The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-12-29
Awrul TRAGEDY AT rur Asron PLACE orxaA

On Wednesday evening, In the midst Il a shock
ing rain and sleet storm, Citing time for such a
deed,) premedtated and most shocking murder,
without particle of bloodshed, was pe-petrateda at
the Astor Place Opera House, on one of the most
Innocent of men and greatest masters OF music
that Italy ever produced. Under the auspices OF
Mr.. Fry, Rossini's famous opera of the '' Barber
of Seville" was brought out on the evening IN
question and more cool and deliberately perpe-
trated butchery we never saw or heard of in the
musical annals OF New York, than that was on
that sad and solemn occasion The house was
fashionable, exclusive, critical, and thin. Yet
every variety of costume decorated the thin
boxes and haffilled parquette, from the
brilliant ornaments of lace and diamonds down
to the sober habiliments of the funeral SER
vice. Some were most beautifully and brilliantly
arrayed, as if they had come from birth-nlght
presentation at the palace Of a sovereign; others
were modestly decorated, as if they had arrayed
themselves to attend funeral, but had, by some
mysterious mistake, come to witness this open
handed massacre Of Rossinl, in his masterpiece.
We can't enter into the particulars of the nights
Performances. A great flourish of trumpets had
preceded the first nights performance of the "Bar-
Der of Seville" but it fell off in lamentable de-
gree on its representation. Even Mr.. Fry HIM
self felt the full force OF his sad and sinking des-
tiny for he came before the curtain and made
very NICE but melancholy little speech, apologzlng
amid cries of "louder, louder'-for one of the
vocalists, probably meaning the same apology to
extend to the whole of the troupe, with the excep-
ton of one or two, as well as the orchestra To
those who retain some of the recollections of the
delightful feeling which they experienced twenty
| five years ago, on hearing Mabran, in Rosina,
of Garcia in Amaviva, of Angrsani in Don
Bartolo, and Of the young Garcia in Figaro, the
cast of the opera OF the Barber of Seville" at
the Aston Place Opera House, presented sad and
me ancholy picture, both ofskill and management,
taste and audience, as well as of enterprise, In
the whole business. Yet there was considerable
applause occasionally; but we presume that it was
intended to encourage some of the singers, and to
indicate that the house felt thankful that matters
were M worse, and that the laceraton of Rosslnis
masterpiece was not little deeper.
Notwithstanding all this great failure, the ar
lists, or at least some of them, have talent and
skill for particular lines, that may be suitable for
their capacity, voice, and general ability. Madame
Laborde, IN her own line, has good taste, consi.
derable power of voice, and skill as an actress.
She sings some of the ar,as with much discern
ment, but hardly up to the acquisitions of Rossini
Opera conique of the French school, Is her forte,
and IN that she shines in perfection, but she can
not rise to the height of the great gems of Italian
composition. Rossl-COrsi and Sanquirlco were
the only artists who really did common justice to
their pats The part of Almaviva was sad and
melancholy failure.
AS opera matters and opera management are
| now revealed. it must be admitted that the taste
OF our people of fashion for such exclusive enter
tanments is retrograding instead of making pro.
gress. Twenty-Five years ago, there appeared to
be greater discrimination, finer taste, and
more exquisite sensibility for what was right and
wrong, beautiful and execrable, in tia ian music,
than there is a: the present day, with all our de-
sire for exclusiveness, and all the aids of foreign
travel Like the crab, our people of taste and
fashion are gong backwards. How is this? Does
Il arise from the incapacIty of the committee the
lncompt tency of the manager, or the decline in
taste on the part of the audience? We believe it
springs partly from all of those causes but unles
there was some radical defect in the constitution
and construction of such society In this city
there would be patronage enough from the
public at large to bring forward opera of the
nlSDt 81 CHdIdCtcI, lhstcdu VI passing OH SUCH
abort ons as we occasionally see presented
at the Astor Place Theatre. There Is great deal
OF real talent the opera line, in this country,
present. There IS Benedetti, who, with all his
euarres ONE and troublesome traits, is an artist OF
! high rank, when he chooses not to be sick. There
Is Truffi who Is exquisite in her line; and there
are Madame Bishop, and many others whom we
could name besides. In fact, we do not see how
the opera can be conducted to the end of the win.
ter, as it is now managed, unless Mr.. Fry the ex-
pert apo'eon, who conducts it, will get up row
behind the scenes, with a speech before them,
once a week or, failing IN that, will have spar
ring match between one of the committee and any
ha6,tuS of the opera, by way of an nerlude, or as
substitute for the ballet. A speech from Mr.
Fry, with all his grace and eloquence, without
| fight IN the green room, an exhibition of fist.
cuffs in the parquette, are not enough to fill the
house. Unite these racy elements together, and
the house can be filled nightly, with paying an.
dience, though not, perhaps, all in white kids
Something must be done.
THE FRENCH CONSUL AT AUX CAYKs-We learn
from Santer, OF the brig Narltlske, who arrived
yesterday, that the French vessels of war which
sailed from Port au Prince had arrived at Aux
Cages, and that the difficulties between the autho-
rites of that place and the French Consul were
settled In manner satisfactory to all parties. On
the evening Of the day upon which the reconcllia-
ton took place, grand illumination of the town,
! fireworks, and cannonadng from the ships of war
| in port, terminated the affair.
THE STEAMER NIAGARA, which sailed from Bos-
ton for Liverpool. taxes out no specie. Her freight
list amounts to only about $500 the princIpa,
items Of which are thrtyseven cases ru )ber Shoe
and ninety nine dead hogs.
TIE WEEKLY HERALD will be published at nine
o'clock tomorrow morning.