New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-10-08
MUSIC.
THE OPERATIVE PHILHARMONIC
SOCIETY,


The "season" which VIII to-night close at the
Academy of Music has been neither brilliant nor sue
cessful. Commencing, on the Sd Of September, with
an inordinate blast from the trumpet of the manage
ment It has comprised or will have comprised IL no
change in TO- nights performance Is made twenty four
performances. ola TIaviats" has been four times
sung; the "sicilsn Vespers," three tines 1" II Tro-
vatore "La Sonnambula, !" "Linds di Chsmounix,"
and "Don Giovanni" twice each; "Lucrezis Bor-
gia," Lucia di LammermOor," 4" Robert Ls Diabls,"
"Nabuco," Martha, Norma" lBsrbiere" I'll
Poiuto" and 81 Puritsni, once each.
There have been one postponement several substtu-
tions at moments notice" changes, and conflicting
announcements almost inuumerable. The audiences
have been small, except only on one occasion, and
listess air has been their prevailing characteristic
All will admit that the outdoor tendencies Of the
American popuace in the great qusdrennid campaign
seriously interfere with the pecunsry good fortune Of
an operate enterprise In the under cOnsid-
Grafton however there are other csuses-causes not
l. dependent of the management-which could pro
duce more disastrous failures than this which has
crowned the season now to close. The first and most
objectionable Of these is the uDbusbing want of god
fai h shown by the management TO the public. While
we Ia ve been taught by experience that the glowing
fade before they are fulfilled we still hope to see at
least come resemblance between thstwo Whena series
of new works isannounoed we do not find ourselvs fully
pratifed or strongly drawn to the theatsr by seeing
daily upon our walls the names of the threadbare
operas. whose every note we know, and whose melo-
dies have even passed away from the hand-organs of
the street. 1t is, nevertheless possible that deter
mine to renew the pleasure Of years long past by going
TO hear one of SO old frends shall not bless the
management nor shall we be in haste to go sgaiu,
when arriving at the Academy vestibue, we discover
that sudden ndisposition has seized some mertorous
sineer-it never attacks any other-and that our pet
aversion is to take the role thus left empty that an
opera the thought of which makes us yawn, is sub
tti.uted.
Another cause which ever leads and always should
lead to failure is found in the mopstrous improbable
ties the contemplate sbatbiness of the operac stage
itself. No ipconfiderable latitude must always be
allowed to the scenic department and wardrobe at
tached to any dramatic establishment. Much that
would be beyond expression ridiculous in real life has
merely an attractive brilsncy when exhibited in front
of the footlghts. We expect and demand picturesque
effects, are pleased when them. Nevertheless,
although we may not be violeatly critical be-
cause an operate Babylon is not accurately Baby
of the Irving place stage is not Photographic
representation Of the most charming city in the
world we do feel that are not treated like
rational creatures when the untrue Babylon and
Paris and Scotland and Venice iumbed together on
stage ecanty furnished after the manner OF aCountIy
railway station in America. We might perhaps over
look anachronisms and improbabtes if they were ad-
dressed and adorned with real splendor But even this
il not granted secondhand effect is thrown over
everything upon the stage. The sGpshod philosophy
which says-O anything will do-hss its temple at
the New-York Academy of Music. Aged scenery, fur
nisure tumbng into cheap decrepitude, properties OF
the most tawdry and Disseminating character, nightly
offend the eve. Everything connected with the me-
chsncsl production of OPERA is slOveny In the ex-
IRENE.
Under such circumstances il is not strange that the
subordnates of the company become rulers, that tue
audiences are Disguised and that the treasury resounds
emptily to the dropping of the occasional dollar 1t
woud be an evidence Of refreshing, but improbable
trust in human nature should we endeavor to move
the to better courses by setting forth the
moral advantages of honest dealing; i. would be more
shire gd TO suggest that since humbug appears to grow
unremuneratve, it would be good thing for them to
give the public a season or two OF really excellent
perform ances BY this action fresh stock Of popular
c1edulty would accumulate and then another harvest
could be reaped by large promise and small expenditure
in fulfllmeDt.
The scbeme for the nineteenth season of the Phhsr'
mo, c Society Of New-York lie pnbshed. II comprises
five concerts, which viii take place on the 10th OF
NoyemF er the 22d Of December, the I'd Of February
the 10th of March, and the Goth Of April Each con.
cert will be preceded by two afternoon rehearsals and
one which wil take place in the morning The former
viii commerce at 81 o'clock and the latter at 10 O'Clock.
These for the first concert will occur on the afternoons
of October 10 and "a, and on the mornug q NoVem
Der 10 The first programme viii include Robert
Schumanns symphony, No. :, IN " beethoven
Ovsrture. "Lsonora," No. ?, in FIRST time and
Nspdels,obn's Overture In ID, "a Cslmn Sea and
Usppy VOYAGE" The rehearsals and concerts Will
take place at the Academy Of Music. The orchestra
Win he under the direction of Dir. Theodore Eisfe!d