Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-06
M u SIG
BY HELEN FETTER.

ready many individuals both IN
and OUTSIDE of washington have
expressed their approval and Keen
interest in the idea. Anon 2
others, Mrs. WILSON, Greene re-
celved a telegram from Louise
Homer, famous American contral-
to, and her husband, Sidney
Homer.
1t is interesting to get from this
concert and opera manager direct
an interview as to the various
problems which are being consld-
cred in planning this opera house
for Washington.
In Europe" Mrs. Wilson,
Greene saio, they take their
opera much as we take our base
ball-that is, for it's own sake.
I'm America grand opera has
an inevitable social background
without which it never is really &
success. Opera here is more than
a feast of muSic-d drama; 1t is an
opulent and gorgeous outpouring
of gowns, gems and social promi-
nence. The Wealthier classes find
opera enjoyable in direct ratio to
the opportunity it affords for So
cial contacts during intermiSSions
l need not repeat that our plans
for the new Washington music
hall provide literally for the graft
fication of this desire.
There is, however, a more i'm
pOrtant factor involved in the
construction of this music hall,
from the operate standpoint. It
will afford an auditorium where
opera may be presented without
the burdenSome necessity of rent
ing theater for the entire week
at cost that may range from
$4,000 to $4,000, when two or three
nights at the most may be needed.
An unfortunate example of this,
l recall, was the necessity of pay
ing $4,000 for theater rental to
make possible one night and one
matinee performance of the Chi
cago Opera Co. here several years
ago. These two performances
should not have cost more than
81 1000 for auditorium rental. In
other words, an expense of $4,000
in this case was sheer but un-
avoidable waste. One should not
blame theater owners for this:
they would incur a loss, I believe,
to rent a theater for less than
that figure under certain circum-
stances. However, theater rental
costs form a substantial source of
opera deficits in Washington.
THE greater seating capacity of
the proposed hall, which would
enable opera companies to gross
the necessary totals without such
high prices per seat, and the slim
ulation that would be given to
opera attendance by the greater
comfort and delight of such a new
auditorium are all factors which,
in my opinion, would make posi-
BILE an annual season not only of
the Metropolitan Opera Co. but OF
the Chicago Opera as we'll. And,
in addition, annual engagements
of the German, American, San
Carlo, Russian, Philadelphia and
other opera companies would be-
come highly probable.
Another factor lies in the &C
acknowledgement that WaShington's
opera repertoire is decided by the
character of its auditoriums, not
by what operas the people want
It is still a matter of recent men,
DRY that Chaliapin, singing here
with the Metropolitan Opera, was
forced to appear in Boris Godu-
nov" which he had previously
sung in Washington with the Chi
cago Opera, simply because the
only available theater in Wash
ington was not adequately con-
Structed to put on the opera
"Mefistofele," his sensational Met
ropolitan success.
I'm the concert field I believe
the stimulus of a new music hall
would be effective. A music hail
would make possible the appear
ance here of the greatest orches-
traS in selections requiring full
quota, sometimes exceeding 100
men. It also would be possible to
handle large choruses. The sum
of $500 was collected by music
lovers last season to prepare the
stage of a local theater for the
use of chorus of only 100 when
the Boston Symphony Orchestra
played Bloch's America.
II believe that the erection of
such a music hall as we have III
mind should make it practical tc
give Washington a symphony Or
cheStra of its own. This type of
music hall would give it a home
and should inspire civic interest
in an orchestra.
"a few years ago Morris Gest
approached me with a suggestion
that I cooperate with him in pre-
senting his great spectacle, The
Miracle in Washington. Mr..
Gest and I went over the situa-
ton carefully and every aspect
was favorable except a place to
give it. In the end Mr.. Gest'S eX-
perts told him there was no the
alter in Washington in which The
Miracle could be staged, and as
a result Washington has not had
that drama.
"I have long believed that the
erection Of an adequate music hall
should place the National Capital
in the forefront of American mu-
steal cities-on a par, let us say,
with cities like Boston, Philadel-
phia, Chicago and Los Angeles.
And, from the standpoint of So
cial and artistic brilliance. it
would make Washington's musical
season second to none"