The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-08-31


as far as we can see now the Turkish ques-
ton wears a very cloudy and embarrassing
aspect.
Opera In the United states-NIusic for
tho People.
Some Of the London aud Paris journals
which pay particular attention to the opera
and musical art generally have been dis
cusslng the question Of establishing opera for
the people. It appears that such project
has been entertained in Paris. The price of
admission, 1t ID said should range from half
franc upwards, or, In other words, the price
should be 30 low that the cost to the mass of
the people should not be higher than at the
ordinary theatres But considering the ex-
pense Of operatic entertainments, including the
high salaries to first class artists, 1t is sug-
gested that such an undertaking would not
pay unless the buildings be large enough to
accommodate many thousands of spectators.
Hence II is proposed to have much larger
opera houses. A London journal argues that
In properly constructed theatre operas might
be performed with good effect before audiences
a. large as those which were brought together
at tho Crystal Palace by the Handel festival
performances. 1t says that excellent opportu-
mites were afforded in tho Crystal Palace of
the range and effect Of the singing voice over
the voice Of orators; for, while the speakers
at the meeting in favor of the Irish Church
could scarcely make themselves heard at
thirty yards distance, the voices of the great
singers at the Handel festival, especially the
sopranos and tenors, were heard throughout
the length and breadth of the vast enclosure.
These projects, suggestions and arguments in
favor of establishing opera for the people in
the great capitals Of Europe are worthy of
consideration by the people and enterprising
capitalists of New York and our other large
cities.
Why cannot something be done to give
the people here cheap music, and, above
all, cheap opera, which combines with
q high and an attractive style of music
the most agreeable theatrical representations
In orchestral or instrumental music Mr.. Thee.
dore Thomas has solved the problem. At his
Central Park Garden concerts the price of ad-
mission is only thirty-Ave cents, and there are
large audiences nightly of three or four thou
sand people-of people, too, from the higher
classes of society as we'll as from the poorer
class. They are truly, In the broadcast sense,
the peoples concerts. Many predicted that he
would fail when he first commenced this social
revolution, for such it may be called but he
has succeeded and is making money. Cannot
~ ma W. ho1s 4
could, if large opera houses were erected, with
proper regard to acoustics, that would hold
many thousands of people. The price Of ad-
mission could then be made low and the
masses Of the people could afford to enjoy the
music, while at the same time the best
artists could be we'll paid. And what artist is
there who would not rather sing to thousands,
with all the FIRE and impulse that would be in
spired by their plaudits than to slim houses Of
cold dilettanti and affected aristocracy? 1t
has been shown that the kid-gloved class alone
cannot support opera In this country. 1t is
only successful when some extraordinary star
brings out the people and causes them to
squeeze out portion of their limited incomes
for the occasion. OF all countries in the
world this is best suited for just such peoples
opera as Is spoken of in Paris and London, and
where 1t has the best chance Of success. We
have an example on small scale in the sue
cess of the operas given by Brgnoli and his
artists at Long Branch. There is no theatre
at that place, and the performance was in the
large dining room of the Continental Hotel;
but the place was crowded, simply because
there was no form or exclusiveness and be-
cause everybody could attend without much
cost. That is as it should be in New York
and everywhere else in this country.
But what are we to do for opera this winter
The opera boufe is dead, and did not die a
day too soon. Apart from few sparkling
and popular airs it was the merest trash, and
demoralizing. We are to have the English
opera, with Parepa; but that is always heavy
and unattractive The fine voice of Parepa
can hardly save it from the fate of all proceed
ing experiments. Nature never intended thai
opera should be in English. We have some
elements here for Italian opera, and others
could be had by proper management. Why
does not the ''silver voiced" Brignoli make up
respectable company for New York the COM
ing season. He is a host in himself, and has
several good artists with him. 1t is said he is
going to California this fall with good CON-
pany. The people of that State, with all theil
gold and lavish expenditure of money, canno
support such company long. He should
prepare the way for returning to New Yorl
early in the winter, and in addition to thu
artists he has should get others, either
here or from Europe. This seems to be the
only chance we have Of italian opera this
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