Evening star., 1932-04-03

r. w. j. HENDERSON, the
M dean of music critics in
V New York, recently has
"A written of the woes which
af1ict the mother city Of Manhat-
tan. No woe is more apparent at
the moment than that which IS
torturing the Thirty-ninth street
onera house. Mr.. Henderson
speaks of such matters as follows:
THE future of opera IN new
York is uncertain. This has oeen
made plain by the reports OF the
proceedings at the recent meetlng
of the directors Of the Metro
politan Opera Company The
organization has exhausted It's
capital. 1t has long depended
upon the owners of the house for
aid and comfort. 1t now invites
ali who desire to preserve 1t to
become members Of the company
with the various details which
must be worked out if the Metro
politan Opera Company is to con-
tinue to offer operate entertain
ment to this community we need
not concern ourselves. Specula-
ton would be idle. When plans
are settled, comment may be
pertinent.
"Neither need we exercise our
analytical powers with examina-
tion of the causes which have led
to the present state OF the
operatic institution. Some, of
course, are self-evident. The de-
preston has wrought its havoc at
Broadway and Thirty ninth street
as well as everywhere else. Opera
is an expensive luxury and many
who could formerly afford it have
had to relinquish it's pleasures
The descent toward the present
state, began however, before the
era of depression. Too many per-
formances below the standards
demanded by the public, too many
singers who had to be paid and
could seldom be used, and other
easily discernible factors con-
tributed toward the unhappy
denouement.
ct is useless to discuss such
matters; what is done is done.
What is to be the future of local
opera is of vastly more Importance
II the Metropolitan company
moves to the new center, popular
ly called Radio City, the condi-
tions under which opera is given
must radically change. So radically
must they change that opera, in
stead of being a fashionable
amusement, must become popu-
lar enjoyment. 1t must depend
for its principal support not on
society but on the general public
This becomes manifest the mo-
ment we consider the fact that
in the new home opera must be
presented with the radio audience
constantly in view.
THAT this audience is showing
an increasing interest in opera is
asserted by those in position to
know. Many questions crowd into
the mind. Perhaps the foremost |
is this: Will the general public |
accept opera in three foreign
languages, with an occasional ex-
cursion into the vernacular, or will
It call for opera in English with
the foreign tongues relegated to
the position now occupied by our
own, or eliminated entirely?"
X
Mr.. HENDERSON goes on to
ask whether opera will be
naturaliZed He thinks evidently
yes. For, says he, opera in Eng
lish, and probably with the vigor-
GUS and ambitious Leopold Sto-
koWski at the conductors desk.
seems to the writer to be the in
evitable outcome if no local body |
offers operate delights" Mr
Henderson SWears that he is not |
singing the swan song of the pres
ent Metropolitan Opera Company.
but there are many who are won
dering if perhaps at this seasons |
climax the old gilded horseshoe
will not double up and die. The
signs in the heavens at the mo-
ment are not by any means
encouraging.
Opera has for long been a
fa shlonable amusement" The |
dollar signs over the boxoffice |
windows have indicated that silks |