New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-06-21
MUSICAL INTELLIGENCE.


ACADEMY OF Musrc.-Mr. Payne has rssuuss L..
direction Of this establishment and viii give 49,.
for the lsst time with the La Grange Troupe, tn
Of Norma, in which Mad. La Grange ezAAa.s
much talent and versatility.
On Monday next the Opera Of Don G;ova,.;.
be presented, with all the force Of the Comn.nv
The short season now at the Academy win A..
last this operate year. Tho building has been 49,,
to Mr. Julien from the lst Of August, who win -
himself, his band Of unrvaled Soois.s, and ~
Orchestra, and hold nightly Concerts.
A NEw OPERA.-TRe L0ndon Times in an s.h...
article notices new Opera by an English cour,..'
entitled Berta or The GRome Of Harts5ery ~
plot is of course e1ecrsbe trash and Il coude,,,.,
by the critic, who goes on to say:
at was not easy TO do anything with sceh ,r.,a.
Of unedifyne absuriiiies; but Mr.. Henry Sms,+ -
managed 10 make 1t the framework for some Il ~.
most beautiful and mastery writing that has bes a.
iributed 10 the stage by an English composer. Fur
the overturet 10 the end the evidence Of cousumu.s
musiciaps in. united to rich Invention, clever -
strucion ard continuous flow of melody Il nress,,
All this could not be concealed by the seanty pruoo,
tons of the orchestra and the utter ineceucy Of he
chorus, although the orchestral accompaniment are
elaborate snd varied with great felicity while he cIo.
ruses beside being numerous, are of the highest in
nor ance to the general effect. IL was anything bat
consoling TO think that such music az Mr.. Smart e.,
pable of producing should have no chance Shstever
of being appreciated-since with the best good vii
on the part of the management, land Mr.. Bucksoce
has dole everything in his power for the scenery eo
tunes, and other stage accessories, The Hsymarke
not theatre for opera. II is uDpropitlous 70 soal
ard affords no accommodation for complete sh
effective band, supposiog even that could De oosaas
on nights when another and a larger estaolishnel.
almost absorbs the best instrumental talent po-
sess. Our dramatic composers are, indeed IN Wcrs
plight than ever. They have no theater 70 appehh
at home, and unless like Mcssrs. Bale aud Wallace
thew can afford to 20 abroad aud travel about 4
wanderers, their chance OF obtaining a hearing ia
poor one Under the circumstances, u IL enrgTnls
their energies not dried up and their desire 70 hb
extinguished. That this IL not the case Mr.. Smsts
Bertd although, believe, the greater part Of twu
written ten years ego, which may account for IL
"model hBreito) is proof. Many others would peoA
ably sooner later come 10 light lyrical 'hes's
were at hand even like the Lyceum OF od-'he neer.
est apr roach TO a national opera we have been able
boast-where the Mountain Sylph and other wortl
we're pIoduced But this is a forlon hope; and uuls
our musicians will make up their minds to act togeth
and Exert Themselves they must be satisfied to remain
in obscurity Government will do nothing; II H shea
folly to expect otherwise. This country rs not hhe
France where the public entertainments are conat
cred in the State policy. Individual energy, or the
energy of classes directed special points,, opens The
only road TO success. In this quality OF energy
would SEEM muficians or at least English MUSICIAN
are deficient. 1Iey grumbe at the favor shown 70
foreigners instead of combining TO project and cary
out something like attractive opposition, and
ignore the significant truth that the only wey to va
tie lubc 10 their cause is 10 dmnse the public. II
a man will do nothing TO help himself he must na
expect the world to help him. The .woelc is H.
different and cares neither tor him nor be
cause looking in leisure hours when the cares OF bus
ness are over, for entertainment, and ready with
money 10 rev for the best that is to be had. Where
Italian Opera is best the public win go to the Italian
Orera; where English Opera il best 1t will go to En-
gsh Opera; and where the two equal in attraction
lis favors will be unfortunately bestowed. Mus
clans who complain that painters are richly patronzed
willie they themselves neglected overlook the feet
that painting, finished, has but to be hung obe
seen and appreciated, while the score of q mudcsl
until il finds Interpreters that is executants. Let
tie music be ever good 1t would be "c0rtare" 10
the world unless well performed in all s parts and he
composer a genius of the trst water to no purpcse.
We have been led into these observations simply By
the excellence of the new opera OF Mr.. Smart, which
offers claims to admiration that cannot fail to be spps
rent to all who capable of Judging. But IL -
composition OF much too great pretensons for thea7
like the Haymarket, where musical PEI formances ue
episodical aud the means and appliances are made
quaie. Mr. Smart should have known this beforehand
and have written something on ess ambitious scale.
As H. while bis ballads are appauded and encored h
must look forward to some medium for initiating
the general public into the higher merits of his compc
81 iOn which arc Of a stamp 10 place him among the
beet operate composers of the day.
1.-The performance allowing for the inevitable def
ciencies to which we have alluded offered much to be
praised without qualification. Mr.. Smart himself pre-
sided in the orchestra, and received with the load
est applause. The house crowded with amateurs
and musicians, who had been long aware Of his sbb-
ties a composer, though they had enjoyed no preyi
GUS chance of testing them in public theater. Eyey
ono seemed In the Lumor TO be pleased, and the Opera
went of with the q eatest tciat from first TO last Mr.
Sims Reeves, though evidently suffering from severe
d, sang his very best in the part Of Michael and
two of the ballads-"In vain | would forget thee"
and Sad was the hour''-both graceful and melodi.
GUS and bearing slight family resemblance TO each
other, was rapturously encored.
At the conclusion of the opera Mr.. Smart v.
unanimously summoned before the cnrtan and greeted
with enthusiastic plauds from every part of the hoa
We lave more to say Of the music Of Berta in detail
han we can find room for at present, and shall return
70 the subject as to one well worthy of consideration
n