Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-07-22
NEWS OF MUSIC
NEWS OF MUSIC
Trouble at Met Gives
Mildred Miller an Idea
BY DAY THORPE


grandpa would take me the
following Saturday afternoon
to the vaudeville show at the
theater which used to be on
Pennsylvania avenue opposite
where the Apex Building now
is. Grandpa had no objection
to the New Testament. but he
considered it inferior to the
Old, and its perusal worth no
kind of reward. Those Chris
tians did the neatest trick in
the whole history of religion,
he told me once with a relish
that had no trace of malice.
'They pulled the rug right
out from under the Jews by
appropriating their book
the greatest book you will
ever read, my boy"
So in those days I aSsimi-
lated Scripture and comedy
in equal partS-or almost
equal, for when Houdini was
in town we would leave bur-
lesque for the more tony con-
fines of Keith's on Fifteenth
street. I loved Houdini with a
passion that makes the mod
ern child's attraction to Davy-
Crockett or Wyatt carp seem
casual.
At any rate, these memories
come to mind and I experience
again the forlornness I felt
when the old theater went
dark, when / read in the
papers this week that Barnum
& Bailey's big top has folded
and also that the Metropolitan
Opera has announced that it
will give no performances next
season. There is little left in
the amusement world except
Glen Echo and even it is in
danger. for I understand they
are arguing about the trolley
line.
l called Mildred Miller,
Washington's only Metropoli-
tan Opera star, to get her re-
action to her unforeseen un-
employment. Il only just read
1t in the paper" she said. The
management didn't tell us
singers anything about it. I
guess I could say I'm just a
wife and a mother, but as a
matter Of fact, concerts and
radio and television will keep
me busy. I can accept even
more engagements now. for
you know that when you are
with the Metropolitan they
have an option on your serv-
ices up to the last minute, and
it's dangerous to make other
dates. where you are a mem
Der of an ensemble. when it is
possible you may be unavail-
able too late for a replace
ment to be found"
Closing Hurts Others
What is true of Miss Miller
is in general true of the other
top-flight stars of the Met.
They, in a way, substitute the
famous opera company by
singing for it for a smaller fee
than they can command else
where in return for the ire
mendous prestige a Met artist
enjoys. Who will be hurt by
the Nets inactivity next sea-
son are not the stars, released
for more numerous engage
ments elsewhere. but members
OF the chorus. stagehands, or
chestral players. and the many
other individuals who back UP
the solo singers.
do you think that Mr..
Bling really means business, or
do you feel that when the
time comes. the Met will 60 on
as usual at the old stand?"
(The cause Of the Nets an
nouncement that it will dis
continue next year is a union
dispute over whether an exec
utive of the company shall be-
come a member of the musi-
clans union. Since my talk
with Miss Miller, the Met has
announced that, having
reached an agreement with
the union, it will open next
season if its principle stars
have not signed up elsewhere.
II really have no opinion, ("
said Miss Miller Tin private
life Mrs. Wesley Posvar, wife
of a major in the Air Force)
Last year when they threat
ened to close up. myself
thought, they would, but of
course I was wrong. This year
! just don't know. 1 certainly
hope they keep going. Mr.
Bling will have one consola-
ton, at least. The Met won't
lose money as fast when it is
dark as 1t does staging operas
Isn't the solution" she
asked, that the Met and all
opera in this country become
an operation of the Govern
ment? In the past opera has
been successful when under
written by private individuals
but today is different. All
over the world. with very few
exceptions of which tn Z
United States is the most not.
able. opera is a project Of the
state. Why not here?"
4 4
Music Notes Out-Of- Season
Giancarlo Menotti is writ.
ing a new opera to have it,
premiere at the Library Of
Congress in october. 1t is {
madrigal opera. after the man
ner of the early Italian com