The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-12-21
THE OPERA.
A Brief Sketch of its Course in New Or.
loans from 1910 to 1860.


States Tint over sustained regular opera
hor people curly acquired II reputation for
musical discrimination aud aesthetic culture
that have given such value to her Judgment
in matters relating tn music and the drama.
Long heforo Loui9Ann ceased 10 be d Terri
tory, thoatrca were in n ilpulishiug condition
here, and among the audiences that patron
lznd Them were many who had witnessed
som" Of the finest representations on the Eu-
ropean stage
In the Cptaier newspaper, Of date Wcdnes
day March II, 1910, mention Ii made Of the
rendition ut II public concert Of the overture OF
Denorphon, with y full orchestra. ON the
occasion 81 the uuveiling Of Westinghouse
statue 1T the st. Philip Fheatre. on IulyA Of
tho Same yenr. u programme was presented
combating Of EeynaadS comedy. I4ea FoIiea
Amoreuaca. and American Independence, IL
pnntotnimo In two nets The first representa-
tIons Of L'AvenRle ClhIrvoyant, u ono-act
comedy. In FatIsso Magic and Romeo mud
Juliet, oprraa. were given during this year.
On the frat OF Discomfort, 1910, j. Tficou, A.
Bonnny and A, Guibert. duly appointed com
miseioncrs sold the "Rtngo movhbes OF the
ST. Peter Street Theatre, consisting Of seen
cry, dresses md decorations, musical and
dramaticaI productions" otto. Mt public auc-
tlon one Of tho s'ipnlatIons of the sale was
TINT the nctors Hhoad bo allowed to llBp gra-
tuitonsly for thoir benefits III said theatre
everything that might bo wanting of the ar
tIcle5 sold Tho ST. Philip Theatre was II
nonr ncighbor Of the st. Peter and was de
voted to tho representation Of similar works
comedies md Hight operas. These perform
nnceB were rendered IN tho French language,
M Il WIS not until the year tSI7 that II regu-
mr. English company played In the former
thcatre for the first time In New Orleans Tho
favorite composers In those days We're Gritry.
most popular names among tho artists were
Nj Hes FIcury. soprano Lnurette and Li8e.
and MN. elliot, tenor, Fontalnc, Kprhcfort
and Ernest. Tho two theatres kept open
throughout the-summer but were closed dur
ing rehcnranla. 80 that public representations
were given Mt very irregular intervals, rang
ing from one To three times u week
At tho conclusion OF the series of benefits
given at tho st. Peter Theatre by It's attaches,
the theatre Lost Ill prestige, and was srrron-
derea to the votltif3 OF dancing and ghul-
tlli
'.',,iIn. nnnol Tho nrnt'tnntt aptnraI.
a,,nd Il md inir,tn,t thri, r,rrna win those
~ no u th1IIn fGrncd q trn,1nn nf more
strength than any that had yetnpprared The
fhmn enjoyed by this Theatre was eeItpsrd In
,a mi, ~ - cntn,,n9, ar .,sntInt.nn ire
sided over by Paul lanuSSe. 1t cost $4,000,
and Was regarded rs marvel Of grandeur
and architectural mARnitteeucn. Tho new
theatre mnnopollHod tn" pHtronage OF theatre
,r,,er. until its drlrrtt't, ~, i}IF, il, tho win
~, r ~ tG In O,t,I,n,. III tl,t, lattrr ,,tn,.
me 81 phiIin onrned nuoin win nearly MI
the ,nrrnbrrs Of IL old company
In Niy,,I,har az tn, ma ,,,,,r I,I,n no,yi.,
nranrintor eff In. old Tinted Stntca Rratat,3
RAM on Bayou Sc. John, VINO had arnn.4pd n
hantfaome fortune in his bu4lncs4 ia4,,rd q
circular to the former tockholcrrf, ef the do
funci Orleans Theatre, Offering TO construct a
new thnotre on tho ruins Of the Old one. man-
nye II himself for five yoare and then turn IL
over To the cnmpnnv. He declared TIM, his
object IN making the offer was 10 build u first
class opera house engage none bnt capahle
! and w,Il-known singers from Paris. ana to
keen open throughout tho season Tho only
onnrn ON the continent DnvIg' ofrcr was
gladly ACCENTED nnl on Wednesday, evening
November ~ 1910 the Now Dreams Theatre
| threy omen ita doors for n benefit 10 John
| Davis with the TolIowing hill. Ia Viclliard
| dos Yosyes and Lea Mnri3 (iArcang. The
/ troune engaged for this season was brought
! over from Paris nv Davis ON thc shin Union.
and consisted of Miles Pauline and FiMlry,
/ Mime Cher.t nnd NM. Almna Gherct and
1 Notairn These arti.tg were not regarded
yery favorably by the public; the prima
! donna wue v4rv severely critIriaad and MI
vised /" Al; assume less inportant roles. The
/ Olympic ana ST. Phifip Theatres were forced
! To close their doors on account Of lack OF
patronage, md tine lending performers sou9ht
and secured engagements under Davis. The
/ latter named thnatre= gave one nrrfortnance
In 1916 Minon chrz " me- SrViyna.
The Orleans Theatre wn oorned but two
nights in each week. on SrnllaTg md Thurs-
dnps Ihe same .frE..oY works that Md dis
tinp,lished it3 prerirce3sors we're continued,
together With several OF Auber's operas.
Paul a. Vjrpinie In Eaine de tioIcondc
Barbe Blcue and the Barniero % Seville mad
ben presented 10 to 1872 at this theatre
| Tho iast-naned yHrk fell dead ON the bubble
and was wth5rn after IT, ennond renra-
semtatiou,
On December u. 1921 the American Thea
ire. nov Arnory lIalI un,Ier James II. Odd
we'll. onened in am unlInish'I state In oppo-
sltion Il, ,Iahn Davia n wts cnnn1nted Ian
unrv1 182t
In 1879 Davis and his trounn fell ont ON the