The New York herald., 1864-12-13


was indeed sublime scene, such as no country
in Europe could present under like circum-
stances, Notwithstanding their repeated sneers
at American civilization.
The New Opera House-Its Prospects and
arrangement
New York, the metropolis of America, now
has as many regular, legitimate places of
amusement as Paris, the metropolis OF France.
Like Paris, it has its first class and second
class theatres and its variety of minor enter
tainments But Paris is far ahead OF New
York in regard to Opera. In Paris there are
three opera houses-the Academy of Music, the
Italian Opera, and the Opera Comique. The
Academy is devoted to the production Of grand
operas in magnificent style. The Italian Opera
is not OF SO very much account. Tne Opera
Comique, where only the lightest, most grace.
full and most pleasing works are performed, is
by far the most popular Of all, In this city we
have only the Academy Of Music where
italian operas are sung. Here, as in Paris,
people 60 to ths Acaoemy rather to exhibit
themselves and Their dresses than to hear the
music. 1t follows that there is splendid op-
portunity Eow open to establish in this city an
Opera Comique, where the music shall be as
agreeable to the ear as the toilettes are to the
eye; and q company Of gentlemen has been
organized to inaugurate such an entertain
ment to be managed by impressario Grau.
We have been fully informed of the plans
Of the gentlemen interested in this enterprise,
and are now at liberty to place them before
the public. The new opera house will be
much smaller than the Academy Of Music, and
will be more conveniently arranged. The
vastness Of the Academy is an objection fire.
quently urged against 1t both by the singers
and the public. IT may not be too large for
the lengthy, spectacular operas; but it GER
tainly is great deal too extensive for the
short, crisp, sparkling and melodious works
which properly belong to the Opera ComiQue.
The new opera house will be erected further
up town than the Academy, and will thus be
more easily accessible to our fashionables,
few of whom reside 30 far down as Fourteenth
street. This will be no slight advantage. The
new opera house will not be afflicted with a
set of numerous stockholders, who reserve the
best seats aud deprive the manager Of tie
entrance fee, which they are we'll able to pay,
and the public OF the most preferable chairs
and boxes, which are seldom occupied. The
| h4w opera house will have parquet for gen
| tlemen, and The rest Of the auditorium will be
divided into small boxes for parties. All the
conveniences or tne Partisan theatres will be
introduced. II is expected that the manager
| Of the French theatre will take the house for
the of-nights Of the opera; and, as Nblo's
saloon really affords no sort OF accommo-
dations for Manager Juignet's excellent COM
pany, he will doubtless be delighted to find
Gated. If these arrangements can be effected
we shall be provided with constant series of
the most pleasing amusements. Light operas,
in French and Italian, on three nights Of the
| week, and delicious comedies and vaudevilles,
| in French. on the remaining three nights, will
give US succession Of attractions. The ques-
ton will then be, not when to 60 to the opera
house, but when to stay at home.
That such an enterprise will be exceedingly
popular and excessively profitable it is inpos-
sible TO deny. The class Of entertainments
promised is much more in accordance with the
tastes of the American people than the long
and scientific performances at the Academy.
We presume that the Fourteenth street edifce
will be retained for Italian Opera, and we
should not be surprised il New York, which
now supports as many places OF amusement as
Paris, should prove capable Of sustaining two
kinds Of opera. That is a matter to be decided
by the future, however, and we shall be glad
to see it put to the test. At present We have
only Hobson's choice. We must 60 to hear the
Academy opera, or none at all. That the
public will 60 to the Opera in vast numbers
the remunerat've experience OF the past three
or four seasons amply demonstrates; and it is
reasonable inference that they would attend
in still larger numbers if they were invited by
continuous supply Of popular novelties
Those who rush to La Figha del Rcgyimeato
would be much more likely to rush to La
Dame Blanche, or lie Domino Noir, or Lara, or
Fra Diauolo. Even the Bohemiaus of Belmont
and Barlow's organ-who have become more
critical since our exposure Of their cru SADIE
against Mrs. Van Zandt-condemn La Fiqlia
del Reggimento as mot by any means
popular opera" Besides which," add
the Bohemians-who cannot have received
their fees last week, they are so honest-"be-
sides which, it has been done to death in years
past, as any tolerably efficient pair Of ears can
testify" The Bohemians have toerably long
and efficient ears, and we accept their testi-
mony, inasmuch as it agrees precisely with the
opinion expressed by US last Tuesday. Now, il
the public will attend the performance Of m
opera mot popular" and 'done to death" II ia
quite certain that they will still moro literally
patronzs works which are very popular and
not done to death especially IL these works be
Of the gayest brightest and most taking style,