The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-10-14

troupe, which has, without professional ASSIST
anoe. performed successfully seven, at least,
of the masterpieces of the great composers.
This triumph, over which we feel and have
before expressed just local PRIDE was accom-
plished under the management of the lamented
Signor Perelh. Through his exertions, the
necessary talent was found and educated;
by his prestige he succeeded in securing class
of patrons which insured success from the out
set and finally by his judicious training and
personal popularity, we were presented with a
season of as fine performances as we need wish
to attend. This was done without any aid
from those sources which were originally created
solely for the purpose of fostering native
talent. The American Academy of Music, that
institution whose name when compared with
its actions, is astanding Joke in all circles, never
thought of lifting finger to help him. But
in this it but preserved the unity of its entire
course Of conduct. When it was inaugurated
we were told that, beneath its benign care, we
we've to have home talent cultivated, and be
made independent of foreign performers. 1t
was to collect library of musical works which
are not accessible to individuals; in fact it was
to be the centre of music in the United States. 1t
was, in truth, to be model of the ConServatoire
in Paris or Milan. 1t has proved miserable
failure in accomplishing its desired ends; and
if to-day we would secure any native ability
we must look entirely to private enterprise,
and not to that institution which was ostensibly
the head and front of such reformation.
SignOr Perelli, by his individual efforts, over
came the greatest obstacles in the path of a
successful amateur opera. He collected the
material, which was great thing, and he de-
monstrated that such an undertaking was
practicable, and could be made a success.
Having proved the feasibility, and while yet
meditating greater efforts, the indomitable
Pereli was gathered to his fathers. We greatly
fear that with his premature death will come
a termination to the organization of amateur
operas. After having proved, to the sur
prise and envy of New York, which four times
made similar attempt and failed, that the
Quaker City could supply and support an
amateur troupe, it seems hard that the death
of one man should put an end to the bright
prospects on which we were entering. We
earnestly hope that some one who enjoyed the
the needs and the minutie of the undertaking,
will now stand up and call around him the
members Of the troupe and proceed to arrange
for another season. All the material is at
hand. The voices which delighted us
eighteen months ago are still in our midst,
and are doubtless willing to do their part
again towards affording innocent pleasure to
our people. Doubtless most of the scores of
the music are within reach, and it is certain
that the old audiences stand ready and anxious
to do their part towards aiding the enterprise
both with their presence and subscriptions. All
that is needed is a leader, some one who can
unite the elements of the old troupe, who will
be acquiesced in as the head by all, who can
manage such an attempt, and who can have
some Of the old prestige Of Perelli's name. We
hope that such an one can be found. We are
not sufficiently familiar with the musical
world to suggest any suitable gentleman for
the task, yet there doubtless is some one who
possesses all the qualifications we have pointed
out. If he will but appear, and the effort
STATED, we feel assured that our best citizens
would hasten to encourage the attempt by
every means in their power.
The idea on which the plan of Sgnor
Parelli was founded commends itself in many
ways. 1t supplies a source of innocent
amusement to a class who are opposed
to attendance on general theatrical or even
operatic entertainments. No sane person
objects to the drama because of the inherent
evil of seeing persons assume characters, and
act or sing them WELL 1t is not the natural
i'll effects, but it is the surroundings, the asso-
Citations, into which one is thrown by attend
ance. We do not know who may be our
neighbors, and what low character we may
meet, and be contaminated and insulted by
meeting. 1t is this which deters many who
really enjoy most keenly the pleasure of
music, from going where that proper and
refined taste could be gratifed. But
! in the case of the amatear opera this
! evil is avoided, and no such objection
can be raised. By the system of subscrip-
| ton the attendance is made select and per-
fectly respectable All Irregularities on the
| stage to which we are subjected at the pro-
| fessional opera are guarded against, and we
| meet ladies and gentlemen listening to ladies
and gentlemen, without injury to any and
with pleasure to all. Upon this ground alone
we would deem the disc0ntinuance of the
| Italian opera as a real deprivation. But when
| it enables us as well to show our superiority
| over vauntipg New York, and to maintain as a
| success that which no other city could maintain,
we see a double reason for making it a charac
| terstc feature of our local amusements. 1t
| proves by actual trial what we have always