The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-08-03

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The musical and theatrical preparations for
the approaching season are going rapidly for
ward, and the indications are in favor of
brilliant and successful year. The season
promises to be one from which we may expect
to realize the growth in art and culture of the
last ten years There was time, not SO very
long ago. when it was not thought necessary
to provide the very best talent for the Ameri-
can market. Even when Grisi delighted us
in the infancy of Italian opera in New York
we could not but feel that we were RECALLED on
the memory of a splendid voice and magnif-
cent triumphs. 1t was not so when Nilsson
came here two years ago. She came to us
fresh from her triunphs in the French
capital to return to conquer still greater
victories in Paris, in London and in St.
Petersburg. Now in the very plenitude Of her
strength, in the richness and fulness of her
wonderful art she comes to sing for us once
more and carry back with her fresh bouquets of
American admiration. Had Nilsson not come
Patti would have been here instead. All this
shows growth in musical taste and culture
growth so rapid and wonderful that the sever
est school of Italian opera is preferred to the
froth of opera boq6e and the symphonies of
Beethoven and the Stides of Chopin to what is
called popular music.
1t is worth while to stop and contemplate
this growth in art and culture. Not in music
and the drama alone has the influence Of this
marked progress been felt, but in all the sister
arts and in science as well. Even as late as
ten years ago little interest was felt in natural
science, while at the present moment as the
columns of the HERALD testify from day to
day, few subjects excite more attention. Pro-
fessor Agassiz can draw together a crowded
and fashionable audience People have found
that learning and culture of every kind are so
intimately associated with the business of life
and even the pursuit of pleasure, that they
listen willingly to scientific, literary and arts
tic teachings. In ten years our poets have at
tanned such stability of reputation that the
great English universities think themselves
honored in honoring such Americans as
Lowell and Longfellow. In the same period
journalism has grown to be the chosen field
of literature. Our sculptors and painters, once
neglected, now find profitable employment and
appreciative encouragement. The lyric and
dramatic stage, catering for all tastes and
sometimes pandering to morbid appetites, has
reached high state of artistic excellence, and
we are able to congratulate ourselves that the
higher we ascend into the regions Of art we
find its ministers the more excellent and its
patrons the more earnest The love of the
beautiful and, as a correlation, devotion to the
good and the true have become something like
o passion. The perfect ensemble of the
Italian opera company and the success of Miss
Nilsson two years ago gave great impetus
to this growing taste. Last year we sifted
the chat from the wheat and accepted
and encouraged Nine Lucca and
Miss Kellogg and the few real artists
at the Academy in a spirit of true thankful
ness for all that was given us that was good.
Approaching this spirit Lucca has not yet
left U.s. but, with Di Murska, bravura singer
| of European reputation, and Tamberlik, once
the prince of tenors she will give us two short
seasons of opera at the west side Opera House.
But it is to the older and the favorte home of
Italian opera in Irving place that we must
look this season for perfection of ensemble,
operate novelty and magnifcence of vocaliza-
ton. Miss Nilsson and the three prime
dome, Mile. Torriani, fresh from success in
London; Nine. Maresi, engaged for the
higher dramatic parts and Miss Gary, an old
time favorite, together with Capoul, Cam
panin and Bonfratelli the tenors and Maurel
and Del Puente, the barytones form COM
pany of singular and unusual strength and
give promise of fully satisfying the cultivated
people to whose taste they come to minister
and to whose decision they submit their
claims to artistic merit.
AS marking not only the artistic growth of
the past but the musical and dramatic promise
of the coming season we print to-day full
resume Of all that is doing and all that is con-
| templated by the managers at this time From
| this it will be seen that music occupies very
prominent place among our forthcoming
| amusements, even OPERA boufe offering its
| novelties in French and English dress in CON-
petition with the great works of the Italian
school Lecocqs ''La File de Madame Angot
is not averse to running tilt with Verdis
"Aida." for an unblushing always stares a
blushing face out of countenance. Besides,
there is rumor that Miss Kellogg is to appear
in English opera, and the Philharmonic So
cieties of the sister cities and Theodore
Thomas orchestra will give their usual exhi-
billions of classical Instrumentation. In dra-
matte art the coming of Salvini, the great
Italian actor, will be an event, but not an
event Of more real significance than the reap
pearance of Mr.. Lester Wallack at his own
theatre. Mr.. Wallack is not only our leading
actor in the modern drama, but the strongest
living representative of the dramatic school
which depicts the manners and customs of
the day when the greatest of English
comedies were written. Mr.. DAILY awaits