, 1873-02-04

It is one Of tho Indirect signs Of the prosperity
and tho rapid progreHB Of Chicago, sinco tho
fire, that italian opera Is once more fairly in
stalled in its old position, and that, notwith-
standing the high priceH Of admission aud tho
alatringouoy Of tho timos, tho sale has been
one Of tho most remarkable over known In the
local records Of opera. It WAS tho universal i'm
preston, at tie time Of the fire, that tho mate
rial reconstruction OF tho city might bo accom-
plished in short time, although the accomplish
ment haB been mado much sooner than any
ono anticipated. No, ono, however, not
oven tho most aanguine, expected
to 500 tho literary, scientific, and artistic re-
sources Of the city made good again for several
years. Ono after tho other, however, they have
found thoir old places, and now oven tho Italian
opera, which Ia the most expensive Of Injuries,
commenceB season with tho most brilliant Of
prospects,, md with ea1e which has not been
surpassed in any other city.
The musical auccess Of tho season, 1t must bo
confessed, depends almost exclusively upon
Madame Lucca and Miss Kellogg. Aa in most
other troupes, tho "stars" will have to henr
the burden. Tho opera, like tho drama. III
this country, Reoms to hayo passed. tho
timo when anything like complete en-
se1nJle ia expected. The abBurd prices paid to
prima donnas indeed make It Impossible for
managers to organize troupe iii which the DO
greos Of qualification In prttats shnll bo proper
tionato, without ohargug ratio Of admission
which pooplo could not pay, oven II they would.
Whom laading artists like Adalina Patti, Nilsson,
and Lucca ask from $4,000 to 1900 per night
in gold, and tho aoating capacity Of thoatre or
opora house can only produce IN average Of
e4000, 1t is useless to expect TINT manager can
bring oight Or ten other leading singers, cho-
rus OF thirty or forty, ri orchestra
of fifteen or twenty, who will compare
fayorably with tho star performer, and
pay all tho expenses OF rcnts living, transporta-
| tion, and printing without charging u high
price. III tino, Italian opera, aa at present con-
stitutcd, Ia tho most expensive Of luxuries by
necessity. Tho remedy rosts with tho managers.
| Whenever managers Gun combine md dotermino
to pny only reasonable salaries, tlon We may OK
|
prico, aud produced In bottor ntylo than 1t III
| now,
] This however, Is question for the future.
| What CONCERNS tho opera-goors OF this city, for
! tho nsxt two woeks, is Lucca aud Kellogg. Wo
havo no disposition to bring about a
musical war between these two artists,
nor to institute any parallel OF
| musical abilities. This ia mattor for opora-
| goerg to decide. There aro, however, certain
general points which may bo mndo in justice to
| Miss Kellogg, and should DO 'nado which do not
| noccssitato fayoritism. It iB usoloss to dsguisc
tl,o fact that the Aslos OF seats for tho Lnccn
nights hayo been largoly in oxcess Of tho Iol-
logg nights, ThIa SHOULD not ho the case. It'll
OF course, ille to expect that tho sales eAonld be
| equal, but tho disparity should not be 80 great,
Lucca comes to this city with worldwide reptl'
| tattop: She has made great succesa III opera
in ell the musical eap}tels OF Europe, and has
roachcd tho very zenith Ut popularity
! Her fame Ii assured, and there il nothing loft
! tor 4eg to CONQUER. She eau hayo no Buccoasoa