Chapters of Opera | Page 2

institutions of New York, from the beginning
of the season 1908-1909 down to the close of the season 1910-1911.
This invitation the author felt compelled to decline for several reasons,
one of which (quite sufficient in itself), was that he had already
undertaken a work of great magnitude which would occupy all his
working hours during the period between the close of the last season
and the publication of this edition.
Thereupon the publishers, who seemed to place a high valuation on the
historical element in the book, suggested that the record of
performances at least be brought up to date even if the criticism of new
operas and the discussion of the other incidents of the season--such as
the dissensions between the directors of the Metropolitan Opera House,
the rivalry between them and the director of the Manhattan, the quarrels
with artists, the successes achieved by some operas and the failure

suffered by others--be postponed for the present at least for want of
time on the part of the author to carry on the work on the scale of the
original edition.
It was finally agreed that the author should supply the record for the
period intervening between the appearance of the first edition of
"Chapters of Opera" and the present publication by revised excerpts
from the annual summaries of the activities of the seasons in question
published by him in the New York Tribune, of which newspaper he has
had the honor of being the musical critic for thirty years past. For the
privilege of using this material the author is deeply beholden to the
Tribune Association and the editor, Hart Lyman, Esq. The record may
be found in the Appendices after the last chapter.
H. E. KREHBIEL.
Blue Hill, Maine, Summer of 1911.

CONTENTS
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION OF OPERA IN NEW YORK
The Introduction of Italian Opera in New York English Ballad Operas
and Adaptations from French and Italian Works Hallam's Comedians
and "The Beggar's Opera" The John Street Theater and Its Early
Successors Italian Opera's First Home Manuel Garcia The New Park
Theater and Some of Its Rivals Malibran and English Opera The
Bowery Theater, Richmond Hill, Niblo's and Castle Gardens
CHAPTER II
EARLY THEATERS, MANAGERS, AND SINGERS
Of the Building of Opera Houses A Study of Influences The First

Italian Opera House in New York Early Impresarios and Singers Da
Ponte, Montressor, Rivafinoli Signorina Pedrotti and Fornasari Why
Do Men Become Opera-Managers? Addison and Italian Opera The
Vernacular Triumphant
CHAPTER III
THE FIRST ITALIAN COMPANY
Manuel del Popolo Vicente Garcia "Il Barbiere di Siviglia" Signorina
Maria Garcia's Unfortunate Marriage Lorenzo da Ponte His Hebraic
Origin and Checkered Career "Don Giovanni" An Appeal in Behalf of
Italian Opera
CHAPTER IV
HOUSES BUILT FOR OPERA
More Opera Houses Palmo's and the Astor Place Signora Borghese and
the Distressful Vocal Wabble Antognini and Cinti-Damoreau An
Orchestral Strike Advent of the Patti Family Don Francesco Marty y
Torrens and His Havanese Company Opera Gowns Fifty Years Ago
Edward and William Henry Fry Horace Greeley and His Musical Critic
James H. Hackett and William Niblo Tragic Consequences of Canine
Interference Goethe and a Poodle A Dog-Show and the Astor Place
Opera House
CHAPTER V
MARETZEK, HIS RIVALS AND SINGERS
Max Maretzek His Managerial Career Some Anecdotes "Crotchets and
Quavers" His Rivals and Some of His Singers Bernard Ullmann Marty
Again Bottesini and Arditi Steffanone Bosio Tedesco Salvi Bettini
Badiali Marini
CHAPTER VI

THE NEW YORK ACADEMY OF MUSIC
Operatic Warfare Half a Century Ago The Academy of Music and Its
Misfortunes A Critic's Opera and His Ideals A Roster of American
Singers Grisi and Mario Annie Louise Cary Ole Bull as Manager
Piccolomini and Réclame Adelina Patti's Début and an Anniversary
Dinner Twenty-five Years Later A Kiss for Maretzek
CHAPTER VII
MAPLESON AND OTHER IMPRESARIOS
Colonel James H. Mapleson A Diplomatic Manager His Persuasiveness
How He Borrowed Money from an Irate Creditor Maurice Strakosch
Musical Managers Pollini Sofia Scalchi and Annie Louise Cary Again
Campanini and His Beautiful Attack Brignoli His Appetite and
Superstition
CHAPTER VIII
THE METROPOLITAN OPERA HOUSE
The Academy's Successful Rival Why It Was Built The Demands of
Fashion Description of the Theater War between the Metropolitan and
the Academy of Music Mapleson and Abbey The Rival Forces Patti
and Nilsson Gerster and Sembrich A Costly Victory
CHAPTER IX
FIRST SEASON AT THE METROPOLITAN
The First Season at the Metropolitan Opera House Mr. Abbey's Singers
Gounod's "Faust" and Christine Nilsson Marcella Sembrich and Her
Versatility Sofia Scalchi Signor Kaschmann Signor Stagno Ambroise
Thomas's "Mignon" Madame Fursch-Madi Ponchielli's "La Gioconda"
CHAPTER X

OPERATIC REVOLUTIONS
The Season 1883-1884at the Academy of Music Lillian Nordica's
American Début German Opera Introduced at the Metropolitan Opera
House Parlous State of Italian Opera in London and on the Continent
Dr. Leopold Damrosch and His Enterprise The