The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-11-24

Reconnaissance Social AND MUsI-
cAL.-New York is a new and large edition of
ancient Athens. We are an excitable people in
cotton, or corn, or music, or pork, or theatres,
or religion, or politics, or potatoes. We deve-
that ancient excitable and animated people, but
on larger scale.
For some days past the fashionable world has
been upon the edge of Immortality, in conse-
quence of the recent opening of the new opera
house. The Inauguration has taken place, and
the excitement produced in the first classes OF
society has produced general commotion all
round. On Monday evening the Astor Opera House
was not alone crammed with beauty and fashion;
almost every theatre felt the effects of the ex-
citcment which that event brought forth. The
Park, the Bowery, and all the other minor
houses, more or less, were crammed with the
excitable population of this city. Music or
farce, tragedy or comedy, opera or humbug,
seemed all to be equally affected with one
general movement, originating in the upper class
of society, and coming to head in Astor
Place.
The opening of the Astor Opera House is un-
doubtedly an event in fashionable annals. II is,
as we have already remarked, the first authentic
organization of the higher classes, congregated
under splendid dome, in a respectable quarter
of the city. For twenty years, efforts have been
made to naturalize the Italian Opera this city;
but hitherto without success, except by fits and
starts. The probability is that now, at last, we
shall be enabled to record victory. AT the
present moment, the Park Theatre is filled by an
equally general excitement, principally to see
a representative of drollery equal to the lament
ed Powers. But we would not be surprised
TO see the Italian Opera and the ballet united
together at the Park, and great effort made In
the lower part of the city to rival the upper. If
Madame Bishop, with her troupe of vocalists,
and Madame Augusta, with her company of
danseuses, should be united ON the same evening,
and commence a season at the Park, what
prodigious sensation would DO produced In all
the avenues of society in New York Then
would come the tug Of war; and the probability
is, we should witness such species of compe-
tition as would do good to every one; increase
the excitement, I'll the theatres, spend money,
improve taste, and generate some humbug or
nonsense of all kinds.
In the meantime, we should not be surprised to
see the Aston Opera House quite successful, not
WltnstdHulnB VIC dPPdIeht hcuioCIlty VI PoA-
ton of the troupe, which must be admitted, to a
certain extent. The house, the orchestra, the
arrangements, are all well enough; and if every
thing goes on as at first. it will probably result in
the naturalization of the Italian Opera in our
city. We have already published list of the
subscribers to this magnificent movement in So
ciety but we understand brochure is preparing
which will give more complete catalogue of all
the patrons Of the opera, with plan of the Opera
House. 1t will be species OF peerage Of the
fashionable society of New York, containing the
birth, parentage, life, occupation and pursuits of
those who have organised society in New York
on similar footing as it exists in the high cir
cles of the great capitals Of Europe We are
great people.