The New York herald., 1872-12-17
Concerning italian Opera.

Opera is q thing of the past dream-we
may almost soy delusion and snare-for
Mr.. Maretzek is "a pathetical break promise,
having vowed vows in print that,-have never
taken tangible form, and having brought down
upon his managerial head somewhat uncom-
plimentary remarks from hundreds of SUBJ
soribers and thousands of the general public
In this land Of confagrations we have reason
to be aware that there is no smoke without
dr6 Mr.. Maretzek seems to consider himself
q monument of injured innocence; but when
easy-going critics join issue with o not too
fastdious public and Ito be poetical make
the welkin ring with such chorus of
anathema as was never before heard beneath
Americas blue sky, we are inclined
to rconsider the recent opera season
unworthy of New York. MIR. Maretzek
md. his friends maintain that this
metropolis will not support thoroughly CON-
plete opera troupe. We beg to differ from
them, and point to the fact that the best
troupe we have had in years-that of last
season, combining Parepa-R Rosa, Adelaide
Phillips. Santley, Wachtel, good chorus
and orchestra-met with the greatest success.
Vain Is it to assert that their season was short
and could not have been prolonged. The last
night was the most profitable, and as the
public gave evidence Of additional enthusiasm,
there Is no reason to suppose that three
months would not have been as satisfactory to
the treasury as four weeks. New York is not
Paris, but it is more appreciatve than Lon
don, and we are confident that although the
Presidential year Is as bad for amusements as
it La for the tempers of defeated politicians,
Mr.. Maretzek could have laid down his baton
to contemplate golden harvest had he sown
what he desired to reap. OF his prime donne
1t is unnecessary to speak at length. Madame
Lucoa has undoubted power in one way Miss
Kellogg in another, and Madame Levielli is
pm admirable artist, whose school makes
amends for harsh French voice. Had the
remainder of the company approached these
ladies in excellence we should have been the
first to expostulate with Mr.. Maretzek for stig-
matizing himself as ga necessary evil" As it
ls. We do not see the necessity, and ore ready
to welcome any management that will give
America first class opera for first class prices.
Ut Is useless to assert that the best has been
done that could have been done. We know
that 6antley, the great English baritone, who
is IN immense favorite here could have been
re-engaged, and we know that Mr.. Maretzek
need not have gone out Of this country to find
q good contralto. We know that careful
drilling will make bad chorus tolerable
and al Indifferent orchestra good We know
that there could have been secured better
xenors than Vizzani and Abrugnedo, and i
better bass than Coulon. All this we know,
and therefore do not hesitate to express our
dissatisfaction with the tactics pursued by the
high priests Of the Academy Of Music. They
have failed this year, and, if persevered in,
will fail still more lamentably year hence, for
America does not 60 backward Her art pub
lie knows enough to be dissatisfied with the
cooking of the nightingales' tongues placed
before it, and will be eager for change of
cuisine whenever chef advertises for situa-
ton. That Italian opera is expensive no one
can gainsay; that it ought to be rendered less
so is equally apparent, and we heartily en-
dorse suggestion recently made by one
of our correspondents. "Why not" he
asks, stake the bull by the horns,
Rnd let number of the rich
patrons of art in New York contribute the
necessary funds and found great institution
like the Conservatoire de Musique In Paris,
sShich is pouring forth every year excellent
singers. ladies and gentlemen, and sufficient
number of well-trained instrumentalists, to
furnish the capital and the provinces with all
the elements necessary for good orchestra? ?
Give New York. in one word the foundation
Of all that is necessary for Italian opera-the
conservatory where to plant the trees, with all
lhe branches necessary for the construction of
n great national opera-with theatre, free of
any interference, attached to it, where
manager would have free scope to do as he
pleases, and If he does not succeed would have
only himself to blame, and if he did succeed
would elevate the artistic element and the
public taste to degree which would deserve
The gratitude of the country and would con-
fer on il lasting beneficial results. Free it
from otherwise unavoidable importation-that
Is. from the necessity of paying quite enor-
nous prices and instead of sending vast
sums with these enriched singers out of the
rountry as soon as earned, have American
artists enriched by their own talent by the
patronage of their public in model and emula-
lion TO other native talent" Here is some-
thing practicable. We have money enough,
we have voices enough. In fact the amount
Of musical ability going to waste in this
country for lack of training is most
melancholy. There are no finer voices
in tho world than here, especially
in New England. All that is needed is culture.
Teachers we have, but few are competent, and
the only way to form proper school is to
found an American conservatory. Here is an
opportunity for art lovers to prove their devo-