New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-05-14
Che ODcra of Nofrc- Dame.

We have received from wellknowu HewYorA ar,is. the
folowin, communications:
To the Editor Of The ". y. TSibgns.
SIR: On reading the announcement Of the
Committee Of the Sanitary Fund. that the new grand
opera Of Mr.. W. II. Fry Nofr Dame Of Paris. would be
put upon the great stage Of the Philadelphia Academy
of Music in style OF material and artistic completeness
and spendor aud with corps of cbors;ers and musical
Performers and accessories equaed the stage
of this continent knew. from the high character Of
tie gentlemen signing the ANNOUNCEMENT. that the
promise would be strictly ful1Ged-that four hundred
performers meant that nuinber-and on in proper
ton:aecordngly came OIL 20 Philadelphia 10 $50 and
hear it, visited tie Academy last evening (Friday)
and found il the finest operahouse the most capacous
with the greatest amount Of stage room and tie most
complete arrangements for aordng every auditor and
spectator plee hearing and sight, Of any house
in the world. / an familiar with the opera-houses OF
Europe and except noGe.-Wlat the Committee
said 81 the octual and comparative sp!endor
of the nise.en-seens AID the musical forces,
viii convey but feeble idea Of tho reality.
| was in Paris whoa Mcyerbeer's Iropl&e was
produced and paid I've prices TO get seat - SEQ and
hear it; and assure you there is 20 such impressive
soulelcyating spectacle in it, Gs the ecclesiastical pro
cession in Act first of Nore Dam, Of PARIS. where
Margaret of Flanders" enters the cathedral. while
the great organ is being played iutermxed with the
band AS TO the gro;esquo procession u the King of
fools with Guasimodo, il is the very essence OF the
finest fancios Of tho London PzcA 1t is simply wonder
fully fine. The orchestra is immense, and may add
led with supeT.atiye talent by NJ. Theodore Thomas
The chorus is the finest ever heard the stage No
worn voices among others. you lear abroad. but oil
fresh and rosecolored in THEN youth and beauty Their
cnunoaiion OF the words and syllables is marvel II
is as a Titan declaimiRs Every word is distinct and
resonant.
In the OF the piece there less than three
superb We've If Hoire Dame Cathedrl the frat Is the
faclds 10 the life with the crowds Of scuIpturcd apos
ties saints and MAJ iyrs; the second is very distant
view OF the towers with the bridge over the Seine the
third is full perspective view of the facade and towers
"a masterpiece Of at by Russell Smith. will not
trench on your musical criticism further than to say
that lie composition Of The music does not belong to
any particular school, except in parts the
words being rigdly as o rule modelled the Italian
versfcaton (and. being. although English, nearly as
soft as Itaan owing the ski used in the selection
Of vowel sounds IL tcunbations Tie music properly
set must have Ito same flow as the wCrds-Or Italian
music.
write these lines for the benefit Of patriotic
teurs in New-York, who. by consuming few hours
the railroad in coming hitler, swell the Sanitary
fund Of the sick and wounded soldier In whose aid the
opera is exclusively performed, and enjoy miseeHseta
end a chorus which never found eQualcd In effect
iyeness abroad. NEW. YORK ARTIST
Philadelphia Saturday, Nay 7. 1861.