Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-24

Dor of the San Carlo Company, is a
pbi,1dclphian. and Henri Scott. who
with the late David 5ispham Is probably
the best male operate singer the city
has prOduced, appeared several times as
n guest performer. But outside ot
these a number of operate "debutantes'
from this city made their appearances,
omong them being Misses beatrice
Eaton, ITilda Reitcr and Bcatrice
d'Allcsandro. Miss Eaton appearing III
three roles. Besides these. Walter
Pfciffcr conducted two performances OF
"Cavalcria Rusticana.' All Of them
showed that the Judgment of the impre-
sario was good in arranging for their
Appearances.
The advantages. 10 the initiated. of a
first appearance with a company OF eX-
pcrienCed artists can scarcely be over
stated. Invariably the beginner Is
nervous. TO put it mildly, and to know
that he or she is surrounded by com
pany every member of which is not
only willing, but able to extend instant
help If needed. ACIDS much to that con q
fidence which is essential to q Creditablc
debut.
DUT. aside from the artistic success
- which Mr.. Gallos company scored
I'm its first extended stay in phtIadcl =
phia, the financial returns were all that
could be expected from an initiatOry
venture. II is not likely that the com
pany made much money from the three
weeks which IT spent in Philadelphia
but the outlook for the future was
sufficiently satisfactory for Mr.. Gallo tC
agree to return for another and perhaps
longer season next year.
Grand opera is about the most OK
pensive of all forms Of amusement. Boil
chorus and orchestra must be highly
trained musicians and as such demand
and receive good salaries. In addition
to this are the salaries of the members
of the Casts-n large sum. when thu
number and ability of the artists who
are regularly carried by the San Carlo
Company are cOnSidcred-the ballet. the
rental of the house eight times week
depreCiation and replacing of scenery
and costumes, advertising and thou
sand and one other expenses.
The cost of week Of opera Of thu
kind which the San Carlo COmpan!
gave us amounts to at least 500, 900
This means that with eight operas eaCl
week there must be pretty nearly S3OW
n performance taken in to let the i'm
presario break cvrn-and 1t takes
house nearly filled to represent thi
much cash. ut the prices which Mr.
Gallo charged SO. it is easy 10 SCI
that the management Of an operate
company is also taking long chance
even on short season. because he ha
to enter into contracts for most Of thes
expenses in advance.
! A MOTHER interesting feature Of tn
| "A San Carlo season was the fact tha
| the audience distinctly preferred th'
| familiar operas. BY the nature Of it,
| kind of production, the company can
not we'll give many novelties, lhi
being prcrogativc of an endowed com
pnny playing in its own theatn.
| But. of the older operas. tho mos
| tuncful ones were the ones which drew
| the largest audiences. Mr.. Gallo con,
| suited the preferences of his patrons n
| far as he was able to gauge them ant
| presented the operas which they indi
Gated that they wanted to hear. Th
| SiamcSc Twins OF grand onera. "Cavul
| lcria Rusticana" and II PagliacCi.
! proved to be tho most popular. Will
Faust" close second, the crowds II
the three productions of these opera
taxing the capacity of the house.
"Ada" proved another strong favor
itc. which had to be given twice, Will