Article on Max Strakosch and Lester Wallack

“Like everything else, the management of theatres is now a much more expensive business than it used to be. Although good actors or singers are not by any means more plentiful than in former times, it costs a great deal more money to secure their services. The expenses, for instance, which Mr. Strakosch must have to provide for every week would startle the operatic manager of thirty years ago. It is much to the credit of Mr. Strakosch that, notwithstanding the risks he must necessarily run, he not only never breaks faith with the public, but is always rather better than his word. He promised to produce ‘Aïda,’ but no one expected that he would produce it with scenery, decorations, and a cast such as have never been seen in this country before. Last season he placed ‘Lohengrin’ before the public in the same lavish style. This year his troupe is more complete even than last year, and already he has introduced a new tenor who is destined to make a great reuptation both here and in Europe. In these days the discovery of a new tenor is an event likely to be memorable in an operatic season. In this case the credit will belong entirely to Mr. Strakosch. He has, in two nights, produced two new prime donne of exceptional attractions, and his greatest ‘card’—Mlle. Albani—has still to be seen. She ought to make a greater success than Mme. Nilsson, for after all she is a more attractive singer. Nor has the general excellence of the company been sacrificed for the sake of securing half a dozen stars. On the contrary, the orchestra and chorus have never been so good at the Academy of Music as they are now. It is to be hoped that enterprise so unsparing and commendable as that which Mr. Strakosch displays will be suitably reqarded by the public, for it is only by liberal encouragement that good opera can ever be made to pay. If people want such entertainments, they ought to support them freely.” Goes on about Wallack and the promise of his upcoming season and current actors; praises Wallack for keeping a strictly “family theatre.”