The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-02-13

hietory Of musical enterprises in this country
during the past twenty-five years, would make
a most amusing volume. The entire history Of
the Italian opera, from it's foundation up to its
Introduction here, would not be more strange,
more amusing, or more exciting than o rela-
ton Of it's fortunes and misf0rtnnes in this fast
age and this rapid country during the last
quarter Of q century. From Maine to California
the country has been filed with the p~laintive
notes of distressed prinsa donne, seedy tenors,
and indignant baasos. They have strutted their
brief hour upon the stage, sung their sweet
est to empty benches, and got no sala-
,ry. The seductive Ell Dorado, painted in
such glowing colors by dashing managers,
has, in many cases, turned out to be
q very poor Sahara after all. The managers
have lost all Of their own money and as much
more, as they could borrow. They have been
ruined, the enterprising inpressario has been
totally used up five times, and yet, like Old
Rough and Ready, he does not seem to know
when he is beaten; he rather likes to be ruined,
and he is ready to- take the field again in q
perfect blaze of glory.
We are visited with the Italian opera in pre-
cisely the same style as with the fever and ague,
by periodical shocks. At one time we have
three or four classic establishments under
full Roadway. All at once their lights 90
out, the managers disappear, the cod6sh
aristocracy lis disconsolate-there is no
opera! What a bore life must be to
our Fifth avenue friends, under such distress
ing circumstances! After a temporary calm
comes a perfect hurricane of opera, companies.
like the great snow storms on the Western prai-
ries, where the railway trains are frozen up and
the passengers have to eat dogs. One of these
musical avalanches is now hanging over this
devoted city, .andit will De down upon as in a
few days. There are no less than three great
operate enterprises under way here at the pre-
sent time. Mr.. Hackett viii first open the Me-
tropolitan theatre; Jacobsohn, Niblo / Co. are
making arrangements for opera a. Niblo's; and
the Academy Of Music, that unfortunate estab-
lishment, is to have another trial under the
baton of Ole Bull. What q delicious prospect
is here opened to the We've of the diletfanti. In
these enterprises we shall have all kinds OF
opera, all kinds Of managers, and oil kinds of
artists-the highest and the lowest-the bes.
and the worst. Europe will be good enough
to give us some Of its good singers, q great
many Of it's Indifferent singers, and not a few
Of its bad singers. We ought to be very CRATE
full for such condescension. We shall have any
amount Of high art, bad aud good management,
tact, skill, ignorance and intelligence, courtesy
and arrogance, modesty and presumption.
There is no occasion to go TO the spirit-rsppers
or f0 thu ocfrD1nuo-c ~ find ONT tho prohahlo
fate Of some of these speculations. They will
60 to swell q long list Of previous enter prises
Of the same kind. Within the last twenty
years we have seen many attempts to establish
the opera in New York. 1t has been tried in
the Park; in that classic locality, Church
street in Broadway ; in the Bowery
in the Astor Place Opera House, and
finally, in the Academy Of Music, Fourteenth
street and Irving place." We have had all
sorts Of opera, in all sorts oflanguages-French,
Italian, German-interpreted by ell sorts of
artists, from the days Of Garcia down to Grisi;
but they have all failed, miserably and utterly.
The democracy will not pay its money for high
art or low art, because it does not like it. The
aristocracy has no taste for anything beyond
billiards, livery servants, late suppers, eau de
cologne and German c~otillons.
So the Italian, French and German opera has
been annihilated, while only one sort OF musical
enterprise has succeeded, and that is the great
original, unexcelled, unterri6ed, ~unequalled, pc
culiar, remarkable, astounding American classic
niger opera. One fact will prove the truth
Of this assertion. Thirteen years ago Mr.. E. P.
Christy established here the first American
niger opera. This day Mr.. Edwin p. Christy
is millionaire. He has quietly attended to
his business-his opera has been managed with
tact, taste, skill and discretion. He has given
to the public popular entertainment, without
pretence or exclusiveness in its arrangements,
and he has received his reward.
The history of the italian classic opera in
the United States is q history Of ~reverses, Of
q%uarrels, Of newspaper ~warfares, Of passe prima
donne, Of 6lase tenors and ruined managers,
while the record Of the American classic negro
opera is one of popularity, Of success, Of ulti-
mate triumph. At one time in this city We have
had four full first rate American classic niger
opera companies, and now there are two that
draw full and delighted houses every night.
In summing up the case, it must be acknow-
lodged that niger opera has the best Of it. It
is the most popular amusement in the country.
Let the directors of the Academy think of this
fact, and if everything else fails, try the niger
operal
JUSTICE TO GEN. Scorr.-We are happy to an
nounce to our readers the passage by the House
Of Representatives Of the resolution Of the Sc
nate, comforting upon Major General Scott the
brevet rank Of Lieutenant General, in consider