The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-09-19
A Musical and Theatrical Reaction.

Musical ana Theatrical Reaction.
The promise of singer like Carlotta
Patti has refreshment in it for the jaded hopes
and often disappointed tastes of our amuse-
ment-ridden people; and with such promise
before us it may not be premature to indulge
the thought that there is a turn of the tide
that the meretricious has had its little day
among us, and that we are to be INDUCED
with revival of the genuine in art, especially
in musical art. We are the more tempted to
believe this because it is so evidently time for
our turn. What years we have had of the
torture of taste! ''What wonderful inven-
tons we have scent Signs of true genius
and of empty pockets" Signs as well
of an utter want of conscience on
the part of those who cater to the public need
of recreation-of an utter want and absence,
indeed, of everything save a desperate deter
mination to make money. 1t is because the
strictly commercial spirit has come to reign in
the theatre that the true spirit of art has
departed from it. No two things in the earth
or the waters under the earth are so absolutely
irreconcilable as these. No great dramatic
poet ever got fair pay for the paper on which
his plays were written; but Mr.. Boucicault
will probably make ten thousand dollars by
''Formosa." Therefore, says the logic of the
theatre, as the theatre is now managed, ''For-
mosa" is better than all the dramas of all the
great poets put together. Plays are presented
on this principle only, and even music does
not inspire certain of its votaries with any
higher thought. 1t seems well nigh forgotten
that the theatre was ever a temple-that
scholars, lettered men and gentlemen were
proud of the honors they won there. 1t is a
shop at which entertainment is sold with no
thought beyond the price.
We had at one time fair prospect that that
noble amusement, the Italian Opera, would
become domesticated here. 1t is one adapted
to the character Of our people, as 1t ministers
to the love of the grand and the beautiful and
stirs so profoundly every emotion of the soul.
Although strictly devoted to commercial ideas
while in the shop none can accept with such
simple and generous enthusiasm the appeal of
art in its grandest phases as the American
and it would astonish those who have given
the subject no attention to learn how the
instruction OF the lyrical drama was spread
among the masses during the years in which it
fourished among u.s. But it fell into unworthy
hands. 1t was degraded to tho poor Office of
stamping two hundred and ninety noodles as
the world of fashion, and 80 was conducte 4 on
the sausage making principle, with some very
little pieces of fat to flavor world Of lean.
1t fingered through several years Of that sort
of management and died, and its ghost has
| been heard of wandering in the Western cities
Its successor, the opera boute, was taken as
a sort of champagne cocktail, delicate and re-
viving to the debauched fancy and very plea
SAINT to all other fancy, as sort Of stolen fruit
| a little sip of interdicted delight. OPERA
bouGe was wicked, but French, and the young
| ladies went, just as when they are in Paris
they go to the Mabille, though they would not
| venture visit to establishments of the same
class at home. 1t was also part of the excite
ment of the whirl Of improprieties that reduced
the theatrical stage to two points-the naked
female form as an appeal to the eye, and
Mother Goose for literary furniture. But we
have, as we say, the apparent promise that we
have got through with all that. There are
evidences that managers have to try other
terms now, and the best of all is the promise
to our public Of Carlotta Patti, singer of
such capabiity and culture that the grandest
names of musical history scarcely present her
superior. With such voice to tune the
public ear mediocrity in music must stand
aside; and the public that has good music will
| not accept debasing spectacles.
/ ApoI roN,a EyPEPIRNnE -Nanolann utfers