The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-06-30

Musical TASTE AND ENTHUSIASM IN New York
Last summer, the Opera Company Of Signor
Marti, of Havana, drew fashionable houses, night
ly, at Castle Garden, for several nights in
sion. Sometimes four or five thousand persons were
present; and stranger to our city tastes and ha-
bits would have supposed, by the enthusiasm dis
played on those occasions, that the New York pub
lie are the most music-loving people in the world.
Since that time, we have seen Parod, the great
lyric vocalist Of Genoa drawing large audiences, at
large prices, at the Astor Place Operg House, and
making herself most popular just az was about
to take her departure from the city. We have had
Jenny Lind, also, for two Her first season
was brilliant one, but her second one tame and
discouraging. And now, we have the combined
opera troupes of Marti and Maretzek, under the
splendid management Of the latter, which does not
appear to attract that public attention which mag
nifcent operas, magnifcently performed, ought to
command. Instead Of four or five thousand per-
sons being present to hear Bosio, TrufR, Caroline
Viett, Miss Whiting Bcttini, Lorini, Salvi, Fort,
MaIini, Beneventano and Coletti, it is seldom that
more than two three thousand persons, and some
times not fifteen hundred attend the Opera
with Maretzek and Arditi as conductors, together
with powerful chorus, and large aad efficient
orchestra.
Now, what does all this Indifference signify
Plainly this: There is no such thing in this coun-
try general love for muse in its highest form
of developement. All our ordinary theatres, and
even the German theatre, are well supported; but
the 'grand Italian OPERA" at fifty cents for the
price Of admission, cannot stimulate that public
who have paid six and ten times much to hear
aria, or two, the ballads sung with introduc
ed embellishments and Torture, contrary to the
taste of the best authorities in vocal music. The
public are, evidently, only caught by novelty
Even Malabran and Jenny Lind turned out but
velties, after for while 1t is the person that
attracts, and that only for while; not the art
itself Hence, no manager can be safe in re-
tanning vocalists, however popular they may
be, for more than brief period. The edge
Of novelty, once taken away, public in
difference chills the hopes alike of managers
and performers The consequence Of all this will be
that we shall not for some time yet, have the Opera
as permanent institution in New York. We must
depend upon occasional seasons and the brief visits
of great yocalsts from Europe can only be expect
ed. The probability is, that Crisi, Mario. La
blache, ard the like, would do well here for two
months but there is no talent in the world that
can mahc pTOntdple Itslucnce III lnls
country.
Next these truths will be ustr ited clearly
by facts. Maretzek will not attempt, we presume,
to hold the Opera together in the city, and we sh Ill
have to take the great yocalists who visit US, with
out those accessories in the lesser performers and
in the chorus, which make the opera acceptable.
There will be plenty Of individual ambition and
exertion; but shall not see the performances so
fully and satisfactorily executed at present. Oc
casonally we may have some great singer from
Havana, when such one can be spared for n few
weeks. Mr.. Lumley, Of the London and Paris
Opera, will be the manager at Havana, and he may
permit us to hear, sometimes, few Of the great
European vocalsts, who, however, will have much
to do TO rival the triumphs of our late favortes.
Catharne Hayes will be here in the autumn; but in
spite Of attempts to create enthusiasm, her visits
to the various cities must be made BRIEF to be made
successful All the stady of the press to unfold the
beauties Of the musical art, and to designate the
cellences Of artists, cannot cope with the indife-
Of musical crces-and it is idle to attempt to
create taste which seems to recedc faster than it
advances. If such musical entertainments rs
Maretrek gives at Castle Garden, for .fffy cents,
cannot be appreciated it is piece of injustice to him
ara 10 MS company, to loan towards tho rage for
novelty, and make volumnous reports upon po rsans
we have never seen or heard, that the public, for
an inferior performance, may be led to pay large
sums for admission a. future day. There must
he limit some where to speculatons on the curio-
sity fthe publis-and in justice to those who are
established among us, we must do something to
cheek the tendency towards running what little
mStReas..aste the city now possesses. -