Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-10-25
WHAT Is WANTED IN WASHINGTON.
A New Music Hall and College of
Music.

A New Music Hall and College Of
Music.
Edition. iStar:-''To be or not to be- that Is the
question:" Whether the capitol of the nation
shall play cio,ino sec,ndo to other cities In mat
tiers OF art, or become the art center Of the Uni
ted States Two Of the trio Of fine arts-paint-
ing and sculpture-have already found q home
in our city through the munif1cence of our phil
anthropic citizen, the Hon. w. w. Corcoran, who
mas taken the tniative by building and purchas-
Ing temple of art, which has become one OF the
attractions of Washington. The other member
OF the trio-the divine art of music-has no per-
manent resting place In our midst. 1t therefore
remains for the wealthy residents and others
who take pride in the future greatness OF our
city to come forward with their means and as
slst In erecting building, to be dedicated to
music, that will not only be credit to Wash
lngton, but will supply want which has been
long 1eit, OF having permanent place where
me people can congregate, and at price of ad
mission that will enable all to enjoy the work OF
artists.
1t has been demonstrated that where the peo-
PIE are brought together under the refining in
fiuence OF music land where music forms a part
OF tne education OF the rising generation, there
VIII be found law abiding community; and ex-
classes who earn their daily bread ind In
muSic-when placed within their reach--a recre-
alton, iull OF innocent enjoyment and having a
tendency 10 renne and soften the aSperitieS of
our nature, as well as eXalt and purify the
minds.
MUSIC A HIGH-PRIcED LUXURY IN WASHINGTON,
AND WHY.
There are in our city a large number of gov
eminent clerks, as well as clerks in stores me-
chanicS and other artizans, many OF whom are
capable OF approaching the works of the great
masters, who cannot indulge in the luxury of
attending a tirst-class musical entertainment
with their families in consequence of the high
prices OF admission, and which managers are
obliged to charge, because the halls are not large
enough to accommodate an audience that will
pay at less prices The high salaries demanded
by the best artists, together with railroad and
hotel and many other expenses necessary to the
giving firSt-claSS entertainment, even at dol
lar admission and extra charge for reserved
seats, with a full house, would scarcely pay
manager for the trouble and anxiety Of taking
the risk.
THE COST OF CONCERT.
When state that the manager of Miss Emma
Thursby, who returns to this country next
her services as soloisG, and $1,000 for herself
and concert party for one concert, which. with
other necessary expenses, would Swell 1t to
81 AGO. the public will see that it is only the
wealthy who can enjoy the expensive luxury;
although in New York, Cincinnati, Chicago and
other cities, the same class of entertainments
The people, therefore, of this city cannoJ enjoy
these delightful and refining entertainments,
and which are as essential to the mind as is food
to the body; but are induced to visit entertain
ments which being within their means are not
always conducive TO the elevation of the mind.
These pleasures, therefore, should be as acceSSi-
Dlc W lle nul1DleSt as well as u1e DlgleSt, ana
to them, when placed within their reach, music
dispenses its best and greatest blessings.
There is in souls sympathy with sounds.
With melting airs Of martial III brisk or grsye.
Some chord, in unison with what We hear
Is tOu end within us, and the heart replies"
Many attempts have been made from time to
time, and suggestions offered, to have a large
building devoted to music and TerpSichOre, but
so far the efforts seem to have failed, whether
from the lukewarlnnesS of our wealthy citizens
or from the fact that those who have gone into
the matter found that there was not enough
money in 1t for the promoters OF the scheme;
and so dropped the matter Some have suggested
an opera house, few only have thought music
hall would be the thing, provided location
OF college Of music in connection with music
hall, something after the plan OF the cOnserra-
tories of the old wcrld or those of New York and
elsewhere.
why AN OPERA HOUSE WOULD NOT PAY
An opera house In washington would not be
good investment, and for many reasons. The
cost of an opera house that would be common
Sllrate with the future of Washington would not
be less than $500, 600. The stage alone, with the
parapheinalta and all the modern Improvements
and appliances, to give great scenic effects and
nearly one-third that sum. The auditorium
would have to be on a scale of magnificence,
certainly not inferior to those of New York or
other large cities and when 1t Is built would not
be used for the purpose intended more than
about six weeks during the season, and then
only systematically, or week at a time. Past
seasons have proved that this is about all the
opera Washington can support. And the in ereSt
for the money invested, where Is 1t? The stock
holders would expect, and perhaps demand
certain number OF seats, and this after time
they come to this city would prefer the Ma
ttonal Theater, where there are no stockholders.
and which, by the way, is large enough, and
will be for many years, to accommodate all who
can afford to pay the high prices Of admission
usually charged by operate managers. do not
remember to have seen the theater so full on
opera nights that there was no standing room.
1t is true, that an opera house might occasionally
be used by some migratory company, or possibly
by some celebrated dramatic artist, but this
would occur very seldom, because, In order TO
would necessarily be high and much more than
travelling companies could afford to pay. There
are now two theaters in the city, and doubt II
The managers or the companies occupying them
have paid much more than their expenses. An
opera house, therefore, as an investment mould
not pay, neither Is 1t a necessity. What Is most
needed is
LARGE MUSIC HALL
capable OF accommodating from $500 to 5000
people, and where firSt-claSS artists can be heard
to the e. best advantage by an appreelative audi
built at this time, or within year, at a cost Of
not more than $780, 900. This sum would also fur
nish sufficient accommodations for college Of
music In connection with the hail Feeling that
hall in which the grand and sublime oratOrloS,
as well as the classical and secular works of the
great masters can be given with the finest
taken the initiative in trying to create an tnvel
est with some of our wealthy and prominent
citizens, with view to the accomplishment OF
this most desirable result, and have been in ne
gOtiatiOn with the owners OF three eligible l0ca-
lions in the central part of the city to select
from, and Of sufficient dimensions on which to
erect a building suitable for the purpose named.
/ have, during the past three months secured
diagrams and plans OF some of the best halls in
the country, as well as plans of organizing and
properly conducting a college of Music" The
sources of income to be derived from a hall Of
this kind are various. Grand balls can be given
without limiting the number of tickets, as in
smaller halls. School concerts, promenade con-
certS, fairs and festivals large assemblies Of our
citizens for charitable and other purposes.
THE NEXT INAUGURATION BALL.
II finished in time, and many other entertain
ments and believe it could be used and rented
with profit and interest to the stockholders on
an average at least twice, If noJ three times
week during the year, and pay from to 10 per
cent. on the Investment. Another source of in
come would be the college of music, and al
though do not desire to say anything against
what are now termed Conservatives OF music In
Washington, still think that a school OF music
conducted upon the same plan as the conserva-
tories Of Italy, Germany and London, would
be very successful, and those who are now sent
to Europe to receive musical education, as well
as in the formation and cultivation of the voice,
whether for the Lyric stage or concert room, or
for instrumental performances, or those who de-
sire to cultivate the art as an elegant accom-
pliShment and refined and Intellectual paStime
find fhn ni1i town -inFr