The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-11-17

entrance in the west channel OF the East river
ITALIAN OPERA BY DAYIIGHT.-During the
past two Saturday mornings the Academy Of
Music in this city has witnessed spectacle
which has never been paralleled in the world.
We refer to the immense crowd of crindine that
has been gathered there to hear the Opera by
daylight. The two malinees have been attended
by as many as eight thousand persons, nearly all
women and children. The almost total Danish
ment of the sombre masculine attire, and the gay
dresses Of the ladies' the buzz of their voices,
and the music of their laughter, their tremen-
dous struggles to get in and their no less extra
ordinary efforts to get out, made up scene Of
delicious novelty The matinee is great thing;
it is curious, refreshing, and amusing in the
highest degree.
We do NOT believe that such an audience as
that which assembled at the Academy on last
Saturday could be collected in any other capital.
In Paris they have occasionally morning con-
certs recently in London the experiment of
operate matinecs has been tried, but without
making any very great impression upon the
public. The concerts at the Crystal Palace
have drawn large audiences; but the people
went to Sydenhan as much to see the building
as to hear the music and although aatiaees Of
all sorts are fashionable in England yet never
was John Bull astonished by such display
of the feminine part of his family as that
which the Academy day performances has
shown to Jonathan. True, the most extra
ordinary efforts have been made to augment
the attractions of the daylight Opera. Yet
after oil ii is really hard to account altogether
for its extraordinary success. 1t grows, how
ever, chiefly, we apprehend, from the peculiar
organization Of society here, and the marked
attention that is paid to the musical education of
our children. AS has already been remarked,
when the Opera was first introduced here by
Malibran there were only few families that
were sufficiently cultivated to appreciate such a
luxury as the music of the great composers ex-
pressed by one of the greatest Of artists. Then
music was not taught in the free schools; then
there were but two first class private academies
for the polishing up and finishing off of young
ladies. Now there are forty or fifty, each one Of
which employs several professors of different
branches of the musical art The proficiency Of
American ladies in music is known all over the
world Nearly all of them play we'll, many of
them are charming singers, and they are gene
rally first rate critics-learned equally in laces
and cadcnzas, ribbons and rouladcs, fchus and
fortunes. All are passionately fond Of the OPERA
and many OF them being unable to instil into the
minds Of their masculine parents, guardians,
husbands or tender weaknesses, a degree Of art
enthusiasm equal to that with which their lovely
bosoms burn, they hail the MATINEE with delight
regard Ullman as benefactor of his species, and
give him the next place in their affections after
the youth who leads the German and the fashona-
BILE Clergyman with the interesting bronchitis.
They can 60 to tho n,asinS. in moruing costume
that saves money and time; they can go alone or
with children, thus obvating the necessity of
disturbing the postprandial slumbers Of the fater
.famlas; they can fill up the terrible interval be-
tween lunch and dinner, when all the men are
down town, and they can have their Opera and
return in good season for the duties connected
with the household. Then, the prices are much
less, and the expense Of carriage, which Is
almost necessity for an evening performance,
is saved. The younger branches Of the family
can receive at the matinee instruction and amuse-
ment at the same time. The fair daughters Of
Brooklyn, Jersey City and other suburban local
tiles are even more enthusiastic than their metro
politan sisters, the luxury Of an operate
performance being an unusual treat to them.
We have thus accounted in our own way for
the MATINEE excitement among the ladies' The
success Of the new movement Is 10 thorough and
complete that We have no doubt that the opera
by sunlight will become permanent institution
il has now penetrated as far as the right angled
village Of Philadelphia that the matintes
would be profitable u they were given as often
as twice or thrice during each week. The only
trouble about the motilfes has been found in the
crush AZ De doors before opening, and this may
be easily avoided by opening the doors an hour
or two earlier. Then Ullman shall be crowned
with laurel by committee of Fifth avenue
bellies.
----.@-----