Metropolitan's Solution

Another season of opera, for weeks a matter of front-page concern in Manhattan, was definitely decided upon last week by the Metropolitan Opera Association. Since Depression started, aviation companies have cut their seat-prices, steamship berths are cheaper. The Metropolitan is attempting to solve its financial difficulties in the same fashion. Orchestra seats will cost $7.15 as against $8.25 this year. Seats in other parts of the house will be correspondingly cheaper.

The Metropolitan has also cut down on the length of the coming season--from 24 weeks to 16 weeks. A 25%, decrease in salaries is expected to result from Impresario Giulio Gatti-Casazza's appeal to the company. With these changes the Metropolitan hopes to go on for a time giving opera in the old house. But last week Board Chairman Paul Drennan Cravath strongly indicated that the company would eventually move to Rockefeller Center.

Baltimore last week was cleaning up the Lyric Theatre preparatory to the Metropolitan's annual spring visit. Clevelanders were trying to earn tickets in an Ask-Me-About-Opera contest sponsored by the Plain Dealer. Rochester socialites were getting out their top-hats, arranging dinner parties for the one night (April 25) when the Metropolitan would come there with pretty Lily Pons, its leading attraction.

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