The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-10-03

ging books.
THE APPROACHING OPERA SEAsoN-The sea-
son at the Academy of Music which closed
on last Saturday, after achieving mode
rate amount of success, was after the manner
of preliminary lunch to fit out which the
remnants of last seasons dinner were served up
cold, and adorned with such ornaments as the
imagination of the public could give them. But
we cannot always live upon operate souvenirs,
however sweet they may be- and the managers
of the Opera are not disposed to shut their eyes
and ears to the public demand for novelty.
While, therefore, they gave short preliminary
meal, chiefly for the strangers who throng the
metropolis during the early part of the autumn
of the year, they held in reserve a fresh stock
of attractions for the real Opera season, which
will commence about the goth Of this month, or
directly after the Boston campaign shall have
been closed
Then the managers, Messrs Ullman and
Strakosch, will introduce the new artists whom
the last named impresario has just engaged in
Europe. Mr.. Strakosch. in his operations this
summer, has deviated from the plan usually
adopted by American managers and agents
abroad. 1t has been the usual custom with
them to engage artists who have had London
and Paris regulations, for which reputa-
tons the manager had to pay double
price. Now, what is the modus operandi
Of the London or Paris manager He
is continually in the small towns Of Italy and
Spain, the kitchen gardens where opera singers
are cultivated. The moment that good fresh
voice and fine stage presence comes ont, the
London or Paris director engages it for long
term, three, and sometimes five years. Probably
at the end Of that term the singer is no better
than before. She may be worse so far as her
voice is concerned; while, if she has been at
all successful, her terms and her airs will rise
to an altitude which the most intrepid aeronaut
could not reach BY that time, however, the
director is prepared to supply the place Of the
old artists with others from the same fields, and
then the American public is graciously present
ed with worn voice. and accepts ''has BEEN
as preferable to "never was"
This year, however, things have been changed,
and there has been great struggle for fresh
voices between the London and Paris and
American operate ambassadors III Italy.
Quite as important to the parties concerned
az the negotiations at Villafranca, or the Con-
gress by Zurich's fair waters, have been the
struggles for prime dome, teaori, bassi and
bdritOni. And in one or two instances, at least
the American manager has remained master Of
H. al uo hoo sn1 Oft Al.
noses of half dozen contestants a prima
donna who is certainly young, undeniaby
handsome, and said to have a fine fresh voice
of remarkable compass and quality. A new
tenor and baritone are highly spoken of by
Italian critics. Two more prime dome are
to arrive before the first Of next month. By
bringing the artists from Italy, rather than
London or Paris, the manager who is capable
ofjudging for himself gets singers equally as
good as those who have appeared in the great
capitals, for about half the money. He is thus
enabled to engage stronger force and to ex-
pend the amount formerly paid to single star
in perfecting the ensemble of the operas he
produces. 1t is only in this way that the Opera
can be sustained. The public will not pay to
near one celebrity and be bored With an
army of fifth or sixth rate artists by way of
penance. We understand that the directors
of the Academy are fully alive to this crcum-
stance, and that they intend to give the Opera
here a completeness comparing favorably with
that of London and Paris. The mystery that
enshrouds some of the artists will pique
still more the curiosity of the public, and we
may justly anticipate an interesting and sue
cessful Opera season.