The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-09-11
The Coming Opera Season.

The good ship Cuba brought to our shores
last evening precious consignment of musical
talent from Europe Messrs. Maretzek, Grau
and Strakosch, the entrepreneurs for the coming
season, have culled the gardens of the Old
Country of their most precious song flowers,
and formed bouquet of talent such as America
has seldom been presented with. For the
Italian Opera the prospects are most encourag-
ing Although the subscription books for the
season have not yet been formally opened, so
great is the demand for boxes that all have
been disposed Of with the exception of five
something unprecedented in the history Of
opera in this city. The amount of subscrip-
tons reaches the neighborhood of fifteen hun
dred dollars for each performance, and when
the box Office is opened next week we may
expect to see every seat in the Academy Of
Music disposed Of in o day or two. The house
itself has also undergone many important i'm
provemens in appearance The lobbies are
all handsomely frescoed; the mezzonine tier
has been extended on both sides, so as to add
chandelier that hangs like Mohmamed's coffin
in the centre gistens in all the re-
fulgence of thorough cleaning
the vestibule at the Irving place entrance has
been decorated with mirrors and clock, and
the scenic artists are hard at work upon new
scenery for all the operas in the repertoire.
This last feature was sadly needed Our old
! friend, the Swiss scene, which was introduced
on every occasion until it became the laughing
stock of the audience, has been removed, and
we may now expect some little regard for
taste and harmony in the representation Of
operas this season.
The company Is undoubtedly one of the
strongest ever brought to the Academy of
Music. In Madame Pauline Lucca the man
ager has secured the reigning queen Of the
lyric stage, an artist who has held for years
the first position in London, Berlin and St.
Petersburg. 1t is unnecessary to speak Of the
high estimation in which the American public
hold their fair countrywoman, Miss Kellogg.
She comes back to them laden with fresh lau-
rels gained in London during season which
was unusually brilliant Not content with
presenting two such accomplished artists, the
management uasS CuSukCu q eLAAu uOAAdS
Mile. Leveille, and a contralto, Sehor-
tia SAM, both of Partisan renown.
The tenors, vizzani and Abrugnedo, are
said to possess many Of the excellent qualities
Of Capoul and Mazzoleni, and the baritone
Moriami, resembles Bellini very much in his
style of singing. A large proportion of the
chorus is brought from Covent Garden, as
well as all the singers for the minor roles The
repertoire is very extensive, comprising the
best operas Of Meyerbeer, and of the Italian
masters, and few novelties by Gounod,
Flotow and Petrella. With such a promising
| prospectus the season cannot fail to be sue
cessful ~.
On the concert stage the outlook is no less
gratifying. Mr. Grau presents the greatest
living pianist, Rubinstein, and troupe of new
artists, and Carlotta Patti and Mario, with their
fresh company, are likely to excite the public
to unwonted enthusiasm. The only thing
required now is that these managers keep their
promises faithfully with the public, for indul-
gent as our people are towards true art they
are no less severe in their rebuke of anything
approaching to charlatanism. No manager
need fear the risk or expense Of giving musical
entertainments which are first class in every
sense of the word. There is LIBERAL. generous
public here to reward his efforts.