The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-12-28

usual last evening, by all the taste and fashion OF
the city. The success of this enterprise, so far,
has astonished many people, and has falsihed the
predictions of most of the critics. The company
and management are only Of the most middling
character; and yet, according to all appearances,
they will make a most successful ht-beyond
what has ever been done by any company that
ever appeared in New York.
The greatest Italian troupe that ever presente
itself here, was undoubtedly the Garcia compa-
ny. That company possessed Garcia himself, who
was superior even to Benedict, or even to Ru-
bini, of the present day They had Angrisani,
the basso, whose talent was truly wonderful !;
and as to Malibran herself, every body knows
there was and is nothing in existence at all equal
to her. We have heard Grisi, Jenny Lind, Per-
siani, and every great prima donna in Europe,
for an entire season. We heard Madame Mali
bran several seasons, and in one character we
listened to her thirty times one winter in the
part of Rosina, in the Barber Of Seville" No
one could surpass Malibran and yet that
wonderful troupe, in which her father was
tenor, did not succeed SO well as the pre-
sent company at Astor Place-a company mere
ly moderate and common place 1t is company
which scarcely equals the Montressor company,
which attempted, afterwards, to establish the
Opera at New York, and certainly was inferior
to that of Palmo's first company.
Then, again, the management OF the present
house has bsen unusually capricious, ridiculous
and absurd Their first attempt was to degrade
and insult the press, after the editors had pur-
chased and paid for their seats literally. The
managers then again stepped down a degree,
and offered them free seats-a thing just as mean
We have not heard whether Mr.. Bennett, Mr..
Galliardet, or Mr.. Webb, have accepted any of
their favors, or even cared about them. In other
things, also, the management of the Opera has
been absurd, ridiculous and contemplate.
Now with all these drawbacks, a moderate
troupe and an absurd management, how comes 1t
that they have been successful 7 We make
no reference to the musical criticisms in the
journals, which have been the most impairment
and ridiculous imaginable, and not worth noti-
cling Yet the Opera has been attended by all the
taste and fashion of the city. What is the rea-
son Of this We will now let out the secret ?
This Opera has succeeded, in consequence of
the five hundred &lite of the city, taking sub
scrptions for the whole season, and paying well
for them; they have made it place of elegance,
refinement, responsibility and fashion. The sue
cess they have had has depended, therefore, up
on the subscribers, more than upon any other fea-
ture in the establishment. The managers tried
public off night, when the subscribers did not
attend, and they found it was perfect fail
ure. But on every night when the subscribers
have been present, the house has been crowded,
more and more, from the commencement to the
present day. The truth is, that all the other
classes have got over their first prejudices,
caused by the ridiculous management, and they
now are anxious to attend, while the two tiers of
boxes really present all the grace and elegance
and beauty of the city. They are brought out to
see the real beauty of the town, as much
as to see or hear Benedict, or the scenery,
or other appointments. This we think is
the real cause Of the success which has at
tended the establishment of this very mode
rate Opera, with laundering management, doing
things most ridiculous in every point of view,
and their critics indulging in criticisms of silly
character, ridicullng one prima donna, in order
to set up another who is not bit better.
We have no doubt the Opera will now have full
houses every night, during the whole season of
subscription. The parties who have taken seats,
and their families with them, will render the place
popular, fashionable and delightful, during the
whole time. But if the theatre had gone upon
the old system of every mans buying a seat each
night, it would have been shut up in months
time. We hope, therefore, that the subscribers
to the Opera, knowing their rights, will take care
that they are not invaded and trampled vnder
foot by the impertinence and folly of the man.
agement.