The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-05-21
Italian Opera In New YOrk-NIadame Son.
tar Coming.

sense.
Italian Opera In New YOrk-M0dame Son.
tag Coming.
private letters the celebrated Madame
Henriette Sontag written in Germany of late date in
which she states that she intends sail for New York
and the New World about the middle Of August. This
announcement brings in the mind the history of the
Italian opera in this city and this country-a history
which has been of disaster and failure from the
period Of its first experiment in 1925 down to the
retreat Of Max Maretzek from the Aston House and Of
the Boso and Bettini troupe from Niblos saloon The
former with steanone, signora Costin salv Bencven-
tano and other eminent artists making pro-
abe tour in Mexico after passing through the Southern
cities cf this republic and rembursing themselves
the losses sustained in this metropolis during the winter
The company Of Bosio and Bettin is disbandei
Some Of them have returned to Europe and others have
been picked up by Jenny Lind to assist mt her farewell
concerts. All the great ar,istes who in New York
some three or four months ago have completely dsap-
pearcd from city where they unable to procure
competent remuneration for their talents. 1t may be
somewhat instructive and interesting to trace the
Of the i'll success which the italian opera has uniformly
experienced here and inquire what the proper
TO be adopted for establishing it permanent basis
For this purpose, We viii glance ut its past history.
The first attempt to introduce Italian opera in this
metropolis was made in 1926, when il was produced ut
the Park theatre, with Malibran Garcia, and excel
lent company. Malibran singer Of the highest
der, and consummatc actrcss--ndced she has never
since been cquallcd here Garcia also an eminent
artist The public taste for italian opera far ad-
vanced but yet the Of This troupe but partial
Their talents appreciated and rewarded up Ger
tain Toirt bu! could not be said that their professional
tour to this country by any profitable spocu-
ation The next experiment to establish the italian
opera here was made shortly aer by the erection of an
Opera House burned down about 1Si0 the corner of
Church and Leonard streets The italian opera was sung
here for short time but proved failure and tue Eng
fish opera after introduced by Jane sheriff the
seguins &c., with similar results and in 1894 Mr. and
Mrs Weed sung in English opera, Mt he Park theatre
with but partial stl not discouraged by these
repeated instances Of failure signor palmo an Iaiiaa
who lad amased some sixty seventy thousand dollars
from tic profits Of splendid saloon in Broadway invest
cd his capital in erecting the Chambers Street Opera
House. and producing the italian opera there Theoos
II two seasons. however quite sufficient to
dislatc his capital when he retired from the profession
OF mrresGso and reesabshed himself in another m,g-
nihcen -aloen which he called the Cafe dos Mile Co.
tonnes But the last and best organized attempt Of
the Kind that made by the aristocraic residents Of
New York hen they combined and entered into liberal
subscriptions for tho erection OF the Aetor Place Opera
House The plan however, aristoeratic European
manners Ct his community. The subscribers were on
titled TO monopolizc the best bos to the exclusion OF
those who-though perhaps wealthy and fashionable
had not purchased any Of the stock This exclusive
policy operated most dastrously against the interests
OF the concern Respectable people. with taste for the
opera would not patronize establishment where al
the best seats especially for the accomno
dation q certain class denonnatcd the Goldfish arse
cracy; dnd thus through the silly attempt on the part
81 It's projectors to assnilate American and European
manners, the whole turned out . magnificent failure
Had they been possessed of an ordinary amosot
Of intelligence, they might have foreseen this ~.
sult; and II they had had any share Of rcpub,i
can modcsty and plainncss, they would not have /
been capable OF establishing regulations only to be found
in erstocratic communities. They vcre however pro.
perry punished fer their contemplate innovations All
The nfrfraos who have conducted that establishment
nave been successfully reduced 10 bankruptcy First
Sanqurco and Patti then Fry and last of all poor Mar
harct2ek This disastrous result to their efforts IL TO be
attributed not to the absence Of capablity In themselves
or OF talent In their operate oorps or of musical ,sto in
the community but TO the existence Of this ridiculous
rule for drawing line Of dcmarkaton between the cod
dsh aistocracy and the rest Of the attendance Ts
The prime cause Of the failure Of the Aston Place Opera
House; and the attempt 80 establish such regulation in
any OF our theatres opera houses will always be at
Tended with the lheconsequcncos. Tho upper ten could
not support such establishment without the co opera
lion Oh the masses. And The people will submit
he imposition Of seh arstocratlc rule that Which
auscd the downfall Of The Astor Place Opera House Dur
Dg the last winter too rival opera pe formed by
lotio and Bottni, who, for months maintained
ueccssful struggle In Nibo's theatre having adopted
inoIm charge Nifty cents TO all parts ho house Tho
ropriey Of adopting This plan well demonstrated bv
he patronage they received in preference to The obe
ssbs mcnt Which found itself forced 10 initiate tb,
xompe, by reducing The piics Of admission TO afv ce,s
TIC equality OF charge to the contest and Tho
'oso troupe though well patropizcd closcd their ner
ormnnce here ana proceeded to Boston, In which move