The New York herald., 1869-01-31
Italian Opera and French Opera Boude h
New York.

New York.
An American consul at Venice said q few
years ago, in very readable book entitled
ssvenetian Life :-''I fancy that to find good
Italian opera you must seek 1t somewhere out
Of Italy-at London, or Paris, or New York;
though possibly it might be chanced upon at
La Scala, in Milan, or San Carlo, in Naples"
He added that the decay Of the musical art in
Venice certainly cannot be discerned in any
indifference Of the people. to music. "The
dimostrasione keeps the better class Of citizens
from the opera; but the passion for it exists in
every order, and Gods gift of beautiful voice
cannot be smothered by any situation. You
hear the airs Of opera sung as commonly upon
the streets in Venice as our own colored
years past Italian opera might have been
sought, but could not have been found, at New
York Almost the last that has been heard OF
it in America of late is report that what
passed for it was leading nomadic life some
where among the Indians beyond the Rocky
Mountains. But here in New York, as in
Venice the decline Of Italian opera cannot be
ascribed to the Indifference or distaste OF the
people. The successful Introduction of French
opera 6oufe by Mr.. Bateman and Mr.. Grau
has diverted New York in the absence of
Italian opera and in the silence to which the
vast spaces of the Academy of Music have
been condemned solely by mismanagement.
But aside from the splendid mise c,a scene, the
elegant costumes, the capital acting, the fun,
extravaganza and exhilaration of the burlesque
operas of Offenbach, the choice passages
Of really fine music which rise like Isles
of the Blessed out of all this sea foam,
have been chiefly appreciated by our public.
1t is these bits Of melody which have usurped
the place Of negro minstrelsy at our minor
theatres and in our streets. That the taste
which had been long ago created for italian
opera is undiminished was evinced by the
enthusiastic reception of Miss Kellogg on her
return to New York from a foreign tour. It
is evinced by the selections on the programmes
of every first class concert. The multitude
nous throng which fills the Academy at all
rehearsals and concerts of the Philharmonic
Society amply attests the interest Of New
Workers. in music Of the highest order.
AS we have intimated, bad management has
been the sole cause Of the deplorable decline
Of Italian opera in New York. Only let some
enterpgjglpg and lbera! manager !iks GRAY or
Vanderbilt or Fisk buy out the Academy Of
Music, issue unlimited stock and send to Eu-
rope q three hundred thousand dollar check 10
secure the Missions and the PATHS of the day,
and Italian opera would revive at once and
would soon be established on q permanent
basis. One of the principal causes of Grau's
success in establishing opera 6onfs in this
city is his liberal expenditure. The spas
modic attempts to introduce French comedy
and to sustain Italian opera have hitherto
failed mainly on account of niggardliness.
But if the vast resources Of our American
railway and steamboat kings shall be freely
devoted to the revival of Italian opera what
shall hinder its fourishing here on a scale of
magnifcence unparalleled either at Milan,
Naples, Venice, Paris, London, Vienna or st.
Petersburg?