New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-07-25
CARLYLE UPON THE OPERA.

Tie frivolties of the Opera have met with rcbuke
from very unexpected quarter. The terrible pen oi
Thomas Carlyle scores their denunciation Gn The
Dnmtries ABum) in such words as these:
"Music is well said to be the speech Of angels; in
fact nothing among the uterances allowed 10 man Is
felt to be divine IL brings us near 10 the lnnnte
we loo for moments across the cloudy elements into
the eieil 81 Sea of Light when song leads and inspires
u.s. Serious all nations that can still listen 10
the maj dates Of nature-have priced song and music
as the highes vehicle for worship, for prophecy
and for Whasoever in them was divine. Their singer
was admitted to the council OF the universe friend OF
the gods and choicest beneiactor to man. Reader,
was actually so in Greek in Roman, IN Moslem Chris-
tan most of all in old Hebrew times aud, you look
how il is now you will find change that should as
tonish you. Good Heavens! from psalm OF Asaph
to seat in the London Opera IN the Haymarket-
what road have men Travelled! The waste tnat Is
made in music is probably among the saddest of all our
squanderings of Gods gifts. Music has, for long
time past, been avowedly mad, divorced from sense
and fact, and runs about now as an open Bedlamitc,
for good many generations back Dragging that she
has nothing to do with and fact but with fiction
and delrium only and stares with Unaffected amaze
melt, not able to suppress an elegant burst OF witty
laughter at my suggesting the old fact to her. Fact
nevertheless it is forgotten and fallen, ridiculous it
may be. To sing the praise Of God
that you will find, if you can interpret old words and
see what things they mean, was always and will
always be- the business of the singer. He who for
sakes that business, and wasting our diviuest gifts,
sings the praise Of chaos, Whist shall We say of him
David King OF Judah, soul Inspired with divine mt.
SIC and much other heroism, was wont to pour himself
in song he, with seers eye and heart, discerned the
godlike amid the human, struck tones that were an
echo Of the sbpere harmonies, and still felt to be
SUCH Reader art thou of thousand able still to
read psalm Of David and catch some echo Of it
through the old dim centuries, feeling far Off in thy
own heart, what II once was to other hearts made
thine To sing it, attempt not, for is impossible in
this late time; only know that il once sung. Then
20 TO the OPERA and hear, With unspeakable rehec-
tons, what men now sing. OF the Hsynarket Opera.
my account, in file, is this: Lusters candeabras,
painting gliding at discretion: hall as OF the Caliph
Araschid or him that commandeth the slaves of the
Tampa hall as if fitted up by the gen regardless of
expense. Upholstery and the outlay OF human capital
could do no more Artists, too, as they called,
have been got together from the ends of the world
careless likewise Of expense, to do dancing and sing
ing; some Of them even geniuses in their craft.
All of them had aptitudes perhaps, OF distinguished
kid and must by their own and other peoples labor
have got training equal or superior III tosomencss
earnest atsduity, and patient travail to what breeds
men TO the mott arduous trades. speak not of kings
grandees or the like show figures; but few soldiers
Judges men Of letters, have had such pains taken
with them. The very ballet girls, with their muslin
saucers round them, perhaps little short Of mirac
ulous, whiring and spinning there in strange, mad
voItexes, and then suddenly fixing themselves notion
less, each upon Der left right great toe, with the
otereg stretched out ut angle OF ninety degrees as
ifyou had suddenly pricked into the floor, by one Of
their points, pair rather multtudnous cohort Of
Hlhu, Jumping, Gripping scl3t0re,
hidden them rest with open blade and stand still in
the DEVILS name truly notable motion-marvel-
Gus, almost miraculous, were hot the people there so
used to it motion peculiar to the OPERA perhaps the
ugies ard surely OF the most difficult ever taught
female in this world. Alas, and of all
these notable noticeable human talents, and excel
cit perseverance, and energies, backed by moan
taips OF wealth, and led by the divine art of music aud
rhythm, vouehsaied by Heaven to them and US, what
was 10 be the issue here this evening An hours
an usement, not amusing either but weerisoms aud
creary, to hgh-dzened select papulace OF male aud
female persons who seemed 70 me not much worth
amusing. Could aIy have peaed into their hearts
once one true thought and glimpse Of sefvsion high
dizened nOst expensive persons arisocracy called,
best Of the world beware, beware what proofs you
giving here If BITTERNESS and bestness. Aud then
the salutIry paLg Of conscience in reply. select
popuece with money in its purse and dreda little by
The posture. maker good heavens ii that were what
here every where in Gods creation am. And world
Gil dying because am, and show myself to be, and 10
have long been, even that John the carriage-the
carriage, swift Let 60 home in silence to rehec.
ton. perhaps TO sackcloth and ashes, This and not
amusement would have proited these persons. .
o, Heavens! when think that Music, too, is con-
dtnned to be mad, and 10 burn herself TO his end ON
such funeral pile your celestial operahouse grows
dark and internal to me. Behind It's glitter stalks the
shadow Of eternal death through il too. look not
up into the Divine eye, Richter hos it, but down
into the bOttomless eye-socket-Dot upward toward
Gtd. heaven, and the throne Of truth but too truly.
down, toward falsity, vanity, ard he dwelling place
Il everlasting despair.