Show rAME AMERICAN IGAN SINGE SINGERS S POPUlAR IN OPE OPERA A Each Performance At Metro Costs NEW NW YORK Dec Dec Am 4 Am 4 l W Am American singers are beginning beginning to vie yb seriously with Italians and Get Get- Ger Germans mans mons for tor honors on the operatic according to musical critics critic who declare that Americans have havo con on spur spurs of stardom not only with opera companies abroad but also also It 11 the Opera COrn Com Company pony pany which for tor man many years has been a stronghold of ot foreign talent Fh Five Fice e American singers are wak mak- makIng mak- mak waking ing lag their debuts this year at the Metropolitan which recently began hegan Its fortieth season of grand opera at the famous Broo Broadway opera house which has hoard heard the tho finest vocal efforts of Caruso Melba Cah Calse e Scott and many other Inter Inter- Internationally nationally famous foreign singers ringers Miss Nanette Ninette Guildford 18 ears jold 01 1 of ot New York who made her debut In a 0 a part In on one l lof of tho sopranos over to come to the Metropolitan T Tao 0 other American sopranos tare are Mills Mice Ohio who studied In and Mrs frs Phradie Wills who sang artous operatic roles teach teach- teaching toach ing Ing ing music In the State Teachers College at Mo ANOTHER NEWCOMER Other American newcomers are aro Miss Merle Alcock also of and an Lawrence Tibbett of Bakers Bakers- Bakers yule Cal who made his hl concert debut In Los Angeles and won a 0 prize at the San Francisco exposi exposi- exposition exposition tion In 1915 ISH Miss Alcock Is a polo 1010 contralto and Mr Tibbett a ban bari baritone tone The presence on the boards ot of the Metropolitans Metropolitan's stage of Ameri Amen Americans Americans cans who have Joined the tho company during the past few years evoked memories when Europe held undisputed undisputed undisputed sway there Veteran reten opera goers recalled the tho first opening night of the tho Metro Metro- Metropolitan Metropolitan Metropolitan politan October 22 1883 v ahen a hen role Christine Nilsson sang the principal role in Faust and Adelina Patti was W singing downtown town at tho the Academy of Music From then until early nineties German opera and Ger Ocr German German man singers held s a sway During that decade artists artiste hos names were to become household names throughout the world orld sang there Melba Melba Calve Iames Eames Nor Nor- NordIca Nordica Nor Nor-dica dIca the brothers de do Hess Res- Hesske kc ke Ancona Cas- Cas Cas as- as Hom Homer r s Scotti Journey Fremstad and others And then In 1903 Caruso the In- In Incomparable In Incomparable comparable came and s sept ept pt all nil be- be before be before fore him and shortly Farror Farrar joined the ranks TSO 10 1 0 0 Sr R SI RS GONE These twin stars twinkled t bright bright- ly brightly In the operatic firmament for many years and then came the la- la lamented la lamented death of Caruso and the tho retirement of Farrar from the Met Met- Metropolitan Metropolitan to the concert stage The public has not acclaimed their sue sue- successors suc successors The roles made mado famous by Caruso Rhadames Rhadames Don Jose Cay Cay- are are now being sung by Martinelli and Gigli while Patrons Patron's Tosa Is being sung by Jeritza The cost coat of presenting an opera to the audience of the tho Metropolitan Opera House Is la almost third one one greater this ear ear car than It wag Mac the season ItI before the great war aar ar and It I nearly twice what It was waa wa two decades ago Each performance during the 24 leeks season of opera this thia fall and winter will represent an agg co cost t of from to while before the war ar the cost ns aas to Twenty years ago the expense was about II a performance performance Opera Opera-goeres who flock to open open- ing opening nights of new productions face Inco the consummation of ot long weeks of work representing a a financial out out- lay outlay of from to Although the tho stars of the world famous company are aro being paid balance commensurate with the tho general Increase e In expenses officials clots of or the company said the tho great great- enIn est cst Increase In expenses s had b been en In Incidentals or In the material appurtenances bothon of the operas both on and off oft the stage The season at the opera once 16 weeks Is now 24 ono one week more than forthe last year The program for the current year Includes seven re- re vh vials rc ais and three entirely operas neM ne op- op op eras while ahito more than 60 50 new scenes have been added to the tho stage bock stage properties at an expense in proportion with the Increased cost of labor The 80 gea e a and popularity of ot the opera among music lovers and so- so so 80 cial social rather leaders Is on the III increase crease rath rath- rath- rath er than the Yane wane ane It was declared by byan an opera official who ho said this tears tear's cars car's subscription list Maa as aa 76 greater than tha that of last bet year |