The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-11-19
A New Opera House.


Mr.. MAURICE sTRAKoscH, in n long letter
to the Herald points out the fact that tho
people OF New York do not yield either in
wealth, intelligence, or culture to any OF
the great European capitals where the
opera fourishes. He further says that the
chief city in the United States, and the
third in the world in point of numbers.
intelligence, culture, and wealth, should
have an opera house equal to any in the
Old World That this Is true, aud more
over, that il is very pleasant reading, no.
body will deny. Mr.. STRAKOscH likewise
gently hints that au experience of a quar-
ter Of IA century has possibly fitted him to
speak with some weight upon this ques-
ton. We listen, then. with the deepest in
terest to the development of his splendid
scheme for n temple OF music, which, at an
expense OF about s20J0,O00. including all
the necessary scenery, dresses. and APP
pointments, should be an ornament to the
city OF New York.
This magnificent building would seat
five thousand persons. Mr.. SrRAKoscH
proposes To raise the funds by issuing 1000
shares OF stock mt $1,000 each, representing
the proposed value of the land and build
ing. The stockholders would receive no
interest on their investment, but would
be entitled to free admission TO every per-
Torrance. They would not be entitled to
reserved seats except by paying the differ
ence between the price OF the general adj
mission and the reserved seats, upon the
same terms rs the public at large. These
material advantages which are assured TO
each stakeholder are indeed slight when
compared with the proud consciousness of
having contributed to a tourishing per-
manency of Italian. English, and German
opera III the metropolis OF the United
States. and the general good accruing to
the musical public. on which Mr.. SrRA-
KoscH dwells with much eloquence.
Mr.. STRAKoscH and his brother MAX,
"backed by powerful financial associa-
ton" will pay 100000 annually TO the
stockholders, commencing one year after
the opening night, for period of twenty
years. In this manner one hundred shares
would be redeemed and cancelled every
year. Mr.. SrRAKoscH considers this plan
eminently feasible, and he has determined
TO try aud carry il out That it would be
an admirable arrangement for Mr.. STRA-
KoscH and his brother MAX, nobody will
deny. The former gentleman has already
taken the first step-a very inexpensive
one-in this matter, by securing the re-
fusal OF the block between Twenty-sixth
and Twenty-seventh streets, Madison and
Fourth avenues, the site OF the present
Glmore's Garden.
We would venture to suggest 10 Mr..
SrRAKoscH. in the very improbable event
a., -
out this imperial plan, that the site Oh osen
is not "A suitable one for IA grand opera
house. Madison avenue cannot be called
a great thoroughfare, and Fourth avenue
is too far east. Besides, the location is en-
tIrely too far down town. Ii would take
certainly two or three years To organize an
association, build the opera house, and
have il ready for use. In Ave years the
locality spoken of Will be not only no
longer central but actually down town. as
far as the great mass OF the residences of
those who would patronize opera IL con-
cerned Already the centre of the Eau
bourg ST. German of New York has been
removed from Murray Hill TO the neigh
borhood of Fifth avenue and Fif'y-seventh
street. Around this centre, extending
east, west, and north, are grouped the resi-
dences of our wealthy and well-to-do
classes. A million OF dollars, spent in
building n grand opera house on the site of
the present Gilmore's Garden, would be
bad investment, rs all sound real estate
men Will tell Mr.. STRAKosCH. II he and
his hackers. the powerful financial asso-
cation," think otherwise, let them put
their own money in the enterprise.
Mr.. STRAKosCH has every hope that the
wealth, intelligence, and culture oil New
York Will respond with enthusiasm TO his
appeal. We do not share Mr.. STRAKoscH's
hopes in this respect; and though he points
out that never before has plan been pre-
scented to the public for a purpose Of this
kind, in which the advantages TO the stock
holders were so manifest the risk so
,n1ing, and the encouragement to the di-
vine art SO great, we very much incline TO
believe that Mr.. STRAKosCH will be disap-
pointed in his expectations.