New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-02-28
1f1NAGERS And CRITICS.


The managers of the opera company now per-
forming at the Academy of Music express great dis
pleasure at a criticism which appeared in The lRiB-
ryE last Tuesday morning; and to mark their dlsap-
probation with the more emphasis, they inform our
clerks that they shall not advertise their entertain
ment any moro in this paper. The following Is INC
article which provokes the celestial ire:
Waenel's "Die Fliegcnde Hollander," which WA
sung last night at the Academy or Music, was no,,
Of Mr. Blum, things seemed to have gone very wrong
with every member OF the tronne Mae; Psppenntthi;
who was the Scnfd whether 10 that she was out Oh
voice Of humor, developed capacity Tor singing
OF tune that was as SURPRISING III so cxce'lsh' an
artist as IL painful She sang carefully enough, anu
with no llck OF fire. and her acting WAS good, as u al
ways is; but there vas fatal ncapaclty ior srikg
The right notes that ruined almost everything ihh
SHE did This have been the result oi over WORK anu
fatigue for she has borne tne bn den Of tc sso 50
far and borne bravely; but 10 WIS none tho less very
unnei-ant 10 have 10 listen to. Mr.. Blum, who sang
yaaderdecke was excellent; he has iInproved greatly
since FRS sang this part. both ia acting ana Singing,
aud his performance last ngnt was smooth, cven am,
generally crcdtable MI Fr>ch, tho Er,E was a,icIea
with the prevailing epidemic or singing false, DuI III ths
respect, he could not compare with Mr.; Wegand'
the Daand THIS gentleman, tnGngh his nuo eS
able fairly outdid himself; his acquaintance with hs
part was evidently OF the ss'es, ana rnons note me
before Ire sang it, II matter or amazehent now rev
them rlsn when he did sing them. Tue chorus
wac not good and as IT, the Orchcslfa, IL inauaScu
to make the overture something very Ike a
huresque-and the rest OF It's work was to nstsh: 40
nmmncenent on the programme that it inc only
was by ne means a matter " regret
'L,hcnqrin VIII " repeated IN "Wednesday and the
hrst performance In this country OF NaShcFs hionAi
il announced FOR Friday night.
We reprint these remarks because they convey the
exact. unyarnished truth. Not only arc the scpa-
rate statements strictly true. but the tone of The ar
ticls also is just. 1t will DO observed that tine critic
has not directed his cenSures against points OF the
performance upon which there could be difference
Of tastes or intelligent opinions; he has eonlined
hiuse, TO pointng out positive faults OF execution;
and he could not have made his account OF the opera
more favorable without failing in his duty to the
public and his own conscience. The merits OF Nine.
pappcnheim and her companions have been cor
daily recognized by this paper from the outset the
deficiencies Of the company have been frankly
noticed also. The troupe contains some GOOD maze
rial. but il is lll-organzed and hali-drcd; and 1t
has Dcrpetrated certain musical enOrmies for hen
it can hardly lie blamed too severely.
The miserable condition to which tho lyric drama
has fallen in tins city in large part attributable to
the demoIalizng lenicncy shown by cood-naturrd
press and pubic TO nofiicency on the stage ana I'M
nudcnce in the managers room. Opera house, con-
cert room theatre, all alike have been invaded by
prrtcn,Ou. and unblubhng spectators, and because
the American public is tolerant and civil, they pre-
sme that il Is ignorant TOO. III seems 10 Us tHdt IL INC
prc,, has any regard for the advancement OF gcnu-
me art il il bound TO treat such people with whole
some severity. Criticism they cannot endure. a
n statement of the truth they endure just "A lit
tie They resent both as Interference with their
trade aud they look upon frank and unpreJudiced
newspaper as q personal enemy.
We do not intend TO apply these remarks to the
imprcsarlo of the Pappenhcim and Adams Company
We do not even know who that person Is; but we
could mention more than ono theatrical manager
who In, threatened THE TRIBUNE with the loss OF
advertisements If il did not stop telling the truth
and we think it would puzzle anybody to ma 4
manager who ever gained anything by such pro-
c.rd,uc. Reputable directors Of public amuscincnts
49,. .......I --sIi t". .I--ort-,"- 10 ,Hnplo
matter Of business quito profitable to one side as
the other. They must put their announcements
where they wish them 10 be seen ; the paper gives
them Just what they buy and they have no right to
expect nay reputable managers donOt expect. that
transaction of this kind wlll modify, i'll the 81 gest
degree. the expression OF critics opinion. At
various times a good many showmen, of one kind
and another. have taken their advertisements ont
of InE TRIBUNE because they did not like its crti-
csmsand could not make uso of its critics. Probably
they wcro right. If they did not give such an enter
tainment "a the readers of The TRIBUNE would
care To See il was plainly waste of money to put
thor announcements in these valuable columns.