Article on Problems of Establishing a German Opera

Musical Review.  There is a rumor that there will be no German Opera. Grover does not want to have anything to do with German singers anymore. We suggest he shall hire singers from other nations. For example, there is an American tenor living in England, Mr. Adams, who had performed on German stages. There is also Mrs.Viardot-Garcia who speaks “a pretty German.” Her voice is not the best anymore; however, she owns the original full score of the Don Juan Opera. We also have heard about the tenor Lotti who supposedly speaks some German. Mad. La Grange is said to still sing, and we all know she understands the German language. No doubt it should be feasible to put together a group of well-known singers which could perform at the German Opera. Certainly they will be more expensive; however, they will quarrel less.

            Knowing that good things can take time, the German audience has been patient. The Italian Opera took decades to establish itself. Moreover, if the Germans want their own Opera they should contribute to the efforts. A fine German Opera costs money. A few thousand thaler won’t do; yet if our Germans could collect a fund of $50,000, and in addition build an Opera house, a permanent German Opera can be established in New York; not before. Doing things half way does not lead to anything. It should be “an affair of honor” for the German population to found a German Opera. That way it could become an honorable institution, which would receive the respect of the Americans that so far has not been earned