WAR OF OPERA MAGNATES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 3, 28 January 1909, Page 4

WAR OF OPERA MAGNATES.

RIVALS' INVASION 01'' QUAKER CITY. NKW Yl)l!K, Duee.nii.er 2. With the transference of the war between the metropolitan (formerly Mr llannnerstcin's) opera, house to Philadelphia America is being turned into a vast musical baltloiicld. ■Mr Ilainmerstein opened his new establishment in Philadelphia on the night selected by the Metropolitan for the opening of its Philadelphia -season. The rival companies arrived on special trains driven over rival railways. j Mr llaniinerstein's train consisted of nine carriages, containing 421 people. While the Metropolitan has been wont to give one performance weekly in Philadelphia, Mr Hannnerstein will give three performances and maintain, separate orchestras in e.'ich town.

Signov Toscanini and Signor Caruso, the Metropolitan " stars," drew a full house for their opening night; but the Van Rennseltters, nriscoms, Drexels. Lippincotts, and all the patricians families of Philadelphia Hocked to witness the baptism of Mr flaniiucrstcin's enterprise. Thousands of people unable to obtain tickets thronged lire streets. Hefore the entrance 12110 carriages and motor-ears drew up with nuiguiticeutly dressed ladies.

One of the Philadelphia warehouse managers says : •■ We shall have to enlarge our millinery -and dressmaking departments now. Grand opera means that everyone will spend more money o;> dress. It will provoke a. healthy rivalry between I lip leaders of society,'who eaii exhibit themselves in nil their splendour ; ami when the rich people begin to dress more idaboralcly the less rich will follow suit." Jewellers and tailors are equally jubilant. " I'hiladt'lphia," they say, "is about to abandon its traditional settings in drab and to become a city of fashion."

In New York Air Hainnicrsteia is brilliantly holding his own, notwithstanding the exertions put forth by the plutocrat directors of the Metropolitan, who have appointed Signor (iatti Casazza to succeed Air Courier], and commanded him to achieve success no matter what the hist. Alillions of dollars are being expended this season in opera. As a musician observed to >ne, -i the Alctropolillnu is being run on the scale of a Steel Trust." Already the subscription list shows a total of 750,000 tickets sold.