The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-10-20

the receipts show the number OF persons present
as two thousand four hundred, exclusive, of
course, of the crowds who have to leave for
want of accommodation there, whereas, on opera
nights tickets being fixed at dollar and re-
served seats at dollar and halt, the receipts
would only indicate the presence of some five
or six hundred persons or, perhaps, about one
sixth the number who go to see the ballots.
However, the rivalry which seems so much TO
affect the Italian opera at Niblo's, is soon to
cease, at least for time. This evening the en-
gagement of the Ravel Family, at that estab-
lishment will be concluded, to the regret Of the
many thousands who flocked night after
night, to witness their inimitable perform
ances This regret is still the more felt, that
the Ravels' are to be accompanied in their depar-
ture by the pretty and exquisite Russian dan
seuse M lie Yrka Matthias, who made her debut be-
fore an American audience only week or two
ago, and who has at once become popular IA
vorite. But other engagements had been formed
by the Ravels in Baltimore, Washington, and
Philadelphia, and they should of necessity be
fulfilled. We doubt, however, whether operate
prospects will brighten in the least by the ces-
sation of the ballet attraction at Niblo's.
large proportion of the audiences attending
our theatres is composed Of persons from the
country visiting the metropolis AT the opera,
however, the audience consists, to a great ex-
tent Of persons residing in the city. All the
theatres enumerated above are Of second Oh
third rate class. There is no first class drama in
New York, though the Broadway theatre makes
some pretensions to it, but it presents no origi-
nal plays Of any consequence, and has absolute
ly nothing to give it national, intellectual
vent Garden obtained some thirty years ago, or
as the Theatre Franchise, in Paris, now en-
joys. And yet there is vast field of en-
terprise open for theatrical developement
of all kinds, even as the stage now exists here.
For instance, there is in this metropolis, which
is so attracted by novelty, an excellent oppor-
tunity Of initiating new system Of drama, and
Of bringing forward original plays instead Of
the hackneyed old productions Of the English
stage. What we want is, plays written by our
own authors, illustrative Of native manners
and which would exercise the intellects Of the
audiences-such plays as those which charac-
terized the periods Of theatrical history in the
early stages Of the French and English drama.
The presentation of such pieces would interest
and attract the public, and the novelty and ex-
element Of deciding on their merits would
make our audiences critical in their taste.
So much for the regular dramatic institution,
which we think might, by these means, be made
infinitely more popular and aourishing than
they are even now. As to the musical drama,
or Italian opera, we do not believe that the soil
Of hisrepublcan metropolis is sufficiently con-
genial to its full development. The table we
have given shows pretty exactly the condition
in which it at present stands. There is very
excellent operate company here, well organic
ed conducted by Maretzek in most admi-
rable manner in all respects and yet on nights
of performance there are but small attendances
hardly numerous enough to defray expenses
while on alternate nights Niblo's Garden is
found too small by one-third to accommodate
the crowds DESTROYS OF witnessing the ballet ex-
hibition OF the Ravels There is certain class
of travelled Americans and residents in New
York who patronize OPERA but the taste for it
does not prevail extensively among the masses,
who give the preference to the regular English
stage. All these facts which we have before us,
indicate that there will be great difficulty in
establishing Italian opera in the new house now
being erected for that purpose at Irving place,
nnless the management combine it in some way
with the presentation Of drama Of the highest
order.