The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-01

NATs StTakOscn anu tho AteAlen Operos
''The interruption of the Italian opera
season" is Mr.. Max Strakosch's euphemistic
phrase for what we, in our simplicity, sup
posed to be the failure Of operate concert.
The letter Of this eminent and enterprising
manager to the HERALD the other day lisa
very interesting and candid statement of the
causes of the interruption of Mile. Belocca's
performances The operate season was no
failure, we learn, but would have been
brilliant success if it had only succeeded.
Nearly every seat was taken for ''Mignon,"
in which Mile. Belocca was to have achieved
triumph equal to that she won
in sThe Barber of Seville" But we
are informed that both tenors were sick.
"Had such thing happened in Paris. Mr..
Strakosch says, "another tenor could be
procured by telegraph in twenty-four hours
from London or Milan. But here what is
left to manager but to close his doors ?"
Nothing of course. Yet it seems
to us that the argument Of Mr.. Stra-
kosch is hardly supported by his
facts. In scratch company sick tenors
are a necessity. Experience should have
taught Mr.. Strakosch when he brought
Mile. Belocca from Europe that so great an
artistic ought not to be left to the chances and
misfortunes of company to be picked up in
America. Here we have no Milan or
London, as he. justly observes, where
the supply of tenors exceeds the de-
mand. Knowing this, and asserting it as
Mr.. Strakosch does, we seriously think that
he should have provided for the emergency,
and have made it absolutely sure that Mile.
Belocca would not be forced to retire in the
very height Of her triumph, because one
tenor has his head in towel and another is
perpetually eating chlorate of potash loz-
enges for q cold.
We are glad to learn that the season is to
be resumed in few weeks, when sMignon"
will be produced with Mile. Belocca in o
role which will still further display her merits
as a vocalist and actress. ''Mignon" is a
popular opera, and we are rejoiced that it
promises to be success Yet let not Mr..
Htrakosch fall into the error of supposing
that the general performance of his scratch
company, including the convalescent tenors,
constitutes the attraction. Mile. Belocca
is the magnet that will draw the musical
people of New York; the company is
the negative pole and is more likely to re-
pei it. 1t is because we do not think that o
musical star of the first magnitude, shining
amid o number of the sixth magnitude, like
Aldebaran in the constellation Of Taurus,
constitutes true Italian opera, that we called
these pleasing but imperfect performances
operatic concert. 1t is because we know
that New York is not satisfied with operate
concert, but asks grand opera, with
tenors who. are not sick, that we
have urged Mr.. Strakosch to supply the
want. No one can give US finer opera
than Max and Maurice Strakosch, for they
have proved their enterprise and abilities in
q series of brilliant seasons in America and
Europe. We can assure them that they will
not meet with abuse, but with earnest
and hearty support, if they will give
us first class Italian opera this year
in q style worthy of the metropolis of Amer
lea and of their own regulations. Let them
unite their forces and make grand attack.
Nothing would please us all better than to be
conquered by sweet sounds, and compelled
to admit that operate concert was only
mistake of the past--only an exception to
the rule of grand opera itself.