The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-10-19

upon which the charge was laid.
The OPENING OF THE OpERArIc CAMPAIGN
The untoward commencement of the metropoli-
tan operate season on Monday is circum-
stance very much to be regretted; but as one
swallow does not make summer, so one ope-
ratio defeat docs not decide the fate of the
campaign, or settle the great and original prin-
ciple upon which it is to be fought We have
seen, in the first place, that the managers of
the Opera commenced with the novel and
startling theory that the connoisseurs Of New
York are quite as able to Judge for themselves
as those of London or Paris, and that there is
no reason why we should not have the artists
in the first place fresh from the gardens of
Italy. Acting upon this principle, Mr.. Stra-
kosch brought out several new artists of whom
we knew nothing. They were to be judged
upon their own merits. There was prima
donna, young, handsome, and said to be clever.
Public curiosity is excited to the highest pitch;
the habitufs make up their mouths for sensa-
ton; everybody believes that the critical repu-
tation of New York rests on his particular
shoulders 10! and behold, the prima
donna, instead of making her own appear
ance, sends physicians certificate, the
most unintercsting document that ever
was penned. The opera of the night is changed,
and another pSima donna, likewise newly i'm
ported, was substituted. The public forgot all
about its critical reputation, and became abso-
lutely ill-natured. While in this charming
temper, the proverb that sorrows never come
singly was illustrated by one of the old artists,
whose voice, from some mysterious cause, went
after the missing prima donna.
Under these distressing circumstances the
public was called upon for the first time to
have mind Of its own. It had only bad
temper, from which the new prima donna was
the principal sufferer. Of course, with the
public in such mood, fair criticism was out
of the question, and the first attempt Of the
managers to put New York on an art level with
London and Paris was what the French would
call success destime, which is polite way Of
saying that it was comparative failure. But
it was not to be expected that New York should
at once take position as first class art me-
tropolis. We will be great operate centre
all in good time.
Even now all Is not lost. The ;D,pres-
sarit Of Irving place have other strings
to their bows, and will try two Of
them tonight. One is tenor, who has
sung once or twice at Boston, and was much
liked by the savants thereabouts and the other
is baritone, for whom great things are claimed.
As for prime dome, we have yet to hear Spe-
rama, and by stirring their stumps the mana
gers may secure Gazzaniga, who has not yet
gone to Europe. We cannot give up our critical
reputation, nor resign the Opera because of
temporary defeat. Let us try a little more
modestly, and without doubt the result will
be more propitious than that of the event Of
Monday. If Mr.. Strakosch's artists do turn out
well, he has beaten all the other managers, as
by the latest accounts the director Of the
Italian Opera at Paris issues his programme
without any of the new names which it was
expected the war and political troubles in Italy
would place in his hands. He has no fresh ar
lists, while our manager has brought over
several, and certainly deserves credit for his
bold attempt, however it may turn out.