NO GRAND OPERA

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 101, 15 January 1923, Page 9

NO GRAND OPERA

SLACKNESS IN LONDON NO MONEY FOR ART “There is no grand opera in London now,” said a newcomer by the Ruapehu, Ate. L. J. De Mauny, a London violinist, who, with Madame Do Mauny, pianist and vocalist in concert work, arrived by the Ruapehu yesterday, to make their home in \\ ellington. . , , “When Alelba attained such a remarkable triumph at tho opening of Covent Garden, a year’ after the war, it was confidently anticipated l.hatt London would have its ropjar oldtime periods of organised grand opera. But it was ‘not to be. There, are many reasons. Taxation is very high. Lessees have to pay huge rentals. And above all, the old patrons of grand opera have so little money to spare nowadays that they can just meet expenses of home management, without room for the luxury of the opera. “The only opera London gets now is what is provided by touring companies, that spend a short season in the metropolis, and then move about the provincial centres. The national shortage of money has resulted temporarily in the throttling of mrdic and the drama, as well as the arts. The National Opera Company, formed last year, is a very good organisation, formed on a co-operative principle between well-known musicians and •singers, but there is no organised season, such as used to attract tho world’s best operatic singers. “Concert work is not a happy proposition these days. The most illustrious of the great orchestras are not oven paying concerns. Yet there is also a certain amount of • symphony and choral work at the Queen’s and Albert. Halls; but the good old days have”'passed. It is the same with the theatres, which are four and fivedeep, in that they are leased and subleased so many times that by tho time the production meets tho huge rentals charged, there is little left. Quo effect is that touring companies that visit the provinces now contain bn their, cast actors and singers of a class that would be found in a much higher grade of theatrical entertainment before the war. , Air. De Mauny nearly had his career as violinist ruined in the war, as he was wounded in the playing hand, among ' other parts. He was among thg_Jlritish ..prisoners taken by the Germans at Bullecourt on Alarch 21, 1918, the first day of the big German offensive.

MELBA IN OPERA. As a mark of appreciation of tho efforts of the British National Opera Company to produce opera in English, Dame Nellie Melba will sing in the rolo of “AUmi,” in Puccini’s ‘La Boheme,” nt Covent Garden on January, 17. At Dame Nellie’s suggestion the prices will be raised in order to benefit English professional singers. Dame Nellie will not accept any fees for her performance.