The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-01-09
tn q OPERA.

There was no performance at the Opera
House Thursday evening, owing to the ILL
ness OF Mile Hasselmann, who was 10 have taken
the part of Marguerite In Gounod's opera of
Faust" The management of this institution,
wherest the best society of New Orleans are wont
to commingle has met with many sad reverses, and
for that reason deserves the indulgence Of the
public. Mr.. Cslabresi, the manager, is a gentle
man held in high esteem by our population, and
his talent and his abilities as musician are ndis-
putable. But there is lack OF that approach to
perfectness in the company and. performances Of
the opera this season which is certainly unusual
to liberal public accustomed to better treat
ment. Where lies the fault Ii is for the man.
agement to tell and in Justice to Mr.. Calabresi
We must say that it has been his desire to lay the
reasons before the public why with subscrip-
ton of over sixty thousand dollars, more than
double the amount ever subscribed for, in advance,
at any previous time, the opera season has been
faiIure.-with the exception Of few delightful
performances-since its commencement. RI.
mors have caused the press to assert that the adj
ministration have secured the services of Mile
Lambele. On the other hand the same authority
-rumor-says that Mile Lambele has lost much
of her voice. Again Dame Rumor says that Miss
Kelloggs services will probably be secured 10
conclude the operate season that first rate
tenor end prima donna have been written for TO
Paris, but these rumors have no weight upon the
animosity against the administration Of the Opera
House.
That many subscribers to the operate season have
actively silently Influenced Mr.. Cslabresi in the
course he has pursued cannot be denej. The fact
that he has desired to state pubiiclyhis position,
in the daily papers, would seem to infer that he Is
well informed that some of his friends do not sus.
tain him at present, and that outward Influences
still brought to bear against an act on his part
which might place him In proper light before
the public, and exonerate him from much of the
blame which is laid at bis door. 1t Is to be re.
GREETED that the Opera House has not sustained
its well.earned reputation for it has always been
conceded to be the grand drawing-room Of New Or
leans, where refinement and wealth, devoid Of the
shoddy nrist9cracy of other climes, congregated
with an alacrity unsurpassed in the Old World.
The opera was an institution cherished by our
people and landed by the press, until this fatal
season, when i'll luck seems to have combined
with poor selections 10 order to make waste of
the once most fashionable auditorium OF the
South.
The fault cannot be ascribed to the want Of
desire on the part of the public to enjoy them
selves, for the Varieties Academy OF Music,i st.
Charles Theater, Amess Museum, the levees of
Tom Thumb, and even the small side-shows are
daily and nightly thronged with old and young, in
search of pleasure. There has not been crowd.
ed house at the opera this season.
Necessarily there must be want OF attraction
st the Opera House, since il is the only place of
amusement which does not seem to pay. What
is said the streets concerning the financial
causes. which have led to the failure of the oper-
attic season, being only bearsay, we shall refrain
iro m repeating we prefer giving Mr.. Calabresi
tie opportunity of stating the condition OF affairs,
which he alone can do accurately.
To conclude. we will call the attention of every
body concerned to this fact Whatever may have
been the system of former years in conducting the
Opera House, however much successful il may
have been at the time, it Is vicious at present.
The enterprise must hereafter be conducted
upon different plan ; one which will give the
public a guarantee that they will receive full
compensation for the money they invest, or the
option of patronizing the opera or lot as they
will choose.
Tonight, Roland at Rouceveaux."