The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-08-05

Under monarchy or republic IL has always held lis
&C., anu composers like Kesslnl Beilini ana Doui-
setti, were among its principal memoers. WIN the
departure OF these artists and OF the
society secured by them the prestige OF the Sale len
tsdour vanished. Besides this. the building OF the
Grand National French Academy OF Music, whieh Is
gwen rent tree with the suoveution Of 1000, 900
francs per AMMAN, 10 Mr.. Aaisnzer. has proved loo
much tor the old italian theatre, without first rate
ton Of 100. coo francs The present subven,ion
10 the Italian opera Is only one-tenth of that
II proof that the government Of tho Republic de.
rigid enforce ment OF homo art II Is kind Of
tarin against foreign Importation"
NATIONAL OPERA MOST CALCULATED TO THRIVE.
do not national operas, such as the Freach in
France ana German In Germany thrive better than
the Italian and are they not only seli-susaining
often remunerativefn
'In my judgment, yes; and for the reason that the
home artist Is usually good II not better than the
imported Que. Music h made more accessible 10 ali
classes OF society," and being In the national anguag
Is more easily Understood Doubtless tho same re.
mark would Apply TO America. Yet there Is such an
absence OF encouragement TO native talent here that
LOOK ior Iit.e ,ameda.e developments in that quarter
tastc?"
respect tor N, don't sec why tho same genius IN
music that YOU have In engineering ana mech
should not bo represented in that department Of lie
which Is sentimental aud refined. AS nation the
Americans are lord OF music; appreciate that which
Is oeautiiu though Not always understooa aud seem
To b" content TO follow IN The direction oil the great
masters At :he same time II is unqucsionaby true
thatm1ch Of the sweetest music which catches the
popular ear ana would be attractive ell over the world
has produced an educational inusnce upon the puoc
mind. must confess that myself have weakness
Tor many OF your Am erican airs, we'll under
stand The enthusiasm which ther performances
eyokes."
THE APPROACHING OPERA SEASON.
''Compaung iorm,r opera COMPANIES with those
which have followed, what DO you think are tho pros
poets OF the coming season 7"
Il don't know who Mr. Mapleson will bring TO this
country, but believe IRON what know Of the man
that he viii satisfy the expectations OF the puoc.
hat hnyA hnA .star
my direction Sontag, Bosio, Lagrange, stephan
oni, Medori, Lucoa SAW, Bsttni, Radia, konconi,
MursIu aud other people. Under the direcl,on OF
StrakoAch have been Nilsson, AlDan. Campanini Ca
pOui, Maurei and Others well calculated 10 excel
Illustrating Inc character OF laiian music. do not
b. eve that IL viii he possible tor any inagcr even
10 rival in point OF excellence the character OF The
artists who then constituted The charm OF Italian
opera. l doubt very much whether We shall ever
have in THIS country anything better than that which
has been already presented ny u.s."
BOLD OPINION.
40 what cause. them you ascribe the failures 30
often occurring in connection with Italian opera ut
The Academy Of Musicf
'lt may not be an agreeable expression OF opinion,
but 1t Is one which have often used IN conversation
with friends that the result Is certainly due
Tho presence oil stockholders at the Acaucmy Their
presence does not SO much hurt the manager their
well dressed lush ionaoio aeadhs eds We used 10 get
along. with variable success, at the Academy even
wuilo some OF the CARRIER boards OF directors
were In power, but since inc election Of Mr..
The stockholders have been greatly sacrificed Tor
the purpose OF making name and money Tor his pro-
leg6s. OF whom Mss Clara Louise Kellogg Is the chief.
tho organ zaton has been notorously run In the
.erests oil small class OF people, WHO Imagined
they represented tho public OF New York, Tor pur-
poses Of seliargrand cement or " secure avor Tor
social iavorita& don't believe you Will care to pub
lisn this frank statement but am very tree to say
that with certain men absent tho board OF d.
rec,on IN the Academy Of Music, who had
their own hobbies 70 ride,A :he place would
have been far more profitable, aud inc
nav mann M WnuId nnLn uva haa0 tnrca
seek The operation of Mr. hapleson to build up
tneir interest on what they conceive to be new
I'm glad OF the change that has resulted the
movai OF CERTAIN parties who mad al heart only the
advancement oil their tavortes NOBODY knows the
difficulties which Mi. Strakosch and my sell been
oDgcd to encounter antagonZing the influence VI
control OF QUO or two gentlemen connected with tho
Old management Ifinc lilac tacrimde.' nm
very glad for tho sake OF The opera in
New YORK that the board OF directors, hay
Ing undergone revision, have deemed 1t
visable mako great coucssssons " MI Mapiesou.
] hope II mol too late; but II similar concessions
haa been made tive years ago. believe INC whom say
that would have been int eruption OF reg
uiar operate seasons IN New York."
1.l OPERA ALL THE YEAR ROUND. Ill
'ln your judgment, eau New York maintain opera
MI the year roundY"
with other cities, undoubtedly SO. A three months
here under proper conditions and by removing
are enough Oh the large cities oil the seaboard und In
ierior to Keep goou compapy employ cd at least
u
rnancnt instit ution OF the United States.n
do you consider tnat me taste Tor and disposition
to paronize Italian opera arc less developed IN the
United states tnan IN Eu.ope?o
Ht HAVE WE AZ oPExATic TAsrKY 81
''That the American Disposition 10 paIronizo opera
s equal 10 that o Europe have little doubt, out the
equality OF taste PR Sc Is different thing The great
musical cuitu,e IN this country Of
III New YorK because Of Ihc essentially cosmoponian
character of The metropolis You 1ud here the repre-
seutalves OF every nation and every grade
ION md emsnt-a iscl winch alone makes II IN.
In tienv llull e a \ew Yuf
bic. The Lext CITY 1 would select Is Ne@ Orleans,
and then i would embrace Boston. BALTIMORE. Cin-
cipnali aud Chicago, In truth the entire West
Is becoming more aud more crucial But this act
suppose largely due to the strong infusion OF the
foreign element Again, remember that tue Italian
opera IN the United States IS All exotic plant Only
those who convervatorIes can Afford 10 support
H. IL Is likewise sensitive You cannot make palm
trees grow among glaciers America produces superb
peaches but she must pay outsiders Tor pnea0ples.
Coming back, however, 10 the question OF musical
taste, must be educated by degrees Ii Is useless
TO attempt at the beginning TO iorco peculiar
kind OF music that appeals only TO The
merely intellectual part OF nature. Inc masses
Who support the opera IRON a love OF Il, mus. nave
something warm, sympathetic aud with soul.
Take, Tor instance, The novels OF Dickens and the
Cosmos OF humboldt. No one Will dony that both
are the works OF genius but what ds rcncc exists
between the twol rue first have gone INTO every
household, wh,ie the other 10 comparatively Known
TO few. Apply the illustration. You neither
pJpulafize literature nor music without first touching
the ncart. This, thnk, answers your question
ctrnug the differences between American and
European taste for the opera and It's Relationship to
the success OIL TIE opera IN Amertct The music Of
the people Is Tho parapbrasing OF Certain sentIsnts
Into melody. Mere harmony is tue skoielon without
n soul VINO bat your purely intcilcctua being wants
only thaiy suppose shaii he excof lated tor saying
such bold things out ihey are para OF my gospel
ornRg CAUSES OF FAILURE
"Do You recall any otIcr causes Tor lapse OF inter
est In opera IN this countryY"
ayes. There has been loss of individuality.
When / came to tie United states I found Great
many people, both IN the North and South,
IDENTIFY patronIzed the OPERA and Tor It's support spent
their means aoun iantiy. But this class have been
largely reduced IN numbers ana wealth, and their
piaces are supplied by others. Your soapfat ana
sboddyite bavs DecUme the aristocraf and their
instincts carey them to the theatre In
ercnce 10 the Academy OF Music You Will
marx the curious TACT that variety shows did
not generally exist before tho war They
sprang up curing tho struggle, and are
ply the outgfowth ol plenty Of money aud
bad taste In Isrmcr times the Icopie enjoyed DOM
zcui, Verdi, Bellini aud operas like Norma, son
nambuIa, LUCIA Lucreza Borgia, .ErnanL'
'Ir0vatore &C. Tho merit vi tho music Is Ike a
pudiing-it depends on the eating and witbout gong
into the question OF merit Will ouly remark that II
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