was due to the failure OF
the men who promised to back him TO
live I'D 10 their word. He personally
paid for everything. he said. that went
To make a success Of the association's 8
initial performances, Carmen" on Tues
day night. He st!ll hopes to present the
announced double bill for next Tuesday.
Orchestra Fails 70 Appear.
The audience filed into the big theatre
at the usual hour. and were surprised
when overture time came around that
there was no orchestra In the pit Men
and women waited patiently or I'M
patiently, as they eaw NJ. but none OF
verdis meiiinuous notes soothed their
cara Already there were nurmurinss
and uneasy looks and a drift toward the
box Office.
Some time after 8 o'clock Joseph Dunn
Of tho associations publicity department.
announced from the stage that a trunk
had been missing. but that 1t had now
been found and tha. the performance
would 20 on In five minutes. Several
times nvc minutes passed and the move
ment toward tho lobby was growing
stronger when the musicians filed into
the orchestra pit This. however. did not
have It's usual Significance. and at 10
o'clock Antonio Bagarozy. who had
something 10 do with the management,
announced from the stage that one or
the principals had refused 10 60 on and
that n postponement OF tho performance
was unavoidable.
by that time Sergeant Hayes and a
squad Of reserves from the station house
were IN the lobby and preserved order
among those who thought they might
se. their money at the box office instead
OF further downtown, as directed. They
were told there was not enough cash on
hand and 10 do AZ they were told from
the smge.
Chorus Men Are Plscated.
Harry Chin Chin OF 1853 East iisth
street. who said ne was delegate OF the
Chorus Mems Union. witt headquarters
in the Caiety Theatre Building. told
NEW York HEEhLp reporter that tho
thirty-six chorus men had refused TO go
on early in the evening unless they wero
paid. II was customary TO be paid after
the first act he said. but something
told him no should demand the money
for the men before the performance
started; 1926 was collected aad the
chorus men finally agreed 10 20 on with
that divided among them. but By that
time trouble had developed among the
principals.
i've been deserted. The men who
promised 70 back me have failed me.
They've ignored me-" was all that Mr.
Van Hemert could say.
Tho performance was TO have had
Miss Emma Noe. vho was with the
Chicago Opera Company last year. In
the role Of Aida. Carlo Marziali was
TO have boon Radames. Miss Ada Poggi
was cast az A'nnsrts and Augusta Ot4
tone was TO have been the king. The
conductor was Sulgenzio GuerrierL
The New York Opera Association was
organized for the purpose OF encouraE-
ing young talent here In America, Civ
ing the singers the opportunity TO have
debuts In grand opera In New York
The scale of prices was arranged 10 ap-
peal both to those already ardent opera
goers and those who might be induced
to become such IL the cost were mod
crate.
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