Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-09-26
THE NEW YORK METROPOLITAN
OPERA HOUSE.
A Magnificent BuildtnE-Thc AuditOFt.
, nm Larger than La Scala ae Milan
!t Opens October 32 with Nelson In
Faust,

20 e"0 oioSh VI pIOpeIty OOunOeu ny bfOauWay,
59tn 10th streets and Seventh avenue. and occu-
pies the whole OF the square, being 200 feet on
Seventh avenue It is built in the Italian renais-
sance style. Of yellow BRICK terra Gotta and iron
and presents to the eye an imposing appearance.
its architectural plan the endeavor has been to
secure absolute fire-proof protection, the great
est convenience and the most ample facilities
for the production Of modern works Of art and
lor the safety and accommodation of its patrons
These considerations, rather than exterior beauty
OF detail, have influenced the architects, and
they have avalled themselves Of every scientific
Improvement In the construction Of the latest
opera houses in Europe, having personally ex-
amined one and all before preparing their own
design. The result has been the erection of a
structure, which, it Is believed, combines more
OF the desiderata Of a secure and elegant opera
house than can be found anywhere in the world.
In Its general arrangement the new house is
divided into audience room proper, with its
three grand entrances cloak rooms, foyers, ves-
tbues. ball room, supper room, kitchen and
corrdOrs;dwith stage division proper cut off by
massive prOscenium wall, and divided into
stage. dressing rooms, orchestra rooms, ballet
and chorus rooms; paint rooms, carpenter shop
and property room, with special aud ample en-
frances elevators. etc.
The stage is rs feet deep from footlights to
ample space for the setting of the most elabor-
ate OF modern spectacles and the representation Of
the largest ensemble with ballet and chorOus
The audience room has a seating capacity Of
three thousand and sixty-four, and some idea Of
the magnitude may be formed when it Ia stated
that the Grand Opera House. Paris, has capac-
ity only of 2. 1856
In the disposition Of the three tiers of boxes.
which reach entirely round the horseshoe curve
convenience. point OF view, and acoustic effect
lu at 1in6
known respectively as the parterre. first and
second tier. and the first two are the property of
the stockholders Of the Opera House Company
Twelve BaignOlre boxes. under the parterre and
adjoining the stage are at the disposition of the
manager. All the stockholders and other boxes
are so arranged that the even numbers are on one
side or the house and the odd on the other and on
as there are ground entrances, both on 39th and
10th streets, with spacious crush rooms, cloak
rooms, port cOchere, etc. the confusion and
labor of reaching their places is then reduced to
a minimum for the patrons.
In the construction of the house the first con-
slderatlOn was to secure absolute comfort and
perfect safety. In obtaining the first the last
has not been overlooked. The material of which
the opera house Is built is on-combustibe. The
boxes themselves are of iron. with concrete
noOrs. and to each one is attached dressing
room. constructed of the same material. The
sfair-cases are wholly Of brick, iron aud cement,
and the numerous exits are ample and non in
flammable.
In addition to this, the most improved safety
appliances tor flooding the stage have been put
IN and it Is said that the directors of the Berlin
Opera House zone of the finest structures in the
World) have acknowledged that the new Metro
politan Opera House, in point Of safety and con-
venience. is superior to any public building they
have.
In the disposition of dresslng-ro offices,
s'noking-rooms. cafe and cioak-rooms. it is be-
lieved that public use will demonstrate the sim
plicify Comfort and security of the arrangement
The auditorium is five feet longer and three
feet wider than that OF the far-famed La Scala in
Milan. The capacity Of the parquette is GOO;
basnore boxes, u; parterre, PIG; first tier 222;
second tier. 22l; balcony. 75O gallery, $50.
In the decoration OF the house artistic elegance
has been the only object. The general tone of
color Is old gold and crimson. with hangings and
upholstery to match. The curtaining is of silk,
manufactured expressly for the house, In special
designs and color, all made in this country at
the Cheney Mills. Connecticut
Inc prOscen!um arch, which presents the ap-
pearance OF rich frame to the stage opening. is
handsomely and chastey embeshed with works
OF art by Francis Lathrop and Francis MAYNARD.
and enriched with panels in which are apprO-
pirate musical designs.
The orchestra. capable Of accommodating $50
musicians. Is built In the shape of reverberating
arch, tOOred over. and it is belived that the
most perfect acoustic effects will be attained by
the relation Of the audience room tones to the
stage and orchestra
In throwing open this temple to the liberal
patrons in New York. the management feel az
sured that science and art and good taste have
done all that is possible to provide secure and
permanent, no less than an elegant, abode for the
best music. equipping it with every appliance
that Is necessary to present the master works of
the great composers as they have never yet been
presented In the metropolis Of America. With
these unexampled advantages the weight of re-
sponsibilty Is maniestly increased and it be-
comes matter of PRIDE no less than of duty, to
make the performances In every way worthy Of
the house and the liberal patrons who have
erected It.