The New York herald., 1874-04-29
The Approaching Close OF tho Musical
Season.

Vn0 approaching NAOso OF Imo MUSICAL
Season.
Notwithstanding the panic, stagnation in
business and other adverse circumstances which
might be supposed to exercise deleterious
effect upon everything in the line of public
entertainments, the musical season which is
now fast drawing to a close has been the
most brilliant ever known in this city. The
history of the operatic or concert stage in the
American metropolis cannot furnish parallel
to the varied programmes furnished at the
Academy of Music and Steinway Hall, the
Lyceum and Stadt theatres and the Grand
Opera House since the commencement Of the
fall season Of music. The Strakosch Italian
Opera Company deserves to be placed at
the head Of all lyric organizations which have
sung before the New York public, as artistic
excellence has characterized its performances
from first to last. The production of 'sThe
Huguenots," 'sAYda" and "Lohengrin" par
took of the nature of reform in opera. Many
great artists have appeared before the metro
politan public within the last quarter of o
century, but as general rule, they have been
very inadequately supported in opera. For the
first time we have had the choral and orches-
trail departments placed on the same level with
the solo artists and q chef dorchestye possessing
Costa-like 6rmness, experience aud talents No
longer are the ears Of the public RECALLED with
the variety performance that was SO long mis-
named opera, or their eyes offended with a
lyric jewel in pinchbeck setting. The re-
form is of the most complete kind, and, as
we long ago predicted, it has met with the
most hearty encouragement and support of
the public. Managerial enterprise, when
guided by art, will never fail to win substan-
tial admiration here As the season draws
towards close its brilliancy seems to become
intensified and the attractions are multiplied
tenfold. Last night there was q gala per-
formance, consisting of the choicest extracts
from the operate works of Meyerbeer; Ros-
sini, Wagner, Auber and Verdi, and we are
promised on Sunday evening an attraction no
less great-namely, the immortal ''Stabat
Mater Of Rossini, with Nilsson and Lucca
and the rest of the company. italian opera
every day for fortnight at high price for
hu1AlooAoA hAu nedt5, duu ycb uAuWlAS iuISc
houses, is significant proof Of the apprecia-
ton Of the New York public for good music.
No less hearty has been the public recognition
Of the valuable services Of Theodore Thomas
in the cause Of art, and his symphony con-
certs and classical matin6es have become as
fashionable as they are artistic. We have also
had English, German and French opera
served up to us in every shape, and concerts
without number, and in very few cases have
the public failed to exhibit appreciation of the
efforts of the various managers. Even with
the departure of the Strakosch troupe next
week the musical season ip this city will not
end, as Mile. lima di Murska then COM
mences German opera engagement at the
Stadt Theatre. The present season has been
fruitful in novelties, and many standard works
of the old and new schools have been heard
for the first time. Such an exhibit in face OF
a terrible financial crisis, speaks volumes for
the artistic taste of the metropolis.