The New York herald., 1922-02-26

MISS NIdIutll ut(ldi cb SOiiiS S1AAS SlfS "
that in ter opinion New York was not
the field for the Chicago opera. The
West was far more promising. Mean
while many music lovers continue to
cry, New York ought to be able to
support two opera houses" One of
these assertions is not necessarily re-
lated to the other. 1t kas been con-
clusively proved that New York will
not support two operate institutions
OF the present two types. The reason
ought TO be manifest. They are too
much alike.
That is one very good and sufficient
reason. If we had two opera houses
differing in character and styles as do
the Grand Opera and the Opera
Comique in Paris, perhaps there might
be hope for both. But there is an
other matter to be considered, and
while il is no way within the province
OF musical comment. 1t is so plain to
see that even a common musical re-
viewer may be permitted to speak
OF It.
Opera a Social Institution.
The opera in this city Is largely a
social institution. 1t might be posi-
ble to keep two opera houses going il
one were the resort OF society and the
other a peoples opera" exclusively.
But then we should be confronted
with that other difficulty, namely, that
in this country the people" will not
endure being set apart and soothed
with something less than the very
best. And without the boxes and high
priced seats you cannot have the very
best in opera.
Suppose, then, that we were to try
the experiment of having two opera
houses each with it's tiers of boxes
and its social register. One trembles
10 think of what would happen. 1t is
inconceivable that society would split
itself between those two houses. 1t is
almost a certainty that il would go TO
one and shun the other for the simple
reason that where the recognized
social leaders had their boxes the
social army would encamp.
II is improbable that this city will
DF Will lWO ODtTd houses
For years to come the operagoing pub
lie win find its pleasures at the Metro
politan and Mr.. Cattle -Casazza will sit
in solemn silence in his Office broodine
on the possibilities of "Nabuco,'
Simon Bocoanegra" and 81 Masna-
dleri" Meanwhile we may return "a
n final consideration of the now hap
PLY completed doings of the visitors
from Chicago.
TweBty-four Operas I'm Five Week,
In tho brief season of five weeks
twenty-four operas were presented
This on the face of 1t seems TO indi-
cate a repertory Of glittering wealth
But many years ago Matthew Arnold
begged Americans to reflect that mere
numbers did not prove superiority
The repcrtcry of the Chicago season
was diversified and so were the per.
formances. If any recognizable stand.
s-d Of taste or style had been disclosed
in this period Of five weeks the mum.
Der of operas In the list would assume
larger significance.
But the plain truth is that most ot
the performances were inadequate
and that altogether too many wer,
downright bad. In some of the repre-
scntations there appeared so littI,
unity OF methods, so little concentra
tion of purpose and so little knowledg,
Of the style OF the work performed
that one felt as IL he we're assisting
az a lssborious effort of amateurs.
\ The fincursion of the company int,
'tha domain Of Wagner was ATTENDED