GRAND OPERA.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1015, 3 January 1911, Page 5

GRAND OPERA.

EMPTY HOUSES IN LONDON. l)y Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright. London, January 1. Mr. Thomas Beechain, tho operatic conductor, who has been providing London with grand opera in English at Covent Garden Theatre, has stated to an interviewer that lie is profoundly dissatisfied with tho result of his third opera 6eason for 1910. ■ There was, .ho says, no public demand during, tho year for opera ■ of any kind, and.-frequently not one-seventh of the house would bo filled to hear the best artists specially brought to England.' to sing in celebrated operas. An. elephant' standing on one foot on tho top of Nelson's Column, declared Mr. Beecliam, would draw a larger crowd than twenty-five "Salomes." Mr. Beecham's opera seasons at Covent Garden have, attracted much attention in England. The . third season, .which has proved so unsuccessful from a financial point of.view, witnessed the production of many standard works,- and in addition such novelties'- as': D'Albert's "Tiofland," Tschaikovsky's "Pique-Dame," Leroux's "Le Chemiueau," Strauss's "Guntran" and (if passed by. the Censor) "Salome," Dukas's '"Ariane and -Blue-beard," Delius's "Koanga," and Holbrooke's "Dylan," not to speak • of Berlioz's 'Les Troyens" and Smetana's "Bartered Bride.'