The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-09-28
Tho Pending Opera Season.

LIB uow ITO very WiJCnluB tiue VI opera,
when greenrooms yawn and song itself
breathes out contagion to this world. Yes, it
has come at last. The final prospectus has
been printed, the ultimate placard hung up,
and now we are to enjoy the sweet and fair
substantialities. There is nothing to do now
but fold our hands and enjoy the goods the
gods have provided. We know everything
about everybody. You cannot mention a sin
gle item in the lives of any of the principal
warblers, from Nilsson down, but what we
know all about it. We have studied their
lives better than their ibrettos, and Miss
Gushington is as familiar with Nine. Missions
personal history as she is with her Lucia and
Violetta. Let us hope that something of the
calm of satisfaction is to follow this stupen-
dous futter.
Much of the scenery at the Academy of
Music has an archaeological value-that is to
say, it is of importance in reminding us what
the tastes of our ancestors were ages ago.
There is, in particular, Swiss scene whose
tenacity of existence lends melancholy in
terost to its periodic resurrection and discour-
turn unto the dust. All that we, therefore, feel
justified in begging is that it may not be made
to stand for more than one quarter of the
globe during the same season, but that it's
representative value may be strictly limited to
the locality intended by the artist When we
find the same scene doing duty for Nova
Zembla and Terra del Fuego good nature
would prompt us to praise the ingenuity Of
the stage manager, but good taste, which is an
equally valuable gift, would suggest the pro-
cural OF another scene, and this is SUCCESS
ton which those who have the management of
such affairs at the Academy cannot afford to
neglect.
Nine. Nilsson, who is of course, to be the
principal attraction of the Strakosch season,
will be welcome in whatever impersonation
she appears. The desire to greet her warmly
is so great that no role, however worn, will
materially dampen the ardor. And since this
is unquestionably the case the necessity of
bringing out any new work might well be
questioned by any management that was with
out ambition. Mr.. Strakosch is not only an i'm
presario, but an ambitious one, and therefore
intends to produce at least one absolute
novelty, the ''AYda," of Verdi, which has not
yet been heard in Paris or London, and only
in some of the secondary cities of Europe.
Whether or not the title role will be repre-
sented by Nine. Nilsson is not so much the
question as whether the opera as whole will
be SO offered as to deserve the plaudits Of
intelligent judges. The supporters Of
Italian opera would be doing discredit
to themselves to reserve all the prestige they
are capable of comforting exclusively for one
favorite prima donna, however brilliant in
gifts and fascinating in social graces. But
this is a consideration at which we only hint,
confident that '.AYda" will be so rendered as
to throw shadow Of glory over the manage
ment.
week after the Academy of Music opera
season shall have got under weigh q rival and
not inexperienced impresario will have
started campaign at the Grand Opera House,
with prima donna who successfully bore the
brunt of last season here, and tenor who has
lived sufficiently long to have afforded almost
every other part of the world, excepting the
United States, an opportunity of hearing him
to repletion. With rivalship of this descrip-
ton the season will not lack exceptional
piquancy.