The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-10-09

rO8roos OIL ftn9u ART In the view W Ori0
II is evident that the American people are
destined to surpass all the rest Of mankind in
high art as in everything else. This country
will become, before many years have passed,
the centre Of civilization. We have already
produced admirable painters, sculptors and
singers, and equally great authors and actors
will yet be developed. In appreciation Of art
and artists we excel any other nation. AT
her second performance in Brooklyn Ristori
drew the unequalled sum of three thousand
eight hundred and forty dollars, which exceeds
by forty dollars the largest amount that she
has ever received for single performance in
Europe. Her greatest house In the Old World
was at Moscow, where the receipts were
three thousand eight hundred dollars !;
but Brooklyn, which is merely faubourg Of
New York, beats Moscow and throws into the
shade the capitals of Italy, France, England
and Germany, in all Of which Ristori appeared
to smaller houses. This is conclusive proof
not in mere words, but in hard dollars-that
we are ahead Of Europe in our appreciation Of
the Queen of Tragedy; and we have the testi-
mony Of her associates to the effect that Anne
rican audiences are quite as critical as those OF
Europe, and uniformly select the same points
to applaud.
In music the progress Of our people is not
less distinctly marked. We have had opera
here for about thirty-ive years, during which
Malibran, Sontag, Grisi and other famous
singers have delighted us. Recently attempts
have been made to foist upon us third and
fourth rate italian artists but the public is too
we'll educated to permit such an imposition.
The consequence is that we have no Italian
opera in the metropolis, and shall have none
this winter. There is an Italian troupe-or
perhaps two of Acknowledging somewhere
about, like the gypsies, without local habita-
ton or much Of name but nobody knows
where it is. Mazzoleni and Brignoli are the
only really excellent Italian artists left to us
but what has become of them and in what cor
ner of the country they are singing we cannot
tell. But at the French theatre tonight the
Opera Comique will be inaugurated to supply
the want caused by this abrogation Of the
Italian opera. Manager Juignet has secured
fine company Of French artists, who can &C
as well as sing, and in the light, lively and
graceful music Of the French comic operas they
are sure to create decided Juror. Thus
while literally patronizing the Independent
theatres, where the English drama is given
such as the Broadway and the New York-our
cosmopolitan citizens will also support Ristor
in Italian tragedy, Dawson in German comedy
and melodrama and manager Juignets troupe
in French opera com'que. No other city in
the world can equal New York in this variety
Of first class entertainments. Yet 1t must b
remembered that the drama and the opera ap
pear py no means at their best ct present present
For some time past both have been under the
control Of an old Snowman, great only in stuffed
elephants and woolly horses. Now they ars
escaping from bis influence and new era in
high art is being begun. Undoubtedly before
this era Is completed we shall send to the Old
World artists who can rival the best that have
ever come across the sea to receive our appre-
ciative plaudits.