The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-12-26
usual difference for matinees Now such

uouai uttiVICtfNC tHatiHNVos AN0W cuN IL
charges seem exOrbitant, but are they
when the enormous size of either of these
companies are considered? And by
company | mean several relays of artists,
large chorusas, and orchestras embracing
any where from twenty five to sixty mu-
sicians. Then, consider the expense at
tached to heating such building as the
Academy of Music, the richness and
multip icity of the costumes required,
and last, but not least, the extent and
fine quality of the scenery and stage ma
chinery required, the same opera being
seldom presented more than twice, gem
orally but once.
People who are willing to pay such
enormous prices to secure seats of course
do not hesitate to indulge. in extrava-
gance in dress. The scene in this respect
that | witnessed last Thursday night in
New York when Mr.. Mapleson's COM
pany rendered Meyerbeer's "Dinorah,' .
was simply dazzling. Four-iifths of the
ladies were richly attired, fully at least
one-half being in full evening dress, viz,
light colored silks, many cut with short
sleeves; diamonds and laces in profusion.
Their male escorts were dressed accord
ingy, appearing in swallow-tail coats,
iow-cut vests and black pantaloons l
noted also that gloves were rarity
among the gentlemen, and many ladies
even dispensed with kids. l venture to
say that there was at least $250,O00 in
evening silks and jewels in that audi
ence, and these figures | believe to be
below the truth great way. And the
wearers were as lovely as their dresses,
though as sat there and surveyed the
scene Of beauty, youth and wealth before
me l could not help picturing to myself
the changes that twenty years would pro-
duce in that assemblage, and how seven
ty-five years hence every one in that no.
BILE and proud audience would be a ten
ant in very different raiment of the swim
dowless palace of rest"
Not very comfortable thought, per-
haps, but it does every one good now
and then to pause, reflect and lnorallze,
even while waiting for the curtain to
rise on Mile. Marie Marimon, Signor Gal
ASST, and our own renowned country
woman. Miss Annie Louise Gary, though
on the programme the plain, old-fash-
ioned Miss assumed the French garb OF
Madamoiselle.
Well, / have not space or time to crit
icise the production of "Dinorah:" in
deed, if | were to attempt TO indulge in
criticism, it would only be to praise
everything and everybody. Then, too,
in order to even things, would have to
speak of the other artists of the COM
pany, Sienor Campanini, Nine. Emile
Ambre, Herr Behrens, and Mile. Alwina
Valleria. Then, too, might be ex-
pected to treat with like care such fa-
nous members of the French Opera Com
pany as NJ. Capoul, Mile. Panla- Maria
and Mile. Angelo. Cincinnati will pos
siblv have an opportunity to hear some
of these people, and if SO she will enjoy
treat.
To the wealthy the "season" has been
a means of Willing away a good deal of
spare time in very satisfactory man
ner; to the poor it has proved source
of employment in demand for fine clothes
and various services. Generally speak
ing it has been a means of aesthetic cul-
ture. Shopkeepers have of course profit
ed by it, and the effect in a business
sense is therefore good, though the polit-
ical economist will doubtless argue that
too much capital has become tied UP or
gone to waste in rich toilets and costly
baubles. CRAs.