Read Online The Phantom of Manhattan by Frederick Forsyth - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Frederick Forsyth
Tags: Fiction, General, Romance, Historical, Gothic, Mystery & Detective, music, Opera, Genres & Styles, New York (N.Y.), Romantic Suspense Fiction, Composers, N.Y.), Manhattan (New York, Musical fiction, Phantom of the Opera (Fictitious character)
Ads: Link
today, the ammunition will be money of the sort of which most of us can only dream, and the beneficiaries will be those who love superlative opera.
But let me, in the words of the King of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland - and New York opera is starting to resemble Lewis Carroll’s fantasy - begin at the beginning. Devotees will know that in October 1883 the Metropolitan Opera opened its doors to an inaugural rendition of Gounod’s Faust and thus planted New York firmly into a world setting, along with Covent Garden and La Scala.
But why was such a magnificent home for opera, seating no less than 3,700 in the world’s largest auditorium for opera, open at all? Why, pique coupled with money, a powerful combination. The richest and most grand of the new aristocracy of this city were deeply offended that they could not secure private and guaranteed boxes at the old Academy of Music on 14th Street, now deceased.
So they clubbed together, dug deep and now regularly enjoy their opera in the style and comfort to which the members of Mrs Astor’s Four Hundred list are well accustomed. And what glories the Met has brought us over the years and continues to do today under the inspired leadership of Mr Heinrich Conreid. But did I say ‘war’? I did. For now a new Lochinvar rides over the horizon to challenge the Met with a galaxy of names to take the breath away.
After an earlier abortive attempt to open an opera house of his own, tobacco millionaire and theatre designer/builder Oscar Hammerstein has just completed the richly ornate Manhattan Opera House on West 34th Street. Smaller, it is true, but with luxurious accoutrements, plush seating and superb acoustics it bids to rival the Met by pitting quality against quantity. But where is this quality to come from? Why, no less than Nellie Melba herself.
Yes, this is the first good news from the opera war. Nellie, who has always and steadfastly refused to cross the Atlantic, has agreed to come - and for a fee that takes the breath away. My highly reliable source in Paris tells me this is the story behind the story.
For a month past Mr Hammerstein has been paying court to the Australian diva in her residence at Garnier’s Grand Hotel, built by that same genius who built the Paris Opera House where Melba has so often performed. At first she refused. He offered $1,500 a night - imagine it! Still she refused. He shouted through her bathroom keyhole, raising the fee yet again. To $2,500 a night. Unbelievable. Then $3,000 a night, in a house where the chorus is paid fifteen dollars a week or three dollars per show.
He finally invaded her private salon at the Grand and began throwing thousand-franc notes all over the floor. Despite her protests he continued before storming out. When she finally counted all the money, he had left 100,000 French francs, or $20,000 scattered on the Persian carpet. I am informed that this has now been lodged with Rothschilds in the rue Lafitte, but the diva’s defences are down. She has agreed to come. After all, she was once an Australian farmer’s wife and can surely recognize a sheep being fleeced.
If this were all, it would be enough to cause heart attacks at Broadway and 39th where Mr Conreid holds sway. But there is more. For Mr Hammerstein had engaged none other than Alessandro Gonci, only possible rival in quality and fame to the already immortal Enrico Caruso, to sing the tenor lead on 3 December at the inaugural performance. To support Signor Gonci, other great names like Amadeo Bassi and Charles Dalmores are on the menu, with baritones Mario Ancona and Maurice Renaud, and a further soprano, Emma Calve.
This alone would be enough to set New York by the ears. But there is even more. Long ears and sharp tongues have maintained for some time that even Mr Hammerstein’s wealth could not permit such amazing extravagance. There must be a secret Croesus behind him, calling the shots, pulling the strings and perforce paying the bills. But who is
But let me, in the words of the King of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland - and New York opera is starting to resemble Lewis Carroll’s fantasy - begin at the beginning. Devotees will know that in October 1883 the Metropolitan Opera opened its doors to an inaugural rendition of Gounod’s Faust and thus planted New York firmly into a world setting, along with Covent Garden and La Scala.
But why was such a magnificent home for opera, seating no less than 3,700 in the world’s largest auditorium for opera, open at all? Why, pique coupled with money, a powerful combination. The richest and most grand of the new aristocracy of this city were deeply offended that they could not secure private and guaranteed boxes at the old Academy of Music on 14th Street, now deceased.
So they clubbed together, dug deep and now regularly enjoy their opera in the style and comfort to which the members of Mrs Astor’s Four Hundred list are well accustomed. And what glories the Met has brought us over the years and continues to do today under the inspired leadership of Mr Heinrich Conreid. But did I say ‘war’? I did. For now a new Lochinvar rides over the horizon to challenge the Met with a galaxy of names to take the breath away.
After an earlier abortive attempt to open an opera house of his own, tobacco millionaire and theatre designer/builder Oscar Hammerstein has just completed the richly ornate Manhattan Opera House on West 34th Street. Smaller, it is true, but with luxurious accoutrements, plush seating and superb acoustics it bids to rival the Met by pitting quality against quantity. But where is this quality to come from? Why, no less than Nellie Melba herself.
Yes, this is the first good news from the opera war. Nellie, who has always and steadfastly refused to cross the Atlantic, has agreed to come - and for a fee that takes the breath away. My highly reliable source in Paris tells me this is the story behind the story.
For a month past Mr Hammerstein has been paying court to the Australian diva in her residence at Garnier’s Grand Hotel, built by that same genius who built the Paris Opera House where Melba has so often performed. At first she refused. He offered $1,500 a night - imagine it! Still she refused. He shouted through her bathroom keyhole, raising the fee yet again. To $2,500 a night. Unbelievable. Then $3,000 a night, in a house where the chorus is paid fifteen dollars a week or three dollars per show.
He finally invaded her private salon at the Grand and began throwing thousand-franc notes all over the floor. Despite her protests he continued before storming out. When she finally counted all the money, he had left 100,000 French francs, or $20,000 scattered on the Persian carpet. I am informed that this has now been lodged with Rothschilds in the rue Lafitte, but the diva’s defences are down. She has agreed to come. After all, she was once an Australian farmer’s wife and can surely recognize a sheep being fleeced.
If this were all, it would be enough to cause heart attacks at Broadway and 39th where Mr Conreid holds sway. But there is more. For Mr Hammerstein had engaged none other than Alessandro Gonci, only possible rival in quality and fame to the already immortal Enrico Caruso, to sing the tenor lead on 3 December at the inaugural performance. To support Signor Gonci, other great names like Amadeo Bassi and Charles Dalmores are on the menu, with baritones Mario Ancona and Maurice Renaud, and a further soprano, Emma Calve.
This alone would be enough to set New York by the ears. But there is even more. Long ears and sharp tongues have maintained for some time that even Mr Hammerstein’s wealth could not permit such amazing extravagance. There must be a secret Croesus behind him, calling the shots, pulling the strings and perforce paying the bills. But who is
Similar Books
![Fire of the Wolf [The Gray Pack] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour)](https://fs.dianahicksbooks.com/498033/thumbs/152x264/fire-of-the-wolf-the-gray-pack-siren-publishing-menage-amour.png)
