TRAVELS IN STYLE

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 58, 10 March 1933, Page 10

TRAVELS IN STYLE

Miguel Fleta, the Spanish tenor whose career as Metropolitan Opera star in New Yprk ended three years _£go with a lawsuit for nonfulfilment of contract, is drawing capacity houses in the Government-subsidised Teatro Lirico Nacional, Madrid. He has the role of Don Jose in "Carmen.',' I Almost unprecedented admittance prices aTe charged—2o pesetas, or 6s 6d for pit- seats. While to Fleta this seems almost insignificant compared to prices New York paid to hear him, to theSpahiard it is an enormous price for a.single performance—but he pays it. Tn February, 1930, the Spanish courts ordered the singer to pay the Metropolitan Opera Company 18,800 dollarß for. nonfulfilment of - contract. Fleta contended that Spanish military authorities refused to let him leave • the country., , . The money, however, meant little to Fleta, who is wealthy in marked contrast with the humble way. he started life as a farm labourer in his native province .of Aragon. He used to sing as he tended the artichokes and lettuce, and the peasants with whom he worked circulated stories about the boy with the golden voice. These stories got to Madrid and Fleta soon became famous. The singer has a caravan of expensive automobiles made in various countries. He usually travels with his mother and child, several lackeys, a staff of maids, a doctor, and a throat expert. "Carmen" is the climax of the opera season. It alternates with "Talisman," the last work of A,madeo Vives.