Evening star., 1939-02-17
Opera Patrons Disappointed When Pay Demont
Of Musicians Forces Munon' Postponement
Producer Is Victim
OfCircumstunces in
Swift-Movine Dromo
BY GARNETT d. HORNER.


Government clerk with music in his
blood, had dream of producing
grand opera in Washington, worked
for months to make the dream come
true-and woke up today feeling
like the victim of a nightmare.
After three artistically successful
but financially "in the red" per-
formances in projected series OF
four operas, Mr.. Berenguer had to
60 out five minutes before curtain
time last night and tell 1,7OO people
waiting at the locked doors of Con-
stitution Hall that the show could
not 60 on.
The orchestra would not play
until all the musicians were paid
for their work Tuesday and Wednes-
day nights and in advance for last
highland Mr.. Berenguer lacked
81 900 having enough money imme-
diately available.
Offers Refunds.
He told those who we're waiting
to see and hear Lucy Monroe, Joseph
Bentonelli and other famous op-
cratic stars in "Manon" simply that
conditions beyond his control forced
postponement of the performance
and that they either could get back
today the money they had paid for
tickets or hold the tickets for a
future production.
He was uncertain when he might
schedule the opera again, but prom
ised ticket refunds would be avail
able today at the Opera Committee
headquarters, 1643 Connecticut ave-
nue. NV.
Mr.. Berenguers brief announce
ment to the disappointed, dis
gruntled crowds turned away from
the doors left untold the real-life
drama that had turned his dream
into nightmare.
The scion, of world famous mu-
sicians-his late father was the
noted flutist who travelled for years
with Galli-Curci; his mother, Nine.
Amelia Cont, is described by COL
leagues familiar with her work with
the Metropolitan, Boston and Chi
cago Opera Cos. as this countrys
greatest harpist, and his maternal
grandfather was the noted director
Of the Boston Opera-Mr. Berenguer
felt impelled long ago to do some
thing about opera in the Capital,
although not trained as a musician
himself.
His mother agreed there should
be a place in Washington for really
good opera, and arranged to help
him make his dream come true.
They tried it out last year, losing
about $1,000 on productions of two
operas. But the performances were
we'll received and their sponsors were
encouraged to hope they might do
better this year anc possibly pave
the way for an honest-to-goodness
opera company here.
Last summer they began planning
for the series of four operas this
month. They early arranged for
the appearance of Emma Redell, ma
tive Washingtonian who had won
world acclaim but never had sung
professionally in her home town, as
Elsa in "Lohengrin"-which drew
the best crowd of the series Wednes-
day night. Nine. Cont got in touch
with many of her colleagues in the
Metropolitan Orchestra and arranged
for them to form the nucleus of an
orchestra pronounced by the critics
as among the best to play for operas
here.
Public reaction to their plans was
encouraging and early ticket sales
went well, to indicate they could
break even' financially.
Technical troubles began about
two weeks ago. Joseph Anthony
Atchison, a nationally known sculp-
tor, had designed the scenery. Mr..
Berenguer's friends said union stage
workers refused to build the scenery
because the designer was not union
member. There also were practical
difficulties, the union men con-
tended, in fitting Mr.. Atchison's de-
sign to the small stage at Constitu-
ton Hall, where the management
will not permit single nail to be
driven into the walls.
Extra Cost Strains Financing.
After long negotiations, resulting
In some compromises on the design,
Mr. Berenguer finally got an agree
ment for union handling of the
scenery. But it then was last Thurs
day, with the first opera scheduled
for Monday night, and it took so
much overtime work to get it ready
that the scenery cost him over 81 900
more than it should have, Mr..
Berenguer said. That turned out to
be too much for his "shoestring"
financing.
The first two performances this
week lost money, and the success
full 'Lohengrin" Wednesday night