The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-01-22

THE ITALIAN OPERA-TERMTNATIoN OF THE
SEAsON.-For great wonder we are told of a
manager who closes an Opera season of nearly
fifty nights without being ruined, and without
appealing to the public for benefit. We re-
member when the Italian Opera was first in
troduced, in the Garcia days, at the old Park
A great deal Of money was taken, and the artists
got nearly all of it. That season, we believe,
first broke down the taste for what is absurdly
called the legitimate drama, and was the be-
ginning of the series of events which resulted
in the ruin of the managers We next find
Palmo deserving his oysters to open the Opera in
Chambers street. Not much time was required
to ruin him. and his immediate successors, San
quirico and Patti, met the same fate Then
there was poor Fry at the Astor Place Opera
House-more ruined than Don Magnifco Marti,
Of Havana, who lost nobody knows how many
dollars, and retired from the field. Next Ma.
retzek. who has been ruined dozen times.
more or less. and to whom, apparently any
other result would be an uncomfortably novel
sensation. Ole Bull, Strakosch. Paine and
many more have entered the field with a SINH
lar result.
We have, Of course, no means of judging
about these matters except the managers
own statements. Mr.. Ullman's statement is
that he has carried this season through
without loss; more than that he has stocked the
theatre with certain costumes properties, &c,
&c, of which it stood in need.
This fact proves quite clearly that with good
,aptt ~ Al.
established in this city. II behooves the pro-
prietors Of the Academy to make some
arrangement whereby such consummation
may be brought about. 1t would seem that the
hest plan they could adopt when they find
manager skilful enterprising, active and liberal.
TO make o permanent arrangement with him
for term of years, say three or four. in order
to give him time to organize the Opera upon
permanent basis. The present lessee, Mr.. Ull-
man. seems to be the right man for the place.
Ills administration has been liberal and sue
cessful. lie attends personally to the business
management of the Opera. leaving the artistic
direction to competent hands under his general
supervision. 1t would be proper, then, to vest
in him the direction Of the Opera for long term.
The advantages Of such a course are manifold.
The manager could then offer long engagements
to young artists abroad, and thereby obtain them
al much cheaper rates than for short engage
ments. This is the system pursued by Mr.. Lum-
ley, the London impresario, who meditates
coming every winter to the United States
Further, the manager might be able to carry
cut the intention of the Legislature in charter
ing the Academy, and to connect with It a
school for the instruction o! American youth In
vocal and instrumental music, aud recruiting
the orchestra and chorus from the tl,te prsils
This is the plan pursued in all the European
capitals. The government-the power repre-
scnted by the stockholders here-selectsth The best
manager that can be found, and then gives him
the house for five, seven or eight years lie is
thus able TO organize his forcesproperly -some-
thing which cannot be done during one year.
We trust that the stockholders Of the Acade-
my will give THE matter their serious considcra
ton. Now IL the time to move in IL.