New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1859-03-15
LOCATrt,N or THE rEw oPERA-HoUsE

49, /. IL * si4
In projecting the erection Of public building there
are three essential considerations to Be weighed
supposing OF course the material ways ana means 70
have already been previded-and these are, nrst' Jus
adaptation to the uses designed; second beauty OF
proportion and finish third ts location for convent
ence and etfectn Indeed, so important an item in
architecture is the matter Of appearance, and conse
oueutly Of situation that appearance" may exercise
its effect that from third to half of cost is gene
rally chargeable to this expensive account.
while We are perfectly satisfied that the enlight
eued building management Of the new Opera. House
will mot neglect the first consideraton-its adapta
ton to the uses designed that it will be planned in
the most admirable manner, and its arrangement be
in accordance with all modern improved ideas. Nor
the second beauty Of proportion and nsh-but that
it will be an ornament to the city, one Of the first
objects Of architectural note which will attract the
attention Of the stranger. But to the third con-
sideraton, we find that we are already compelled to
take issue with the managers, for the location
templated is favorable neither to- convenience nor
effect
It is designed to erect the building on the corner of
Bourbon and Toulouse streets We will not find fault
with its being located down town., we believe that
it is the interest Of the enterprise that it should be So
for it is undeniable that opera in New Orleans must
ever look to musicloving Creole population its
main chance. Yet we think it would not suffer if SO
much Of respect manifested for the convenience
of the great body Of the city as to give the house as
central location could be secured by placing it
on the upper border of the Second District-on its
very edge, and letting it face on Canal street.
II this cannot be Effected we are willing to yield
our preferences as far as that is concerned But we
have matters OF immediate local objection to the
building being raised at the corner of Toulouse and
Bourbon streets which must present themselves with
q like force to all, whether downtown or uptown
residents The intersection of these streets is an
outof.theway place, and they are both so narrow
that all approaches to the house would be cramped
and inconvenient. affording no room for the move
ments Of carriages which would block them up on
evenings Of performance, and embarrassing to the
crowds leaving the building after performance. All
architectural pretension that it might advance would
be entirely lost thrown away, for at no point could
respectable view of it be commanded These streets
are comparatively unfeguented as thoroughfares of
travel and promenade, and few would see the build
ing save those who visited the locality with such
design. A public building should have fine
situation" but the light of this will be essentially
hidden under bushel, if it be snugly slowed away
among the narrow streets Of this remote and confined
locality.
much better place may be found for it u the Sec
ond District, and we can suggest none more eligible
than on Rampant street, opposite Congo Square.
There it would have breathing room, chance to
show ITSELF and chance to appreciate property by
its distinguished neighborhood 1t would be the first
great step towards making Congo Square such CEN
ter around which public buildings cluster, as Laay
cite Square and Jackson Square are-pleasant green
places in the ctys midst which attract to themselves
the gay and happy crowds that render them delight
al places of afternoon resort and enable them to as
ser their importance as almost necessities of city lfe
A building like the one designed-we have had the
pleasure Of seeing the plan proposed-should of ne
cessy be placed where its external appearance would
afford much qualification to the sense of seeing, as
It's internal arrangements are calculated to give to the
sense Of hearing. five are to have " New Orleans
Opera House Company" let it be so in reality not
merely in name. If it is to be building erected to
suit the views Of few individuals, let it bear their
name. We cannot and will not recognize building
on the location proposed as " New Orleans Opera.
House," We may refer to this subject again.