The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-03-01
The CpaHs M the Aeads my-The Managers
Lest PrOn uncia snaento..


Lest PrOn uncla mlento.-
We direct the particular attention of the pub
lie 10 the proclamation, in another column, by
Mr.. Ullman, the lessee Of the Academy of Music
in relation to the production of the browning
effort Of his season, the "Huguenots"
1t is the proclamation of grand coup de
theatre. 1t is an announcement that for the
first night Of the "Huguenots" the highest price
of admission to the Academy will be advanced
thirty three per centum. The price of adj IS
sion for the regular nights will be increased
from one dollar to one dollar and half The
manager sets forth in his pronuncamiento that
the "Huguenots" will be gotten up in the best
possible way, with cast that has never been
equslled here, at least, and which is undoubt-
eddy much better than the first in Paris, and
that it will involve altogether, an outlay of ten
thousand dollars which is the greatest risk that
has ever been taken by any manager upon any
one opera in this country. But the present d.
rector of the Academy has apparently no fears
about the result, and the facts quite justify his
temerity. Before his administration-so spir-
tied, energetic, untiring and deservedly popu-
rarely rose above fifteen hundred dollars. On
several occasions, even at the heel of the panic,
he has carried them up to nearly four thousand
dollars. And this has been done simply upon the
principle that the New York public will always
pay literally for anything that is worth paying
for This public will pay precisely in proper
ton to the value of the article offered to it.
Thus we see that Mr.. Ullman gives the old
operas at low prices, adopting plan similar to
the sliding tariff scale, the prices to the best
seats ranging from fifty to seventy-ive cents,
frem one dollar to one dollar and
half. OF course any one would be
willing to pay more to hear the "Huguenots"
than any of the worn out operas, and from pre-
sent indications the price of places in outside
hands will range even higher than the advance
fixed by the manager. The idea of the direc-
tor, to bring the opera within the reach of
every one, and thus popularize it. is happy
one, and quite in accordance with the indie
pendent democratic sentiment of our people.
He does not cater for class, but for the whole
public.
Again, Mr.. Ullmsn comes out in a bold,
manly way against the system of managerial
benefits, which are simply absurd because the
opera house is suppose prina ytacie to be opened
on every performance for the managers benefit.
Past experience goes to prove, however, that
the performances have rather been for the bene-
fit of the artists, and former managers have
been obliged to appeal to the public for few
dollars at the end of the season to pay the
butcher, the baker and the tailor. Mr. Ullman
takes better course. He says here is some
thing finer than you have ever had before, and
it is only fair that you should pay in proper
ton. The profits, if any there be, will all be
invested in further operate and musical adven-
lures. and when the European capitals have all
been rihed of their best artists, we may expect
a still further advance, which the public will
gladly pay. Even then the prices will rule
lower than those of the opera houses of Lon
don and Paris while the unpleasant distinctions
of class in those cities will never be allowed to
exist here.
The time chosen by Mr.. Ullman for his pre-.
sent coup is happy one. The effects of
the money panic have nearly disap
peared. The city is gradually filling up with
its floating population, traders and merchants
from all sections Of the country, who como to
the metropolis to purchase goods fer the spring
and summer trade. During the winter there
was q general retrenchment on all sides-so
that money is plenty, stocks are going up, the
banks suffer from plethora of hard money,
and the specie basis of the country never was
greater than now. The Opera, through the
exertions of the present manager, has become
much more popular than before and is re-
garded as the most refined, intellectual and
agreeable of public amusemcnts. As perma-
nent addition % the attractions of the city, the
Academy holds high place. As at present
managed, II is fully deserving of even more
popularity than it at present enjoys The
director should have all success in his projected
expansion.
The Hon. ORsAMrs BENAJAH M,TrEsoS.-From