The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-07-15


Having completed the subsonp:sen u the amount
o. stock required BY resolution n csc direct0fs Of
the American Academy OF Music. 70 b rslsed before
any steps shoald be taken 20 erect building. the
stTuctiGn TO be adopted. This Ia grave question.
II may Justly be raid TO involve the OF the
whole enterprise. Az we have earnestly advocated
the expediency OF securing here such place Of
amutemept and school Of art - IL contenpl 4ted
we deem il proper TO express our opinion Of the
sort u policy aud judgment Which shauld govern
the sctioD Of the company ut this important stage
Of their project.
We have alxays understood that the design WAS
to make this proposed opera house great popu-
lar resort; that the only sound and reliable prn'
ciyle on which 1t Gao he supported Is its accoss-
bilify TO- aid patronage by. the million; that to
upon numbers and low prices From this theory
il will not 10 wire or practicable TO d-part. II
would be infinitely better not to lay stone OF the
edfce. tlah 10 lay 1t In conformity with any other
sch, me than tie comprehensive aud democratic
one with which its projectors cot out Expert
mtn,s, ess wi ere, have proved the utter fut lily
Of endeavorDg TO render opera, " other public
amuet mt Mt, AN arstocatic affair In this country.
The ma, ses must be relied upon TO maintain all such
enterprises and most especially that which. OF its
kind, Is The most expensive. Wherever 0peratic ex-
bibitions have been attempted 10 America 10 thea
tree admitting small Hudience necessarily to
rac the prices 80 high M to exclude the great body
of the people, they have invariably failed They have.
iDde+o, more than fsiltd-they have swamped the
mort experienced and prudent arrangements, and
brought heavy losses upon al concerned In such
movements New York has furnished ample illustra-
tioGs of this kind Ut folly aud disaster Opera has
never paid there, and Tor the simple reason that It
was never thrown open u the Multitude. Not
long since /, was resolved " try the virtue Of
popularizipg the lyric drama. A fund was speedily
laised 10 Pit up fer The purpose spacious build
ing capable Of holding fIom four 70 five thousand
people. admissible per head at rates level t. the
pecuniary means Of the many Thin was starting
nj, had ham FILL
adhered to, New York would have enjosed the
distinction Of proving that musical dramatic art
can be established aud sustained in the United
States But tie original plan OF building agreed
upon has been, We understand, reduced, and con
neciipg this circumstance with the enormous rent
charged Tor the house, the public may confidently
look for magnificent failure, where they once
had reason to expect complete and brilliant sue
Cess. Opera in Boston will encounter the same
difficulties, and the same result. The structure
erected for it, though large. compared with any
thing of the sort before attempted, will not be
capscious enough to make II meet expenses at
popular prices and without this condition secured,
there viii be al annual loss the investment.
and the concern must eventually go down Of it's
own weight.
Philadel phia has the advantage OF the mistakes
Of her heighb0rs. Though starting before thcm in
the same enterprise, she has been Outstripped
lmmen sely in the prosecution. This, however, may
yet be turned TO good account. Ii we have gone
along slowly VT may show that our progress has
been sale and sure, and If we exercise the proper
sort ofspirit and d erection in determining the plan
upon which to build our opera house, shall enjoy
the credit Of having been the first to solve the mu III
yexed problem whether first rate operate corps,
complete in all its departments and appointments,
can be made permanent and self SUPPORTING estab-
lishment on this ride Of the ocean. What il neces
sary to do thisi There is in our opinion. but one
essential requisite and that is an edice which shall
accommodate enough people comfortably to enable
The enterprise to supp itself at rates Of admission
which the million may afford TO expend for an
habituai luxury. This is all that is wanted. This
gYsrv e on rs s shS
be made to yield and be subservicnt TO this archi
tcctural decoration and beauty are as nothing in
comparison TO it. The exterior walls of an opera
ness and monotony than that the popular element in
the undertaking should be sacrificed in the slightest
derree or particular. The building should be cons
tnlt.d TO hold FIVE thousand persons or not
constructed at all. The site selected and pur-
chased is noble one in every regard. II has
length and breadth enough to furnish an auditorium
for seven or eight thousand persons, II there were
any necessity ~ provide for that number. There is
no OCCASION then, TO contract the dimensions Of the
structure tc suit the ground. II money is needed to
put mp the fabric upon sufficiently commodioas
.cale, that undoubtedly can be secured hereafter.
But let the theatre, il besun at all, be begun on
plan as to size commensurate with the requirements
81 the project and the fundamental condition Of its
succets.
Besides the fact that as an arsocratic resort an opera
nCufc COulQ not now or ever succeed nero, we want
it contrved and adapted for the masses for two or
three reasons quite as important as its pecuniary
prosperity. II Ia eminently desirable that all class
es OF our population should have so delightful and
refining means Of amusement put within their
reach The moral influence it would exert is
chief object to be sought. Then, again. culture Of
popular taste for music, and the dcvelopcment Of
INDIVIDUAL musical talent also constitute valuable
part Of the utility and ,neficcnce Of the institu
ton. Indeed these two ends, il we may judge from
the corporate title Of the stockholders, were the
principal inducements with the Legislature in their
graft of the charter Of the Academy Thirdly,
the promotion Of the commercial interests of the
city, by afording strangers source Of cheap and
agreeable entertainment during their soj0urn among
us, Is another capital use to be eubscryed by the
enterprise. All Of these purposes can only be ful-
filed by an Opera House which will hold several
thousand people, at low price Of admission and 30
arranged and conducted as to avoid all inyidious
distinctions Of classes in the audience.
the Board Of Directors are to be charged OK
clnsivey with the selection Of plan for the build
ing, then they will have duty to perform Of grave
responsibility. They cannot be TOO careful and
deliberate in their discharge of it. The community
viii not forgive fatal mistake in matter Of 80
much moment to their welfare and enjoyment. IL
Is vel known that the majority Of those who have
contributed their money TO this undertaking have
done 70 with no expectation or desire to derive
direct profit or interest from it. They have agreed
70 give IT for great public benefit and they will
justly require that IL shall be so employed as to
realize, most enectualy, the design they have in
view. That can be secured in no other way
than ~ erecting Q theatre 10 accommodate
at least fvc thousand auditors, and letting
il upon the simplc condition that the lessee
shall pay ali expenses, and limit the maximum
charge for admission TO fifty cente On these terms
the establishment will easily support Itsclf and the
public be furnished wi h 9 gratifying and elegant
means Of diversion. Ensprsssasios win be eager to
get the lease Of house d this description; t6ey can
afford TO maintain in IL, for large part Of every
year, company Of superior strength and first rate
TALENT artists will flock here TO the chief centre
Of musical art in this country and the highest style
Of lyric dramatic exhibitions will be naturalizcd
ment and enjoyment. We have confined our re-
marks to day 20 the considerations which strongly
recommend the construction Of building Of the re.
quistc size. We shdn have something 10 say here
after as regards the architectural details Of plan
and the letting Of the contract for tho work.