The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-08-30

THE OPERA IN A FINANCIAL POINT or VIEW
Elsewhere we give a communication in relation
to the Opera, which represents a popular but
superficial view Of the matter. The writer argues
that the Opera fails to pay in New York because
the artists have heavier salaries than in Europe,
ahile the price of admission here is less than it is
there. Fer the sake Of argument We might DO
willing 10 allow that our correspondent WAS right
in his prsmises Even then we should say that
be was wrong in his conclusions, For the Opera,
weil managed, our people woald not object to
sying the prices of the Academy in Paris
which run from two dollars and quarter down
to eighty cents. Our Academy will seat, COM
fostably, larger number of persons than either
Of tie English or French Opera houses, and would
therefore bold ss much money. Artists are en-
gagged in London and Paris by the year, and here
We have them for few months. 1t is necessary,
then, that the terms per month should be. say
twenty Per cent higher but this ID more than over
balanced by the heavy expenses for the ballet,
which Lle English ard French managers must
pay, ard from which orr directors are ftee to
say nothing Of the great outlay for costumes,
extra chorus, orchestra, &c, &c, at which au
American manager would faint with horror. No,
d coed Opera in New York, Boston and Phila-
delphia will always bring what it costs-say twelve
hundred dollars per night. The grand difficulty
Las been found II the fact that the managers did
not kro~ their business. They are like the
railway managers, making magnificent
promises, laying cut splendid plans, which are
Fever realized, and taking peoples money with
cot gising any tangible return for IT, Pretty
soon people get tired Of paying their money for
uotb'ng-the stock goes dogn-the Opera house
is aeserted-the whole affair fails, and everybody
is rtired, except G few capitalists Sho set the
affair going, pocket the profits and retire at an
early period Of the game. II it is possible, we
should like 10 zee some capable man. free from
all Ciiqnes Or int igTes, and with sufficient capi-
tel, undertake Opera management here in quiet,
modest way never bringing his personal affairs
before the pubic, but giving good entertain
mtnt for fir Price. We have the most good
naiurtd, LIBERAL public in the world-a public
that al - great deal Of nonsense, and which
Is So anxious to encourage what is really good in
art that il often pays for counterfeit rather
ObscuIiiy,
The commercial figure OF our correspondent is
an atenIdity. The manager provides 40 euter-
tainrent at certain nightly expense, and ne has
good reascn 70 believe thst the attraction Will be
sufficient TO induce the public to pay Sufficient to
cover the expenses, and leave a margin of profit
II be fails, it il an error of judgment just as a
merchant may sometimes lose money on an in
voice Of foreign goods, for which on account of
soIne stupidity OF his Own, he cannot get mar
ket. In this country the price OF an article has
nothing whatever to do with its sale.
The best reply, If any reply was really needed
10 an argument so fallacious, might be found in
the fact that Lumley himself, the most acute of
ali the managers, has received TO come 10 Ameri-
ca next year, bringing Piccolonini and Guiglini,
to whom he pays by the year a larger sum per
monsh than was ever given by al American
fTapag ger &c any opcraic artists except Grisi and
ario We are TIED Of hearing these com
Ilfc rs between London and New York. We
have heard Grisi and Mario, B0sio and Rouconi
sing TO smaller audiences than we ever saw for
the most miserable operate performances ia
NC" IOlh' anu We nave Sounteu "a hvuSS IL the
Giand Opera, Paris, OF one hundred ard seventy
five personsnot quite equal to the number of the
orchestra and chorus For anything really good
We can get together al The New York Academy
twice as many people as will be drawn to either
Of The principal Opera hooscs in London or
Paris, because there the Grand Opera ls patron
lied only b. class while here IL Is rapidly be-
coming popular amusement, to the support OF
which everybody contributes something.
1t is hardly necessary to say tia. the above
remarks apply to the general subjec. alone. By
ali accounts the coming Opera seasou will &c oue
whore personal quarrels among the managers
will interfere materially with the cnjoymctd OF
the public and the suceets Of tee Opera.
THAT Coin BoX.-Our readers are doubtless