Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-06-12
nearly equal vocal equipment of the

cast.
DUT opera is not all singing and act
- ing. In the performances last week,
the principal feature was the enthusi-
asm of both cast and chorus. This rare
attribute is not often found among COM
panies containing the greatest stars.
They are generally highly Temperament
tai, which results either in perform
ance of the highest merit or in one
which falls below the average.
The enormous cost of opera, even
where there are no stars of the first
magnitude to eat up most Of the admis-
sions in fees, is the main drawback to
its general acceptance by our public.
A modern opera requires an orchestra
OF at least forty-five or fifty. many Of
whom must be musicians of great skill
and experience, and as such, must be
highly paid. The Chorus operas" also
are expensive to give. as an equal num-
Der Of trained chorus singers must be
added to the payroll. For these rea-
sons it is impossible to get the admis-
sion prices down quite SO low as those
OF the theatres, but as was the case
last week, there was not much diff.
ference.
The main trouble is not the lack Of
money on the part of the public, but its
failure to realize what even short
season OF opera will do for their musi-
cal culture. When this knowledge is
acquired, the problem of audiences for
the smaller companies will be effectually
solved
E'EW concert goers appreciate the
disadvantages under which the "as-
sSisting artist" usually labors in appear
ing on the same program with popu-
lar musical idol, such as Titta Ruffo.
John Mccormack or other drawing card
OF this rank. OF all the difficult places
IN IN musical performance, this is one Of
the worst.
In the first place the unfortunate
assistant" realizes quite keenly that
the large audience is there only to hear
the great "star" and that alone he or
she could not draw more than a cor
poraPs guard. This feeling in itself
Is not calculated to inspire the self
confidence that is necessary to a first.
class performance and it Is frequently
aggravated by the unintentional atti-
tude of the audience, which often shows
only too plainly that it considers the
assistant only necessary evil to be
Dorne while the popular idol rests be-
tween the groups Of songs and bunches
or encores which make up his every ap-
pearance.
Notwithstanding this handicap. the
work of the assisting artist" is often
of high standard The writer has
heard concerts in which the lowly as.
slstant considerably surpassed in mu-
steamship the work Of the soloist. But
could he make the audience believe this?
Never. They came to hear some one
with a great reputation and that rCpu-
tation, fully as much as the perform.
ance, governed the applause.
nF COURSE 1t Is not to be supposed
~ for moment that any star, cap
able of filling the Metropolitan or the
academy, is going to have an "assist-
ing artist" who will attract too much
public attention. When this occurs,
there is no longer an assistant, but the
affair becomes Joint concert" In
this case. there is a division of money
and applause, a situation repugnant to
most stars.
But 1t must be said for the stars
that they are usually anxious that the
assisting artist" shall draw goodly
need of applause. Very few Of them 90
to the length of singing song with an
instrumental obbigato and sharing the
plaudits Of the house with the in
strumentalist. but they are perfectly
willing that the player shall score what
he can ION his own" The point IS
that the assistant often does work OF
musical calbcr which deserves far
more recognition than it ever gets Win
heavy drawing card as the chief emo
of the concert.
These assistants are used almost ex-
clusively by singers and for two rea.
sons, one to give the vocalist rest
and the other for variety. American
audiences are Oliver Twists in de-
manding more" and the singer VINO
gives three or four songs and as many
encores every time he appears ON the
stage needs n little rest after couple
of groups. II the encores are not forth
coming, the singer is deemed ungracloue,
with bad box Office results the hei'
time he comes. A famous italian pari'
tone had taste of that this last sea.
son. Therefore the assistant has ns
uses even If he is not always appfs'
ciated. vNs