The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-01-24

The Opera.
"You have the last ballet at the Opera ~ @No,
have not" what not the last ?" No. sir have not
You 60 to the Opera occasionally, suppose :" No.
sir must cnf-ss that have been see or hear
the Opera " Unfortunate man My dear sir, you are
not fashion sbleyeu nobody. Is It possible that
you living in this enlightened age OF he nnstee nth
century, and bave never attended the Astor Place
Italian Opera, Ia 1t possible that you have never
beard that dear Twizz that sweet Nozz the divine
Legatti Sir, you are nobody-s nonentty Nobody
il always nobody unless hs frequently attends the
Opera when II that is the case, he may be thought
somebody; and II he owns seat, sports white kid
gloves and vest black coat and unmentionsbes, and
is able to lisp few sentences Of that charming italian
then he is somebody as is somebody Ny dear fellow
attend the Operathe Opera sr-the Aston Place Its-
lian Opersw
My friend left me. The Opera-thinks to myself;
tho Opera-yes will 60 and see this Opera
Accordingly, last evening found myself at the As
tor Place Opera House, to tho opera and hear the
opera. Being one Of the people," went whore the
peopl most do consregate, and now make . note Of
what l saw and heard therein, with my opinions
thereon.
The ballet, rather tragedy, found, inspecting
the programme for the evening, "Devsreux" "Ro-
berto Devereux," lyric TRACED In three acts with
To-, o. inc sS;ors :na ;.t forth In
grand and anticipated much pleasure In the forth
coming spectacle In the meantime, the habitues Of
the Opera began to arrive and to take their respective
reats White kids rich sbsws and satins, high heeled
boots and low nscked dresses, young and old, rich
wealthy usuay attend the Opera Fans began to fut-
ter, when, judge u my sstonshment, as a lady
y put them to her eyes and with the utmost Goodness
proceed to take survey Of the party opposite Thinks
to myself what i%pSdsnos what dsressrd Of that
man But on locking around saw another and then
another gentlemen and lades-esch engaged in TAX
Ing survey Of each others faces and hsbilments,
making their respective observations thereon those
in the pit or psrquetts locking at their neghbors
their tier and at those below; md looking arou nd
the gallery could ere and there two huge gog
noticed lady taking very 's critical
ton Of the painted chsrubs floating the boards
above. Is it possible thinks to myself, that msny
afflicted with poor eyes which render 1t necessary
that they should these Unlocking Instruments to
seer is 1t fashion? QUEEN Sabe.
rpeotive seats, and heard the squeAking Of
fiddle, note from kettle drum, and small blast
and who appeared to be the leader of the bsnd take his
seat before concave piece Of tin that was placed on
round hole, through which was discovered head-svi.
IDENTITY OF some person beyond Presently tho leader
With this piece q undsrstood as the ss
| nal Of CONNIE ncement-and commenced beating the
cir this way aud that way and over his shoulder with
nervous rapidly; and soon with grand flourish Of
music, the curtain arose. The sosne hall In West
minister palace; .ladies Of the court and duchess
are singing to each other Then comes In Queen Eli
zsbeth and Sings then comes in lord and he sin %;
ditto page and he sings ditto Roberto Devereux and
he sings; and they all sins-snd sing and sing Thinks
to myself-wondsr when the play will bsgn Heard
about singing enough; pretty good introduction,
tnotIy, band makes too much noise; must be some.
thing fine Hands clappinEn young chap by my side
knocks knock hI, cane Bravo! What i'it' The curtain
fort Of prelude, suppose, to the tragedy; sorry
could MT hear the words, though mind, better
curtain rises again. accompanied With grand blast
the buees and trombones scrapng the fddlss with
ketne-orums Now thinks / to myself, fer the ira.
gedy-n now for the opera. Another scene, and two
.snd-sna' to my they commenced TO
hearing the tragedy Of " Roberto Dsvereux" with
vengeance However will hear what they have to sing
Thinks to myself, they are singins-thats fact
and lady on the stage man got. mad At the ad, and
sings; lady falls down on her knees, and sings; man
you do me the favor to inform me when the opera
commences" Opera, sir ~ "Yes, SIR, the opera
..g. wsy there. "ay :A Il:
opera Are you deaf sir?n ooh, no, sir :" ooh,
Sss 'ss'Ia nd hear thinks to myself. =;
"Why'' says he, Deversux sir--Roberto Devereux,
-(putting the Italian accents in the most emphatic
mApntr)-"don't understand the language, presume
err" Thinks to myself =" Here's q 20 %" now |
have don: ~ come here to zee the opera, and don't
| t0lS--ueItK0uul
Hands clap again; curtain drops. Thinks l to my.
telf- Bravo
Thus sat for three mortal hours and listened TO
concord OF most harm onious sounds grave to gay
from lively to severe uttered in jargon that to me-
was perfectly uninteligible
Thinks l to myself as the tragedy, or rather tho
farce In three acts closed how delightful when have
understood not one word This opera Is evidently in
tended American ears but that Of foreigners
After all thinks to my self this opera Is uen ded as
sort OF exclusive gathering place upper to
stare and be stared alto see who Is In the market
nioA hv
by words which only the accomplished expected to
understand little smsttering vern soular NAV
be requisite and perhaps sable the majority
Thinks to myself how beautiful the opsra-how con-
genial to common sense How charming to hear
person no arttse sing 3" Cut of his head - And
for person sbsut to give up the ghost sing" su
Dying" IT'S 60 natural to express such feelings in
song under there circumstances Imagine of our
actors, who does up the tragic, to stag In swelling
notes, accompanied by the orchestra" Come on,
Mocduh" or " Ia this dagger" &c. Perhaps this
operatic style might BIS introduced in the domestic
circle end then we Should have In song accom- panied
with the mueic Of the kitchen utensils and the oatter
OF knives and forks" Hand the bread and buter-
Thinks to myself left the Opera lot mi so aud
tragedy each have their appropriate sphere There are
words which must be spoken to represent common |
sense and not uttered in song, which makes them
farce and ft theme for laughter. Let the drama be
In its appropriate place Ind spoken before
an American audience in words which the people can
understand Still thinks to my sc if there are those
who will have there novelties and can pay for them
tits free country.
The next morning met my friend who goes to tn,
opera "Ah, good morning; and how did you like the
music and then the words easily understood--de-
ghtful, sir;" and thinks to myself yes the Opera
the Opera, the New York Aston Place Italian Opera
Theatrical ana Musical.
BowERr THEATRE.-Aftera most uccessful run, the
hos ho~ Ieid .s;do