The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-11-07

MUSICAL ht yEMENTS-~NEW OPERA HOUSES
We have frequently referred to the progress 0.
musical taste in this y, ntry since the buildil,,
OF the Astor Place Opera House. only little
more than ten years ago. In the metropolis the
Improvement is remarkable Where once a
manager shrunk from an expense of six or seven
thousand dollars per month, unless guaranteed by
subscription, we find director who boldly stakes
four or five times that amount and trusts, I'M
aidedcd, to the public, which responds in the
most liberal way. The fact that the Opera is a
fixed institution is indubitable. Since Septem-
Der operate performances have been given either
at the Academy or at Burton's theatre on almost
every night in the week, and the number of rep
reservations which have already taken place
would have made season" in other times
The Academy is now well appointed first class
opera house, with good artists, excellent scenery
superb costumes, and everything in the most
complete style. 1t is the fayorite resort Of the
fashionable refined and cultivated classes of the
community, as well as of those who love the art
for itself, and who do not pretend to take any
interest in the gossip of the day which floats
exists with us it is perfectly democratic, the
prices being arranged upon sliding scale,
and the nonsense Of requiring full dress
being unknown. STILL as far as the ladies
are concerned, a great night at the Academy
presents as brilliant an array as any Of the first
European houses. Witness the Pccolomini
nights and the rcntrfe of Nine Gazzaniga The
Piccolomini .tirore, rising to higher pitch than
ever, with the Don Giovanni tomorrow, exceeds
anything in the operate way that we have ever
had before, not excepting the Grisi and Mario
campaign.
While the Opera is thus the chief amusement
of the metropolis, the people of the other cities,
taking their cue, as usual, from New York, have
not been idle. They have fine opera houses at
Philadelphia and Boston, and if the provincial
public could only divest itself of the idea that
every one ought to 60 to the opera for nothing,
because their prices higher than at the theatre,
their seasons would be more frequent and much
longer However, they are getting on. Across
the river, and just at our feet. there has been
what our religious friends would call an
awakening" in musical matters. The Brook
Ign people-chiefy emigrants from Manhattan
are very fond of the Opera, but they complain Of
the distance to the Academy as being SO great,
and the means of conveyance SO uncertain, that
when they make the journey they can only expect
to be at home in season for an early breakfast
on the morning subsequent to the performance.
So they have resolved like plucky people, as they
IN hnilI On hon for nd
to call it the ACADEMY Of Music" There seems
to be but little doubt that the project, which is
in responsible hands, will be sue ,essfnlly car
red out. Meantime the experiment Of a
single operate performance-the first ever
given in Brooklyn-is to be tried by Mr..
Ullman with the Academy company. Phila-
delphia and Boston will have to look sharp
or the suburbs Of New York will keep
operate luxuries from them. AT Cincin-
natl, Also first class opera house is rapidly APP
preaching completion, and in less than ten
years Chicago, ST. Louis, Mobile and the other
important cities, inland and seaboard, will have
their academies Of music
IL is well that this should be- In itself the
Opera is the first of public amusements; and by
attracting higher class Of auditors than that
which generally frequents the theatre, it will be
kept free from all degrading surroundings
and improve the manners of the present
and the rising generation. There must be some
refining, soothing and agreeable amusement in
"a country where the intellectual and physical
man are constantly overworked; and the problem
as to exactly what this amusement should be
has, we believe, been solved by the permanent
establishment of the italian Opera In this
country.