The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-05-29
The Opera Problem in the United States
ITS SOLUTION

The Washington Opera Company,
was founded In 1918 by Edouard
Albion. 1t has become of national
Importance in that It's suecess
through three continuous seasons
presents the first solution of one of
the most vital problems which con-
front America today
WHY TIME PROBLEM - VITAL
The present situation In the musical
world. IL fully realised. would arouse
| the same spirit Of revolt which pre-
| cipitated the famous tea party In
Boston Harbor. IL IL not the spirit OF
America TO be a dependent nation.
That point was definitely settled I'm
the days of '76.
But we have claimed and main
tanned only our political and economic
freedom. We placidly and joyousiy
accept artistic vassalage. Art Is q
higher development than politics or
finance. Why resent dependence In
material fields of achievement and
with absolute indifference acclaim
and perpetuate foreign domination In
the greater realm of culture?
We not only allow. but demand, that
the small opera houses OF Europe
train and perfect our singers With
out the 246 opera houses OF Italy we
/, would have no Metropolitan or
Chicago Opera.
DEMAND FOREIGN SINGERS.
We demand foreign singers and
| foreign training for our own singers
| In composition and production we &C
cept only the foreign product Tho
few exceptions to this are as the
proverbial swallow to the spring.
I'VE want the best or none" Is the
explanation usually offered for this
attitude.
Quite right. But It Is a short
sighted. selfish and un-American pol
| icy which refuses to offer opportunity
for our own to become. the best
The United States has become the
financial leader of the world through
protecting infant industries until
they grew strong enough to stand
foreign competition.
We have reversed this policy In the
world OF art. The result is a tremen-
dous wastage of money and genius.
and a state OF enervation which keeps
us artistically a conquered nation.
With one hundred and ten million
people we have at present two opera
houses. We could not have become a
great financial nation with two
| banks. We could not have become
a cultured nation with two schools.
| We could not be a heaithful nation
with two hospitals. We could not be
| q Christian nation with two churches.
IL we are to become a musicai ma
ton the opera house must be as much
a part OF the civic consciousness az
the bank. the hospital. the school. OF
the church.
SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC ASPECTS
Into New York each year there 60
/ at least $4,000 music students. 1t Is
| conservative to say that SIb,OoO,OOO
is expended in their training. On this
tremendous investment there Is prac-
tically no financial return to the mu-
sicians and but little musical return
to an enormous music-hungry public
! In addition to this wastage, IL Is
quite impossible to estimate the mil
| lions spent In Europe each year by
aspiring young students. These mil
lions are poured out as tribute 10
! the artistic superiority of foreign ma
tions-a total financial loss to the
United States.
| Among t0ese students are many
who achieve a high STANDARD OF pro-
,duction. Full of hope, they return to
New York. There they pay more
money. provided they have II. into the
Golfers of the booking agencies. Some
of these agents are absolutely un
scrupulous. All are more or less
powerless. They can only supply ex-
listing demands. They cannot open
new channels Of employment.
The best engagements in our two
opera companNs are filled by high
priced foreign artists. Again there IL
| no way to estimate the millions viii II
each year are poured through them In
Europe-our tribute to their super
iority and artistic domination.
The same business principle which
has built the bank accounts OF our
masters of finance would preserve this
enormous revenue for our own ma
| ton.
But more important than that II
| would preserve the life and genius
which perishes for lack OF oppor'
tunity.
THE PENALTY Of INDIFFERENCE
Surrounded by conditions unbeheV'