THE OPERA IN SYDNEY.

Waikato Times, Volume 104, Issue 17466, 28 July 1928, Page 15 (Supplement)

THE OPERA IN SYDNEY.

BOTH SIDES OF FOOTLHGHXS. Hare yoa £25 to sparer If so, you may book yonrseTT a*sesg In the reserved stalls for the season of grand opera, but there won't be much over for cigarettes or chocolates. And if you want a companion. at the musical feast, just multiply bjtwo. Of course, if you want to save money, you must get in early to book a seat in the upper circle at £l2 10s, but as up in the "gods" each one pays for himself there is no need for arithmetic. ; An opera season Is a spending season, and those women who spent much time and thought, not to mention money, on the purchase of one new gown, plus accessories, for the gala night, should consider the trials of the wardrobe mistress and others who had to attend to the preparation of 15,000 costumes. All these thousands of garments were brought from Europe, as it was not possible to secure these period costumes in. Australia in the time available. About 300 people are concerned ra the presentation of the operas, and if Sydney spends money to see the production, the visitors spend money to see Sydney. It costs about £BSOO a week to ■serve a dish of opera, and of this £2500 goes in salaries to the principals and the conductors; the share of the chorus is £6OO. Rehearsals in Melbourne were costly affairs, and Sydney will not have that debit on its fTnal balance-sheet. But there will be_/i debit in marrya. man's bank book by the time the season is over. The purchase of the seat, is only the initial expense, like the first £50,000 put down by the WU- j liamson-Tait management. On top at', the seats is the price of the new frock J and the new wrap, not to mention j dinners, taxis, and suppers'. For if women are content to wear oldish j gowns to later performances, there is something about the first night gaJa! which positively insists on a brand j new dress. Yet there is so little j chance of showing lovely gowns to, best advantage—especially on. chilly nights, when wraps are seldom re—j moved—that mere man is apt to think; that the expenditure is a little misplaced. One of these days Sydney I will have a theatre where women can promenade between the acts, and parade their lovely gowns to distract the hearts of less fortunate sisters.

But much, as women love to show off the beauties of their new gowns. ; the lack of a promenade does not pre-. vent them desiring brand new dresses just for the love of the frocks themselves. The very thought of opera conjures up thoughts of visions of; magnificent jewels, soft kid covering the arms, and beautiful gowns and furs. But not_ sweets. Chocolates don't seem to mbr -wßh': grand opera, and last week it was noticed that, many girls parked their confectionery, undur their chairs. Were they eaten at a later date? Or were they passed on to younger sisters because banting is necessary for fashion ? But cigarettes are not taboo, and: one lass was so eager for her smoke that she lit up before she was scarcely out of her seat. ; But men and women can be philosophic about all this spending on both sides of the footlights. After all, opera is a great fillip for trade, '