Evening star., 1932-04-03
New York Faces Crisis
In the Development of
Metropolitan Opera Co.
Lack of Funds Imperils the Existence of Major
operate Instituton-1ts Future Is Linked
With Plans for Radio City
Bv E. de S. Melcher.

and satins necessarily predomi-
nate in the audience. While the
galleries have always been tlllst
at the Metropolitan, it is the
ground floor and the ground floo4
up that has had to pay and pay
and pay. Now it seems, as though
if the old guard goes WhiStling out
into the wind, and the new comes
in, opera may turn an about face
and become the common musical
denominator, as Mr.. Henderson
suggests, of the public at large.
This, too, will give the local
opera forces their opportunity.
If, for instance, Radio City swal-
lows up the former Thirty-ninth
street hostelry, then it must neces-
sarily swallow up and probably
dispose of some of the great for
eign divas. In their place will
crop up the American voices which
have sung long and earnestly but
have never been able to master
the foreign vocal tongues as well
as their own.
AS far as eliminating the foreign
languages to second place in
opera-that seems doubtful. There
are ways and ways of saying
everything-but it does seem as
if certain languages go with GER
tain operas and as If the tongue
twisting that is often necessary in
the translation into the vernacular
is more of a struggle than other
wise. This fact was illustrated in
Washington two years ago by the
American Opera Company. Well
trained voices we're not able to
overcome the handicap of hearing
Faust" for instance, in English
1t was done-certainly-but there
was something terribly fiat in
hearing the Jewel Song" sung as
the Jewel Song" While one may
speak of it in such terms it seems
heresy to sing it that way.
So while opera may change its
colors. and go trouping uptown in
there be presided over by Maestro
StokoWski (neceSsitating certain
divas to go back home) it doesn't
seem possible that the public at
large-even when it becomes
much larger-will prefer its opera
primarily English.
** ~
A LII of which reminds us that
when the Metropolitan comes
to Baltimore on April 18, 19 and
20, it may be the last time that it
will get even this near to Wash
ington City. Many prominent
music patrons will be travelling
over (including it is said, Mrs
Herbert Hoover to hear Les
Contes d'Hoffmann" on the open
ing night, "Tannhauser" on the
second and "L'Africana" on the
final night. The casts are among
the most notable ever presented |
by this company-incuding, it will
be recalled. Ponselle, Pons, Bori |
Moore, Ljunberg, Tibbett, Gigli |
Claussen, Swarthout and many
others.
THE campaign in behalf of the
National Symphony Orchestra
is not by any means progressing
with the leaps and bounds that |
AN NAAOAAA' W IldN6
been Sc far much talk and little !
work. 1t is we'll enough to say
that the future for this organiza-
tlon Is assured, but the fact is
that 1t Is not by any means as
sured. In fact, unless considerable |
action suddenly takes place, the
National Symphony may Join the |
ranks of the dispirited Metro
politan Opera Company. Unfortu-
nately this group cannot accept |
the Is per cent cut which the |
artists OF the Metropolitan have
signified their willingness to adopt |
II necessary. 1t is not a veteran
organization which has reached a |
peak and can lop off some of it's |
finances without cutting into its
life-blood. What it needs it needs
and without that definite stimu-
!us it cannot progress. Nor can
1t progress merely by committee
meetings. The public at large
must take 1t under its wing. At,
the moment that wing is not
particularly hospitable.