He left Bernhardt in 1906 to undertake management of the cross-county tour of the Conried Metropolitan Opera Company . < The tour ended disastrously after the San Francisco earthquake of April 18 , 1906 . It occurred hours after a performance of '' Carmen '' at the Grand Opera House , in which Enrico Caruso performed the role of Don Jose . Strine lost all of his profits , as well as the new 2,000-seat theater that he had just been chosen to manage . In the earthquake and fire , the Metropolitan Opera company lost all of the costumes , scenery , props and music for 19 operas , valued at more than $ 250,000 , the equivalent of $ today
San Francisco earthquake
1906 San Francisco earthquake
Charles Strine