The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-09-23
THE DAILY DISPATCH,
Tnesaay slorn,nw, scpscmber ~. 1850.
GRAND OPERA BEHIND THE CuR.
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The correspondent of the Boston Post. writing
from Paris, gives graphic account Of the opening
of the Grand Opera House In that city. Wa .o.
lect tha, par; which describes the scene bsh,,a
the curtain.
Behind the seenesi what a piauant sen.ene.,
Behind The scenes at the grand opera Is worth
seeing aud speaking though perhaps impudsnt 70
write about, or in comparison TO any or,,inarv
theatre, Is an apartment TO palace
JUST underneatht the entrance TO the orchestr.
stalss on the right as you enter the lobby. In a
small ordinary door, guarded always by a respec.
mo'e m eefoerns, IN grey hair, white cravat and
BLACK coat Behind this door a dozen small stens
conduct to the coasses and during the entire ACT
CONSTANT stream af priviedged persons NAV he
seen ascending to the regions unapp-oachs ror
the public at large. This was frst represents
ton, aud first representations are always Tho
in Paris. In addition also the noyelty of a LIS,
had attracted a larger attendance than usual of
young men, habltues, &c, and consequently the
coulisses were thronged to sufocatiop : =
Arrived ut the top of the staircase YOU find vour
sell once among side scenes, coils of rome machn
ists, prompters and opera girls The latter swarm
IN tas locality during the performance leaving the
great room in the further extremity devoted ex
pressy to their use for the locating place near the
front; here they receive their friendsi Ordinarily
1t is nothing extraordinary, 1 know the sipht prs
sented behind the scenes but upon this evening
there were among the visitors one or two di,,ip
gniShed personages-though for that matter the
crowd is always distinguished-a circumstance
whicE has led me to remark particularly the occa
sion. Leaning against huge canvass rock. who
shoald see in all his glory but the Marshal Duke
Peiissier, talking with Md'lle Legraiu. youne
lady OF no great personal beauty, but of miracu.
ions dancing powers. The Marshal was smiling
like basket of chips and so was uademoisalIe
In moment no was surrounded by host of cory.
phees, brought up in gallant array by his brother
IN arms, Canrobert, who seemed to know and be-
ioved by the whole Of the divinites in tights The
Duke attracted the most hattering attention I'm
douotedly be found his reception by the world this
side OF the lamps more gratifying than that of the
other, and he let himself completely out in the en-
Joyment of the chattering aud buzzng going on
about him.
The sight all round for moment or two was
most singular. Here a knot of dancing girls with
saawis thrown over their shoulders conyersed to-
gether, slipping eau-sucree, cold bouilon, or Ma.
deira wine and water, given them by attendant
mothers or bonnes, who clothed in misty habili.
ments, waited patiently in the background ready
tn be of any service to their children or mstresses
La fours, at each of the three back wings. stood
the elves who were to perform the arial parts:
some were already attached by the shoulders and
waists to the long wires descending from away up
high, from the men on the points which were in
strumeAtsl in their flight; oilers were submitting
TO the arrangement and donning the 'airy har.
ness" by the sid of busy active little fellows en-
ployed by the theatre. About them were twos
q nd threes of young men talking and laughing, and
giving them bt nbons and having very Jolly time
with the STATIONARY angels, The ladies were every.
where pointing their feet, raising their limbs sr a
level poising on their toes, munehing sugar plums
and maintaining all the time q chatter chatter
chatter, which drew q repeated shsh from the
stage inspectors who were loupging indiscrimi.
nately about. In q secluded corner one ha nd on
piece of scenery, the other on her hip stood Fer
raris, all perSpiration and rice powder, receiving
the compliments and Fluctuations of host of mid
die aged and white headed men. Market was talk
ing with one of the Foulds and tanning herself
violently; she wore the white satin robes of the
Characters ducbess-and had ON as many dia.
mords as any lady among the audience. Off by
themselves were fairies and peasautesses in private
conversation with particular friends, others execu
ted limited polka preparatory to its performance
on the stage in few moments.
Hot swe eaty gas men with their iron ius trum ents
ran hither and tbither; supernameraries in velvet
cloaks stroed about-the machinist' aids in over
alls and paper caps, stood in their several posi-
tions in close neighborhood with spapgled spirits;
scene shifers were moving ponderous masses of
canvass constructing the fountains the rocks, the
forests and other portions of the landscape: the
man with the watering-pot strewed the stage with
corkscrew lines of sprinkle; the shifers and
paradise men aboye-literally paradise men, for
they controlled by the wires the angels move
nents-were crying directions to thsir comrades
below servants of the performers, servants of the
director and bis aids, were flying backwards and
forwards, executing sundry commissions; several
shabby looking men in large trousers and rough
white hats, stood aside gazing at the bustle
about them, and keeping int ferent watch
wife and daughter, in the ballet tToupe-and nu-
merous old women, sitting in all sorts of incon-
ceivabe pisces on coils of rope, on old boxes,
pieces of stage furniture &c, add ed TO this world
in miniature, and, in contrast with the eostumed
ladies' and well dressed gentlemen, visitors seemed
upf ,rtunate misplaced beings. with not where to
put their heads And what with the lines OF light
from the wings, the endless quantity of ropes,
weights puilies, &c, the piles OF scenery and the
thousands of nameltss objects lying about togeth-
er with the noise of female laugh and chatter, it
seemed like Babel in grog time, an aggrega-
ton or pieces of ships fEeighted with hareins at
hoerty. Brass hated ponpiers stood motionless
! oy' ready Tor any fire emergency, and good God
the idea OF tire in such dcnseiy populated place
| mace one shadder with alright The other re-
stoha or 'he cou!sses were comparatively desert
ed. Iae choris:ers room was desolate, for the op-
| era people had retired long since and the usuai
slnRntS crowd replaced by lords and ladies neces-
| sary to the ballet
me lerge 6aet foyer was empty, its quantities of
mirrors tor the moment rejecting nothing: the tera
OF dressing rooms aso and the party saloons sf the
"stafs" were unlnhsbited, for the summons To co M
mence had SOUNDED, and the crowds of performers
concentrated at the places of enhance upon the
stage. But how, out of this confusion anv thing like
order could result, TO an outsider seemed iucoupre-
hensible until the appeal of the director rIpth
ed in the majesty of bis ofice and-contrsTv to rb
| laws of the estabshmsn.-smokng q cigarette as
the aigna for "fallItg in" which would have done
credit u airy standing army in Europe The differ
ent chiefs sl ready the MEMBERS of the or
chestia had gathered together, the cali boys aperts-
sears, they are called here, performed their GU
ties rap went the raos, the curtain slowly rolled IT.
self up and the act proceeded The spirits jumped
out of he wood upon the stage, the fountain in the
scene began play, the angels were hoised preper-
story to their fl ghEs with whizz and rush Leg
darted upon the boards full bent, apparently for
conflict With the fooghts Ferrsris dropped her little
yl end gce reaay for action, and through the ap
ertu,e formed by rock and sid the army of
coryphees could be in charming array, e. the
del ght of the 'front.' who applauded in admir- alton
The Grimesn warriors and the better portion OF the
returned their places in the sale and in
very short time the couisses were as remarkably
still and deserted IS they had previously been noisy
and animated.
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farmers AssEsiBLy-The following persons