The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-05-29
The Musical Season In Boston.

j
The musical season may now be considered as
ended. Rossini's Barber Of Seville" by some cons
dered his masterpiece closed the long list of nstru-
mental and vocal performances. which, from early
in September Of last year till the present time have
pleased us more or less, according as we sympa-
thized with the music, or acknowledged the skill Of
the performers.
The retrospect of the opera has much more Of
pleasure than regrets. OF the two great schools Of
music, under which modern opera may be classed-
the German and the Italian--the examples, with
exception, have been from the latter. To musical
public who have been we'll grounded in the seyerer
styles in the elemental forms of music as have our own
this selection must have appeared much as did Fal-
sta's tavern bill to Prince Hal-"But one halfpenny
worth of bread to an intoerable quantity of sackn
1t was however matter of compar alive necessity,
the event has proved, from the peculiar compost
ton of the troupes They not strong enough in
artists who could sing the requirements of their
irrespective OF its range and the choice Of operas
which, under more favorable circumstances, might
have been changed much for the better, proved, in
one case at least that the skill and good taste Of
Madame Sontag lay not all in the management of
her voice. 1t was, perhaps, the only course which
could have ensured her success, and renewed in
part, at least, those triumphs which, during the
prime Of her opera life, exhausted all the terms of
adulation and praise.
We have been accused, as a community of being
bigOtcd in favor OF the so-called German style of
music; and for this we have become bye-word and
reproach among some of our neighbors-set dow as
q sort Of provincial district, which may well be
served after all other places have had their glut Of
music This is not the fact. While it is entirely
true that the more placid, less exciting, and there
FORE less exhausting pleasure whichis derived from
the works of the German masters, is fully appre-
ciated and enjoyed to q high degree by our musical
dletanti, it would be a gross libel upon their good
taste to deny them the capablity Of perceiving In
and receiving FROM the works of the socaed Italian
school both beauty and satisfaction. II we love SYM
phonies, when was our admiration Of the best com
positions Of the Italian masters ever withheld?
There are few communities in the world certainly
not In the United States capable judging music
by its intrinsic merits and approaching true artistic
execution in performance as our own. 1t has been
the voluntary and unanimous testimony of both
singers and performers that nowhere will the public
accept SO much Of what by common consent has re-
ceved the title of classical music, as in Boston. No
people more quickly perceive the fine points of both
vocalization and dramatic performance, and none
more readily offer their applause. Witness the en-
thusiasm created during the performances Of the old
Havana troupe, the details OF which may be found in
Mr.. Clapp'e admirable history of the Boston stage
Also the secondappearance of the troupe which
first made us acquainted with Badali. Witness the
success Of the Germanians, crowding the immense
Music Hall twice week, beside the regular evening
concerts The training of twenty years has not been
without its fruits and we feel that fuller need of
praise than has yet been bestowed is due to the Bo
ton Academy OF Music, which first in the old Odeon,
Just then altered from the Federal street theatre
began the work.
Doubtless large share Of the honor IN educating
the public toA high standard Of musical taste belongs
to the Handel and Haydn Society, the pioneer or.
creations of the old masters written with severity Of
style and conscientious and religious fidelity to the
sentiment that have made them models for all time
laid the foundation of that love for the grand and
beautiful in music which is so universal in this
munity. 1t is not feeling Of momentary excite
ment, attendant upon caprice or fashion, which be-
slows its garands and pours its incense to the pres
tge of name. 1t is strong and abiding, ever ready
to cheer the young asprant after fame, or to recog
from
whatever name 1t comes
Many causes have operated to prevent that degree
of patronage which we would gladly have seen be-
doubt has been the scale Of prices. This was to
great degree the result of necessity, the limited
pacty of the house requiring for each seat, in order
to make 1t profitable to the management price
that the majority Of our musical people are unable to
pay. II is the after all that must be looked to
FOR the steady support Of either the drama or the
opera Experience Is alike In all our cities that
dependence upon the wealthy and fashionable
only ends in disappointment The Astor Place
Opera House IL proof of this. This building, built
in the most expensive manner, and In situation
especially adapted to meet the wants OF the tom Is
stripped Of its splendid decorations which have
been sold under the hammer. and is to be converted
into other uses while Castle Garden fourishes, up
held by the million who nightly crowd its walls
A conductor of opera who has tried his fortune in
almost every city of the Union and its neighborlng
countries, has given it as his experience, that he
never lost any money in our CITY, And, now that we
are sure of capaci0us opera house. from the strong
love of music which we know exists here and in the
vicinity, which, by means Of railroads, is con.
verted into vast suburb, feel that we are war
ranted in promising to any inpessayio who will or
range company properly. bring out good operas in
ungarbled integrity, q golden harvest, whose dura-
ton will be commensurate only with his efforts to
please.
OFF FOR THE TLxAs PLAoERs,-The Memphis
Uhr of the l4th inst, says Several Adventures
set out for the newly discovered land Of gold this
nro.,inn 70 try fhcir hands towards making n for