Hide Article Text (OCR)
A MAD MANAGER.EMPHATIC INTERVIEW WITH LOUIS BALLENBERG.HIS OPINION OF THE COLLEGE OF MUSIC MANAGEMENT.A Commercial representative, in company with other gentlemen, was entering the gateway of Pike’s last evening, when Louis Ballenberg ao-costed him with words of not evil import, hut with vinegar and gall in the tone with which they were uttered. The impresario was irate over a paragraph which stood la Saturday’s Commercial concerning Mr. Thomas and himself as being oncmios of the College of Music. Being challenged, the aforesaid member of the press halted, assumed a smile that was childlike and bland, and bade the manager proceed, which was done with point and volume. The following conversation was the result of the accidental rencontre:Mr. Ballenberg—What do you mean by what you say in the Commercial! You know that I was engaged to assist Mr. Thomas by recruiting his orchestra fdr Chicago more than two months hgo. He lg to have for the rendition of “Faust,” in February, an orchestra from Cincinnati, Chicago, and ten or twelve men from New York. Don’t you remember? *Reporter—Yes, I do remember that you mentioned some prospective work for our Cincinnati people. .Ballenberg—Well, then, let me tell you that this is all infernal nonsense about Thomas trying to hurt the Opera Festival. Thomas is au honest, high-minded artist, and a man who isn't afraid of anybody—not of the devil himself—whether his name is G» W. N. And he is the only man who is really working for the cause of true music. He wanted to stay here, but they gave him away, and he could not possibly submit to the petty tyranny of Nichols.Reporter—Yes, Mr. Thomas said to me that he had not been here more than a month when he saw that the interference of Mr. Nichols would drive him away.Ballenberg—Well, now, I will Ji^t tell you. It was I that brought Wittgenstein here and supported him. He got the largest part of his salary from the theaters here. I engaged him, for the College ^ I had only a few pnpils for him. I am a personal friend of Hugo Wittgenstein, and I think he is a mighty flno flute-player, but he violated his contract with me. I had a right to control his playing. and such an act of insubordination deserved punishment, and he get it.Reporter—It is greatly to be deplored that our musicians, one after another, are deserting os. Where will be the end!Ballenberg—I don’t know, and I dbn’t care. Who brought the people here? Who engages these mon and does all the hard work and the drudgery? These people give us no encouragement.Reporter—Can we hope to get Mr. Wittgenstein back again?Mr. Ballenberg—Yes, Just as soon as he sees his folly and appreciates what he has donb.Reporter—What do you think of Mr. •Nichols' opera festival and opera school?Ballenberg—They are both humbugs for making money.Reporter—Well, do think they will prove tohe successful humbugs?Ballenberg (with emphasis)—No; they have already lost $3,000 on “Cinderella,” and you Just 1 mark my word, they will lose $20,000 on the Opera Festival. Why, Nichols is nothing but a showman, j He is Just aa opposition manager against Mr.1 Miles and me. We are the legitimate thoater and * we try to do the best we can. When people patron-. ize first-class talent we engage it. But Nichols has showed what he is by making a blunder to begin with.Rep.—What blunder!Ballenberg-Why, first he invited a big lot of deadheads to the dress rehearsal; and then he did not know what every experienced theater manager knows that in holiday week the people who come to a theater are the middle class people, while the aristocrats stay at home. And, now, another thing, just you soe—they will not give the operas they advertise. Mr. Arditt will not have that chorus. They can’t get 300 people to catch all the gems and eome in on little phrases.The “Messiah” was a financial success because they did not stuff the house with deadheads this i year, as Nichols did last year. #Reporter—Do you not think that Mr. Nichols has 1 shown groat fertility of imagination in devising [. such enterprises as the May Festival and the Opera Festival, not to mention the College of Music?Ballenberg—Humph! Great originality; he takes other men’s ideas and then claims the credit. Why, he is nothing but the Mcphisto of music in Cincinnati. He is trying with all his might to break up the May Festivals.Reporter—Why, don’t you think there is anygood in the college? Mr.lBallenberg—Yes. The piano teachers, and the violin teachers and the organist are all first-I class. But tell me this, Is not that College a school ofnRic? But ho makes it a monopoly of I everything. He is running aa opera now. The j next thing be will have a negro minstrel department. and theu a ballet.
Newspaper Details
Cincinnati Commercial
Cincinnati, Ohio, US
Sun, Jan 02, 1881
Page 8
Full Page
Clipped by
Joanne G.
NA, 01 Apr 2025
Other Publications Near Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati Kentucky Times Star
Cincinnati Christian Age
Cincinnati Israelite
Cincinnati North Journal
Weekly Cincinnati Times
