The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-03-28

The matinee at the Academy on yesterday
was brilliant elimination for Mr.. Ullman's
very successful season. The browning effort of
the manager was the production Of the "Hugue-
nots," which has been played nine times to the
largest audiences ever seen at the Opera house
on the regular nights. The success of this
opera and Of Robert lie Diable" chiefly due to
the exertions Of Formes. Therefore it is cheer
ing to know that the audience of yesterday and
Friday gave TO the great Jasso fattering re-
cognition of his services
The next important event at the Academy
will be the performance of the grand oratorio,
The Messiah" on Tuesday next. To-day is
Palm Sunday, commencing Passion Week, the
most solemn epoch Of the Christian year.
During this week the Opera people come to
the rescue Of the churches, and give religious
demonstration at the Academy ON the evening
above mentioned. The "Messiah" Of Handel
breathes pure religious spirit, and is admira-
bly, calculated to help along the great work of
revival. In England, during this week, it lie
the custom to close the theatres altogether, but
oratorios and performances of sacred music are
given at Exeter Hall and elsewhere. They al
ways receive the patronage of the clergy and
the religious community. 1t is therefore proper
that the director Of the Academy and the Sacred
Harmonic Society should follow the laudable
example Of Exeter Hall. There will be great
force of orchestra players and chorus singers,
and the best singers of the Opera will render
the solos. The oratorio itself is too we'll known
to need any particular mention but its per-
Torrance just now is rendered interesting from
the fact that it is an aid to q great religious
awakening; that it comes at the most appro-
pirate season Cat the end of Lent and in the
height of a great revival. All the churches in
tend to commence this week a grand battle
royal with Satan. The prayer meetings will
make long pull a strong pull and pull
altogether, and then we shall see whether our
people are so far given over to the Evil One
that no amount Of praying and preaching can
save them. The oratorio at the Academy is
under the especial patronage of the parsons, and
it is expected to be great help in the good
work. The prayer meetings will all do double
duty; and the simple fact is, that if with all
the preaching and praying and singing, we can
not be saved this week, we must be worse than
the inhabitants of Sodom aud Gomorrah in their
darkest days.
When Holy Week shall have passed away some
tempting gayeties are being prepared for the
Easter holidays. With the Wednesday after
Easter Monday comes Musard, fresh from the
Boulevarts, with great force of instrument
talists and vocalists ready to appear at the
waving OF his magic bdton. His concerts will
be given throughout the month of April, and in
about three weeks all Young New York will be
summoned to the first ba, naasquf q Ia mode de
Paris. BY that time the spring trade will be at
its height the city will be crowded with
strangers, the season Of fasting, humiliation and
prayer will be over, and everybody will be
ready to pass to gayer scenes. So goes the
world-ffom the Opera 10 the prayer meeting;
from the chatting and flirting OF the matinee to
the calm sanctty Of the oratorio; from that Sc
ricus exercise to the whirl and dissipation of
the bal naasqut. Truly great capital is all
things TO all people, and nothing long to any