The New York herald., 1877-01-16
THE NEW OPERA HOUSE.


HOME OF MUSIC WORTHY OF THE GREAT
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS SWEET SINGERS MAI
wARBLE IN A PALATIAL CAGE--ADsoLuTELY
FIREPRooF.
The plans Tor this grand structure have been com.
pletcd during the past week by Mr.. Arthur Gilman,
tho architect and 1t is Understood that they VIII be
submitted for proximate estimates OF cost at an early
date. The exterior dimensions are 200 feet and IL
inches In length by lbs leet in width, exclusive Of the
projection Of porco and the angle towers contain.
ing the upper starcasos which project Is feet in add
ton The total width thus increased to lao feet.
The height OF the walls 10 tho top OF the cornice will
be so above the grade of the pavement The style
chosen for the exterior is the Italian renaissance,
with its noble shadows and deep and bold projections,
and II carried according 10 the intention OF the
designer will have no superior in the country for
breadth and dignity OF effect
It's with the interior, however, that the operagoing
public will naturally have the grcacst concern. IL has
been tho intention of Mr. strakosch supervising tine
drawings during their progress, TO provde Tor lyric
theatre OF the first class, and have all the dnen.
SONS and appointments fall IN respect behind the
most admired structures OF the ktnd 10 modern
Europe With this view the general lines OF tho audi.
torium have been laid upon the precise idea and
dimensions OF those OF La Scala at Milan, OF which
says Ferguson tHisory OF Modern Architecture.
page ASH sThey generally admttcd 10 DO the best
arranged, both for hearing and seeing, OF
all The great lyric theatres OF I.aIy." The
depth from the curtain tho back of the
boxes is los feet the width across the boxes, from
back to back 81 ieet aud the height Of ceiling
the orchestra stalls G5 ieet In addition to this the
width OF the Is 5O feet an the depth o the
stage from the tootghs 10 the rear wall is 81 iect
The auditorium is surrounded by i've tiers
OF boxes, each tier having double row Of
boxes separated by passageway OF ample mensions'
THIS box passage Is intended 10 communicate with
the front row Of boxes only which 'open boxes,"
equivalent the French ''balcon, and each ve
feet in width by feet in dcptn intended for four
persons each The back row, oi the same general di-
mems ons, open outwardy direct 10 the obbes, which
are twelve feet width on each floor. There are
eighty boxes each tier, similar extent and height,
and very nearly IN design; simplicity o arrange-
men also initiated from It's Italian prototype, to give
degree Of grandeur 10 tho internal appear
ance OF the building and to prOuce "a certain monu.
mental class IN which theatres are gem
orally dcicenLn Ferguss says ''the auditorium Of
the Scala unsurpassed by any other theatre oil mod.
ern Europe" In view Of the admitted per-
ton II has seemed useless both to the manager
and to Tho architect 70 Try any novel ana
! uncertain and expensive AS an undertaking, merely
for the poor praise OF 'orginay,' the banc OF 200
many such projects the past. Where shot Is
known have gone through the buil's-eye 1t IS no
drawback to the who would secure an equal score
same hole. In tho OF the upper tier oil boxes Is
the amphitheatrc with about 500 seats. and having
distinct light O! stone steps eading to II ten iee IN
| width The orchestra stalls Will nunber about $50
seats making, with tho acconin odation afforded by
the five tiers OF boxes, the actual number oil 5000
seats ~
Is intended to be of absolutely reprooi material The
enclosing walls OF the o0bes are of BRICK lad up ho-
low, and to be two feet eight inches thick. The
columns, floor beams frames Of boxes roof srders aud
all other parts oil the construction are oil non. the
ceiling OF the dome being oil zinc. supported
cvcrywhc by IRON tieroas depending from tue main
lattice grders ot the roof The circle OF the audi
torium the back Of the boxcs) Is intended to bc VI
the hollow nreproof block now coming into general
place o iurrcd partitions OF latin and plaster
| THIS II absolutely uniniammaDic irebrick OF
the best construction the loors are OF arched con-
crete laid between beams OF different sizes,
cording the locality length Of bearing required,
and covered on the upper SIDE with encaustic tiles
or with finer quality OF concrete finish differ
ent parts OF the house The floors or the boxes and
internal are of the same reproo blocks
above mentioned while the fronts OF the Jokes In all
the tiers OF elegant open work pattern oil cast
iron gilt and relieved with subdued color In short,
there is not particle OF any woodwork or any
material that viii either blaze Will hold q CON-
municabe re In the whole front portion of tue house,
with tho single exception OF the small so-
and even these will bc subjected the usual lreproof
process. IL Is Intended that every particle oi tho
scenery and appointments 0 the stage sha be treated
with the ireproof processes 70 well described IN
the admirable etter OF Mr. Bouccault In the HERALD
| OF the Sth inst
Looking next to the matter OF exit ways OF su.
prcme importance, we find iour large double doors,
each oil seven ec IN wiitn, IN tue rear o eacn TIER OF
boxes throughout, tho lobbes being everywhere
Twelve feet wide and communicating each tier with
two nam staircases of sore, each twelve iect in
width. There i've main doorways each nine ieet
wide, under The central portico covered driveway,
which Is intended to DC Iad with asphalt and kept
scrupuously clean all occasions that ladies
alghi and depart without tue slightest Inconvenience
IRON the weather from the condition oil the roadway
under loot Three doors OF similar dimensions
provided the transverse side, ard .rtics emerg
ing by these may DO similarly protected from
the weather by wide pcnt house
covering oi iron and glass; extended the sidewalk.
smaller additional staircase, six feet width, Is
provided at each OF the obbies the STAGE
Tor convenience IN passing IRON one tier OF
another, butcverywhero circular stairs (winders and
open wcholes, with baustrades, strictly avoided.
All the stairs have straight rum between Two solid
brick walls TO wide LANDING, ana return the other
side In tho same manner Thus, while every precau-
ton Is taken 10 prevent panic inside the theatre
every facility Is also accorded the amplest degree
possible Tor Immediate exrcss from tue building
The foyer measures 20 by so feet and Is equally fro
proof with the rest OF the 1t opens to
the level OF the exterior balcony OF the potco which
IL over the covered drive before mentioned and covers
area OF 10 by 16 feet at height oi 20 feet
ground. The centre OF the facade surmounted by
sitting statue OF Caopc, the tuteary Goddess OF Mu-
| her tho ra o the Gre