The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-01-12
THE OPERA IN THE WEST. ;,

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Close OF Grau's SeasOn-Immense Strength
OF the New Company-The Greatest Ope-
ratio Enterprise Ever Attempted in
Amcrica-The Troupe to Leave in n
Few Days for Havana via New York.
CscHsArI, Jan. 10, 1866
This evening the great operate OF Mr. Grau's
fine company will finish with the last performance Of
LAfrcaine, at Mozart Hail. In this city. As you arc
already aware Grau has introduced hts Italian singers
to the communities or the four great Western centres OF
refinement, wealth, commerce and progrcss-Chicago
St Louis Louisville aud Cincinnati Whatever measure
Of pecuniary success has been allotted 70 the
manager Is known only 10 himself but II Is
amply within the knowledge Of the resident public
In the principal Western States that artisticaly con-
sidered the OF the just concluding admits
Of comparison with any previous enterprise Of the
kind It has BEEN in the magnitude Of the undertaking.
the beali.y Of the management and the excellence OF
the artists something which the West has never before
experienced and which Is certain 70 be remembered
with lasting pleasure. The magnitude Of the under
taking referred may be realized from the fact that
the company which Grau transported through the
Western country consisted OF some eightyave per.
sons. The leading artists comprised four prime
donne soprani, two prime donne contralti, three
tenon, three bartones four basa and
bufYo. The male chorus, imported from Turin, and
the orchestra selected from the most select Of the nstru
menalists Of this country, accompanied the troupe
throughout the West The expense Of such company,
which had frequently to DO carried from city to city by
special train Is beyond capacity to calculac but
the fact that such expense incurred proves that
raus operate expedition was the most hazardous In
pecuniary sense that has yet been attempted The
cessories the shape Of costumes and other theatrical
properties requisite for extending It's operations
four States, embracing Of many thousand
miles Of travel must have been immense. We have
heard that the value Of the material thus transported was
forty thousand dollars and judging from the spen
Of the costumes in all the operas presented, and
the scenery specially got up for L'4fricdine,
portion Of which was constructed in Chicago, should
say that this estimate not above the mark OF course
this operate enterprise fully appreciated both by
the public and the press of the Western ctes indeed 1t
regarded something marvellous With fcwex-
ceptons none Of the artists had sung this country
until their appearance in Chicago in November. They
therefore perfectly fresh, not only in voice and
in years but they were dcbutants the American lyric
stage which gave them ecdt that they well earned In
heir nltaory performances and sustained with becoming
credit all through their Western tour. II viii no doubt
be regretted In New York that they cannot appear there
and tho fact must force itself dsagreeably upon the
metropolitan mind that there are not sufficient accom-
modatons In the way Of theatres TO enable this really
fine company to sing for a in Now York. After
aording so much noyment 10 the Western people 1t Is
pity they should betake themselves TO Havana where
Grau intends to commence season the 25th without
giving the New York public taste Of their quality
The novel enterprise or the HERALD In OBJ
tanning criticisms Of the opera every night
by telegraph created no little surprise here.
II seemed hard to believe that before the
denccs had reached their homes the close Of each
opera notice Of the evenings performance actually
being received and printed In tho HERALD oflcemore
than thousand miles away Yet such the fact; and
none asonished II the feat than the artists
themselves, with which they were, for tho most
part made acquainted by tho French and Italian
newspapers they received, which contained fire.
quent comments upon pece OF American newspaper
enterprise that wholly incomprchensible 10 the
European mind musical journal In Paris sent critic
10 Bologna 70 describe tho nrst performance Of LAI
cons IN the latter city and made somewhat OF boast Of
the undertaking; but account Of the opcra appeared
in PRINT for three or four days after ts presentation
whereas the sotcss q the opera In the Western cities
some Of which ara twslvs hundred miles daAna from
New Yos-wsre being put into print ew hours Aftsr the
curtain fell upon the FINAL act and read break
fast tables in the metropolis In many instances doubt
before the papers OF st. Louis Chicago, Cincinnati
had reached their readers There Ia something marvel
lous this progressive Journalism which European news
paper fogysm could not grasp, and therefore were
mot surprised 70 the English, French and Italian
journals which fell into orr hands In the West during
the period Of Grsus here, frequent expressions Of
establishment 1t the energy and enterprise Of the EEw
yoRx HxRAp The opera company Will leave here to-
row for New York, and will sail thence for Havana
on the I7th ins after taking few days rest 1t is Graus
present intention TO give another Of opera the
West spring after playing season Of six weeks at
the Tacon theatre In Havana His return 10 this
ton Of country will be hailed with universal satisfac-
ton One Of the musical directors, Sgnor Nuuo, has
gone to Havana In advance to complete preparations
with the orchestra and chorus there signor Muzio,
whose efficient services have contributed largely TO the
OF the Western season. remains, TO WELD bis
baton TO the last.