File:Theatrical and circus life; (1893) (14766221265).jpg

Identifier: theatricalcircus00je (find matches)
Title: Theatrical and circus life;
Year: 1893 (1890s)
Authors: Jennings, John Joseph, 1853-1909. (from old catalog)
Subjects: Theater Circus
Publisher: Chicago, Laird & Lee
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
me New Yorkbeauties, who went as a committee of the whole behindthe scenes one night to place a wreath of bay leaveson the head of their favorite warbler, only they haveamateur tenors of their own by their sides who mightnot relish such a display of their appreciation of goodmusic. While her Majestys Opera Company was having aseason at the Academy of Music, New York, twoyears ago, a newspaper man interviewed Col. Maple-son, the impresario, and took a look at the interior ofthe establishment, exploring many of its mysteries.In the course of the conversation he asked : — , How many rehearsals do you give a new opera? Ah, now I can tell you something that the publicknow nothing of. A man of the crutch-and-toothpickschool, after Ive put on, let me say Aida at a cost of$10,000, will come to me and say, Aw, Ive seenAida twice ; when are you going to give us some-thing new ? And the poor manager has to smile aridmount something equivalent to it immediately. Re- 356 OPERA AND OPERA SINGERS,
Text Appearing After Image:
hearsals! Par example. This is the sixth full-bundrehearsal for the orchestra alone — drilling for twoand three hours—to get the light an# shade of the OKElRA AND OPERA glNGEftS i 357- pianissimo and forte. After some more band rehear-sals— the slight alterations in the score by Arditi keptfour copyists at work all last night and until day-break—the principal artists rehearse about twentytimes with the piano ; then comes a full rehearsal withband, the artists seated all around the stage on chairs ;then the property-man has to have his rehearsal. Thecarpenters now come in for their rehearsals, withscene framers, etc. Then comes the first stage re-hearsal, with everybody without the scenery, and thenanother with the scenery; later on again with theproperties and the business, and then it is fit for publicrepresentation. Then a languid swell will tell me hehas seen the opera twice, and will want to know whenI am going to give something new. An attendant here brought the colonel h

Note About Images