The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-12-19

upon which depends the fate Of his administra-
ton Us well as the restoration of the Union.
The OPERA IN New YoRx--A Coop ES-
AMPLE TO THE STOCKHOLDERS OF THE AGA
DExY.-On last Saturday the New York Opera
season, undertaken by Formes, Fabbri Co.,
came to an abrupt and melancholy conclusion
The receipts i,Essepot sufficient to pay the ex-
penses of the performances. distinct from the
salaries Of the principal artists. On the same
day the associated Italian artists, Muzio, Col
son, Brignoli Il Co. wound up their Philadel-
phia season, which was somewhat more success
full than the Teutonic campaign in the metropo-
lis, but still so far from being lucrative that
the stockholders Of the Opera House in the
Quaker City we're moved to make handsome
contribution to the exchequer Of the allies.
This was praiseworthy act, conceived in the
proper spirit, and carried out in the most
agreeable and eentlemanly way. The great
drawback to Opera managers in Philadelphia,
Boston and New York has been the free adj
missions to which the stockholders are entitled.
They exercise their undoubied right, and mo-
nopolize the best places in the house, to the ex-
clusion Of the paying public. In flush times,
and when the Northern cities are full of stran-
gers from the South and elsewhere, the Opera
manager is barely able to pay his way. When
things begin to look blue, the public desert
the Opera Immediately, and the manager is
foored. Such is the case at the present moment.
The Opera has no Quintius Curtius; so the Opera
has subsidized, and the fashionable world has
incontinen,ly come to grief We find however,
that Baltimore can support the Opera, although
New York and Philadelphia fail to do 50: and
the cause for this singular state of things is
found, 90 far as New York is concerned, in
The fact that the supposed aristocratic class
which controls the Opera House demands not
only he best places and boxes in the theatre,
but likewise EFFORTS exorbitant rental for it.
For short season the directors OF the Aeade-
my demand $1,000 per weck-more than $500
for each performance. The expenses for cho-
rus. orchestra, printing, attendance and sala-
rics Of the minor artists exhaust the average
receipts and leave nothing whatever for the
principal performers. Indeed, they may con-
slider themselves fortunate If they escape the
contingency Of being obliged to pay out Of
their own pockets for the privilege of singing
to the stockholders Of the Academy. At this
moment the leading artists Of the Italian Opera
in this country are subsisting upon
means they have aggregated elsewhere.
II is we'll that the public should be made
to understand these facts thoroughly,
and they are given in no spirit Of opposition to
TIE proprietors of the Academy Of Music. We
simply desire to remind them that under tie
present arrangements they win have no Opera
this winter. 1t bchooves them to move in the
matter, and TO make some concessions to the
artists. The leading stockholders of the AGA
denny are men who have special interest in
removing the cloud which now hangs over the
public mind. In no way can that end be bet
ter accomplished than by providing for the
support OF all refining and Intellectual amuse-
ments. In this category the italian
Opera stands fast and foremost, aud We
trust that the directors Of the Academy will
agree with us 80 Tar as to provide for the open
ing Of Tie Opera bCuae during portion Of the
winter. A voluntary subscription, commenced
in the right quarter and properly carried out
would b. an appropriate beginning Of the
work. The stockholders should either be will
ing 10 reduce The rem, 10 merely nominal sum,
or else TO throw open the reserved places TO the
paying public. Under no other circumstances
can any manager or association Of artists at
tempt 10 resuseiiaie The obscurcd fortunes of
the Academy.