The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-12-04

The RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE OpERATIc RRvo-
LuIoN.-A great deal has been said about the broil
lately served up by Fry for his customers at the
Opera Houses but we have not yet seen any where an
exposition of the original causes and secret motives
which have produced and inAamed this revolu-
tionary movement at the aristocratic headquarters
in Astor Place. This, we promised yesterday,
should be given this morning to the world, for the
especial benefit, however, of that unique set of
philosophers composing the Opera Committee,
whose anxiety to signalize their administration is
likely to secure for them the unexpected distinction
Of being the last committee of the last Opera
in New York. They have shown that theypossess
qualities which, If not calculated to preserve and
Regulate this fascinating and elegant branch of the
drama In our city, are at any rate quite well suited
to destroy that which they have neither the sense
TO understand nor the taste to appreciate. The
history of the present Opera season is only cata
logue of blunders. The first grand mistake was
the selection of halt-starved musical adventurer
for manager, and the plot which has been deve-
Hoped in the recent fmeMts, will soon satisfy
those who have been the last to believe what we
were the first to denounce-the utter unftness of
Fry and his committee for their positions.
| Fry succeeded at the beginning of the season in
procuring large and liberal subscription from our
citizens to aid the Opera, on the strength of for
NAL and pompous programme of arrangements, by
which 1t appeared that he had engaged the best
artists in the country, and had, in addition sent to
Europe to procure, If possible, others still more
eminent. But he had no sooner engaged his ar.
tlsts and filled his subscription list and his peck.
cts, than he commenced an extraordinary series Of
measures, expressly designed to offend and dis
gust the more eminent and valuable members Of
his company, the object of which to drive them
away from the Opera, or else to provoke them into
the commission of some act which would authorize
HIM to annul their contracts. Truffi, Benedict,
and Rosi were thus marked as his intended VIC
Tins If he could get rid of these, he could put the
amount of their salaries In his pocket, and, under
the pretence of sending to Europe fer others to fill
their places, appeal to the public to sustain him
with such entertainments as be had to give. The
very first week In which the company performed
in Philadelphia, Fry resorted to every artlfce to
create jealousy and hostility between Truffi and
Laborde. While the orchestra, at the command
Of the manager, were serenading Laborde, Fry
was sending teegraphic dispatches to his penny
a-ners here, ordering them to attack Trulli, whom
| he had drven-over-worked, harrassed, and almost
broken-hearted-to her bed. But, Truffi recover.
ing, penetrated his design, and spurning his ma
levolent plan, appealed to the audiences of Pha-
delphia, where her magnificent powers secured
triumph which placed her beyond the approach of
any rival, and secure against the antiques of the
manager and his gang.
The next onset was upon Benedict. This was
to be the feature of the New York campaign. But
how to make the attack and upon what Issue, be-
came puzzling questions; for the project OF the
manager to get rid of his contracts with these
artists being known to them, of course they became
very clrcumspect. Fry did not dare to risk con-
troversy between himself and the tenor; so he
seized upon private conversation with Benedetti,
while the latter dressing for the part of Gen.
naro, on Wednesday night, and so distorted his
meaning and altered his language as to make
up quarrel between Laborde and Benedetti
in which, through the sympathy which wo
man would inevitably excite, he could fight his
own battle with the tenor-having the petit
coats of a lady to shield hun from view
and save him from harm. Every species of
prejudice was appealed to by the employees of
! Fry--the so, disant critics Of the daily press
| the cry was raised, "war upon a woman
FIeHCH against ualldn; Americans against foreign
ers ; every issue was presented but the real one
whether or no Fry had not shown himself silly
fellow, In appealing to audience, In the midst of
| performance, to settle quarrel, which never
should have passed the threshold of the green
rooml But, as will most always happen. the truth
Of the matter was ascertalned, and notwithstanding
the manager packed his house with hundreds of
hrelings to put down his opponent, the good sense
of the great mass of the audience on Friday night,
sustained the artist against the frivolous but ma
| hgrant hostility Of the manager.
Now, Mr.. Fry, what Is your next move !
| You have broken down in two campaigns-de-
stroyed the harmony of superb company, planted
the seeds of Its certain dissolution, and incur
red the odium of four-fifths of your subscribers
We must give you little parting advice. Fulfil
| your contracts with all your artIsts-if you can
Revive the champagne and hook suppers, which
went of so well in Philadelphia-lf you dare; that
ie if the subscribers will allow the funds to be so
appropriated. If there Is any money to spare, de-
post the security promised to the artists as
guaranty against failure, which is becoming every
day more imminent. And, finally, when you re-
tire, you will, from the operatc line, never
| again emerge from natural and becoming obscu-
rify, into the tempting but fatal service of the
| New York operate aristocracy.
Court of Appeals
DECEMBER l-Decisions a. Norem6er Term, 1s4s
nd 1ef TssIu w.