The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-12-19
The Italian Opera season and the
Academy Bali.


The winter season Of Italian opera in
New York is now drawing to o close, accord
ing to the official announcement, and re-
view of its brief history shows that it has
not been fruitful of results which can be
considered as satisfactory either by the
manager or his patrons. The public ex-
pectation of the seasons brilliancy ran
high on reading the managerial bulletins,
but the realization of those hopes has not
followed the manager counted on scoring
great financial success on hearing of the
advance sales at the box Office, but the tide
Of public favor receded quickly after the
opening of the season. The cause and
effect have been no secret, the public
press quickly rejecting the popular
opinion. which ran counter to Mr.. Maple
sons Judgment in the value of some OF his
artists, and the frequency of small audi
ences plainly telling that Mr.. Mapleson
was not succeeding financially. 1t is late
in the day to discuss the difference of opin-
ion between the manager and his would-be
patrons, and it is an idle and valueless
work. The fact remains that the season
has not been one of profit, and word for
the future is worth ten on the past.
Whatever may have been the extent Of
Mr. Mapleson's artistic force heretofore it
is undoubtedly true that now, though un-
fortunately at the last hour, as it were, he
possesses a quintet of great strength.
Much Of the season has been wasted in
fruitless attempts to satisfy the popular
taste with the company as first organized,
and it is useless now, with but q fortnight
left, for him to attempt to retrieve the i'll
fortunes of the past two months. But as
the present company has received hearty
Endorsements from the patrons of the
Academy it would be wiser were the man
agement to arrange for few weeks extension
of the season. that advantage might be taken
of the turn of. the tide (which, taken at
the food, leads on to fortune" or at least
to comparative managerial success. The
public are by no means anxious to dis
courage Mr.. Mapleson. or any other oper-
attic manager Of standing, in an attempt to
permanently locate an Italian opera troupe
in New York
The strong desire on the part Of our most
influential citizens to assure the future sue
cess Of the musical season in this city is
reflected in the arrangements for a fund to
be devoted to that purpose now nearly COM
pleted by the directors of the Academy of
Music. A masked ball. the preparations
for which are on an unusually grand scale,
will be given at the Academy on the 5th of
next month. The committee which has
placed itself at the head of the undertak-
ing is composed Of our leading men-those
who are foremost in our social circles, and
who are known as the patrons of art and
science in the metropolis. The associa-
ton of these gentlemen with the affair
should secure its absolute social and fnan-
cial success, and their interest in the work
and the proposed application of the money
proceeds are intended to be both substan-
tial aid and hearty encouragement OF music.
The ball will probably be permanent in
stitution, and will create fund which, in
the hands of the directors, will aid the pro-
duction of the newest and best works and
their Interpretation by the ablest artists at
the Academy OF Music. This impetus given
to music by the Academy must inure di-
rectly or indirectly to the benefit of every
manager Of legitimate opera, and it indi-
Gates the interest of all our better classes in
any dignifed attempt to inaugurate an
Italian opera season here.
The public, the Academy stockholders,
the press, are oil willing to aid the un-
dertaking to the uttermost, but the stand
ard of excellence in this city is high
one, and the people will not patronize
inferior artists, no matter how distin-
guished may be the introduction they
have from abroad. American audiences
have had exceptionally good opportunities
in their concert halls and academies during
the past twenty years to hear the best
artists of the world, and, possessing strong
natural musical instincts, they have not
been slow to acquire good judgment in
musical matters and an ability to decide
promptly on the merits OF those who come
before them on the professional stage.
Superior merit will always be Immediately
recognized, and manager who will give
the people that which they desire-new
works of good class well inteYpreted-will
always find the people interested heart and
hand in his success.
The comparative apathy of the people
during the present operate season ought to
serve as lesson to all managers who
imagine that the good-natured American
public will willingly accept anything that
they may offer.
We would desire to see Mr.. Mapleson
s'put his best foot foremost during the re-
naming fortnight and follow it at once with
q supplementary season of two weeks more.
producing only those operas which are
popular and comparatively new. II the
artists of the company will also ably second
their managers efforts (and avoid draughts
and postpone ''indispositions') Mr.. Maple
son nnd the nublic should have good raaaon