New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-01-05

This table Of expenses, Il will be seem shows
monthly outlay of sl3,33o; but Is s,iil denciens IN
several important items namely: the salaries OF con-
talto (ss00; another tenor, lsl000l; another baf-
tone ssOO second coptralto, another second tenor.
and second baritone, $500 eschl all OF which are
necessary for the proper conduct OF seasca d Ihss
Opera and which raise the expenditure 10 s6 $50 PEI
month, exclusive of rent, interest, and tnshrdRc
1.-THE salaries Of the Prma Donna and First Tenns,
Il viii be seen, rated at 81 900 each Per month"; b
Madame de La Grange and Signor Nitrate received
last three times that or 81 600 each per osts
raising the monthly expenditure TO s2l per MONTH
exclusive Of rent, interest aud insurance.
According TO these statistical details of The Courier
and Enquirer the monthly expenses of the Opera 1t
the Academy have been s2i 800, exclusive OF reot-
There have been three performances week or thur
teen month. This gives a nightly expense OF sl.o"
beside rent As we have before shown. there wesc
about 100 performances last year, and the rent was
So 900. or an average of $50 night; which, sdded
tothe a. ca gives the expense Of Mr. Paines season
as 80, lei night.
Having nov shown what Italian Opera costs rs PEI
formed upon one third of the acting nights OF the yea
in a house devoted exclusively to it, by company CO.
esc,d by the week or month for short seasons, let us
examine what would cost given in conjunction wa
Engsh Opera or other not expensive entertain
ments such as ballet and Ravellike psutomime, in Tho
same house open, thcaer fashion, every acting night:
~NN'-~
wear be afforded, including 80 ofItasn Opera in style
equal to that in which it is now presonted-the whole
33 performances costing little more than the 100 arc
now said to cost-to ask why the Italian Opera usss
not in that manner be really established and find 10
support from the much -sbused mass of the people
by offering il to them OF prices of admission wthsa
their means. .
How this might be accomplished we will attempt 70
show. We are not sure that any Italian Opera nsa-
ager has taken up the business here as merchant 81
ters upon one Of equal magnitude, investing ss6'
6ciently large capital laying out plans Tor business
wears ahead and making provision for possible losses
os well as probable profits. On the contrary shs
Opera has been expected to pay its way month ~
month, or explode periodically. manager to form
company perfectly should pass year Europe travel
ing about to hear artists the stage, aud to make ea-
gaeements, commencing when existing contracts shoa'"
expire. This is the way in which good artists mgh<
be sought out and if engaged for long term say ose.
two or three year, secured at salaries halt or tha
of those now usually paid. The American manages o.
the contrary generally goes or sends his agent "
Europe a few months only before the oommeooe-
ment of his brief season. lie must make his seecties
from the artists ut the moment unemployed, Whose
qualifications he must decide upon from hearing thexa
sing with the accompaniment of piano. because
Others whom he hears upon the stage 10 character src
under engagement al the time theatrical manager
could hardly make good selection of company frosa
hesrint them read seated at table, aud an opera
manager cannot very well decide upon prima donnss
nI., Norma from, sas;ns hor sHafed Mt piano
n parlor singing C0sto Dird Yet such Is the man.
nrr in which contracts are made. We are speaking
Of what generally happens; OF course thore afc
exceptional cases, and American managers and their
agents have frequently secured artists of rare powers
at very moderate salaries.
We will suppose a manager NJ this moment forming
T. company to perform Italian and English Opera -
alternate nights, at the Academy Of Music, upon every
acting night of the years 1857 and 1883 and with ado
quate capital securing the services of artists for tho
whole tenn. We believe, with good judgment. 90
Italian company of principal singers in every respect
equal Ia that now engaged in Fourteenth street. and
an English company equal to any that has appeared B.
New-York, could for that period BE- secured, and al
other salaries and expenses including tho $4,000
year rent be paid and the nightly expenses net ex-
coed s975 For it must be remembered that with the
exception Of the double set of principal singers hardly
any more people need be employed higher salaries
need BE- paid for fix performances week than fos
three. The additional expenses being only door
keepers ushers policemen supemumeries carpente~s.
gas, fuel bil.prnting and few insignificant tems.
The monthly expenses may be estimated thus:
ITALIAN COMPANY. ENGLISH COMPANY -
One Prina Donns,. 81 coo one Prims Donns'' ei
One COuiTelto 5olOne ditto. ....''''''''
One Con pTinaria. JOlOne second Donnas'''' -
One Second Donna..... lOoIOne First Tenor'..''.
First Tenor 200 One ditto.
Ono do............ 400 One Second Tenor..... ~
One Second Tenor, ozone Banone.''''.''''' -
One Baritone. 900 One Bass, .'''sss'ss'
One Bufo Bass........ 500 One Second bass's''s'' "
One Serious Bass....... SOL -
One Second Bass...... 1901 T0ri''''''''''''''f'S~
a, mrs Nn oruyR EXPENSES COMMON TO BOTH
FifS oycbe Three Doorkeepers 30
Foytv chorus 1000 Three policemen -