The sun., 1897-12-05
THE ASTORIA CONCERTS.
a NEW YORK SOCIAL NEED SUP
Piled IN 0OR0 EoUS STYLE.

sure. but Net Tee aueh-social Ends served.
There was conviction in the minds Of people
who worry about such matters that Now York
would this year feel very deeply the loss Of the
regular opera season. The opera gave IN external
ofilliancy to the winter which is provided by no
ether element Of the season. At the Metropol.
stan people of wealth and position wcne to bo
eeen In the boxes, and there was mildor sug.
Gestlon Of tho samo atmosphere in tho orchcs-
ira stalls. Not all OF them, possibly. were in
society. In tho most limited sense OF that word;
but at lenst they looked like society. Though
the persons who sat in one box might have TO
examine tho diagram on tho programme to dis.
cover tho names Of their neighbors, that feature
OF the situation did not impress itself in tho
least upon tho attention OF visitor who viewed
the scene and admired its fnc spectacular Of.
feet Thcrc wero beautiful gowns, costly jewels,
lovely and refined looking women, distinguished
men on every Sido. There were the faint odor Of
delicate perfumes. the sound of conversation In
the intcrmissions. ana the atmosphere of luxury.
fashion. and above all things wealth to an ex-
tent hardly to be found In any other country.
1t was all brilliant to tho spectator who
watched 1t from wholly disintercstcd point
OF view, even IL IL was not always society; and
Shere was about 1t enough Of novelty in the real
sense OF that word to satisfy the persons who
made up the composite picture. There wero
In 1t always representatives Of the highest
stratum OF tho society which is the most
exclusive in the largest city of the Now World,
and thcy recognized their own. enjoyed tho
propinquity OF their friends and viewed tho
rest with mild interest. They looked, super.
ciliously. possibly over the rest of tho brilliant
spectacle while they were gazed at with deep
and intense absorption. From tho orchestra
stalls, which cost $5 apiece from tho grand tier
and the balconies above. the interest of tho
audiences went out to that row of partcrre boxes
which contained in greater numbers than any
other place in tho United States tho persons
who make up what might be called society in
the highest estate.
1t was such meeting place as this where
people could see and be seen under comfortable
circumstances, that New York lost when its
regular season Of opera was omitted for tho
space of year, and only brief season was an
nouncod in place Of tho usual term Of sew
eral months. just the samo elements that
made up the old crowds with their brlliancy and
their display rendered necessary tho creation of
some substitute 1t is true that Walter Dam.
rosch Is coming with his opera company in
January; but New York could not exhibit itself
at the Horse Show and then 60 into retirement
for three months, or. for that matter, for ono
month. There had to be somo place which, like
the opera, would be readily available ut certain
times.
There was a beautiful place for this now dis
play. There was grand hotel, with glitter
ing new ballroom with predominating tones of
rod and gold to give background to the groups
that would be thrown into splendid relief Tho
place had been found; all that was needed was
the enterprise to gather society In that ball.
ro0m room. ha That was as soon ;S SIppied Music Of
fSshionabio as music No other T prete1t 's es1 sD
gather together persons who dress SO well and
In liza oh trntth htn IN hA Al2
,toes sometimes exert itself overwhelmingly. and
appreciate it in O very small degree feel that
thero is something about the art worth dressing
tbs up fST That hat Is result which no other art
theatre under the most favorable circumstances
could could never accomplish SO much. Fashion has
even women take of their hats to It. Surely no
So music, which had boen the most fashiona-
BILE OF all the arts in its form at tho opera was to
ballroom OF the Astoria was selected for q series
OF twelve concerts and certain number Of per-
soma were to be % asked to subscribe to them. This
to be INVITED to come in. and the liberal attl-
The luxury OF tho entertainment was to be tho
conspicuous feature OF the concerts. Not only
were the room and the decorations to be beautl
disposed that one could sit In as much comfort
as tho richest Of homes would allow, but, fur
tu0THOTos Inc MUSICAL features OF the pro-
gramme were to be made just as expensive.
There were enough subscribers at $50 for the
The audience At the first Concert realized what u
an unusual feature Of New York life the con.
certs would prove to be. Tho idea, indeed. was
There has been talk OF concerts-court concerts
AT Berlin. Vienna, and Munich. which arc
II they do take place on some such plan. they
are not nearly SO brilliant to look at. New York,
far in ADVANCE Of any Of these ciaies. e'i fhs
background OF q room IN palace might indeed
SS s aSg Hgd sRps sh:r T1 SsD
similar gathering hero would show. although
in Individual cases there have been as many
dominating feature Of the Astoria concerts is
makes tho audience at the Metropolitan i'r more
brilliant than any other in the world. so it lends
The plan OF the series was to mako the musical
features quite as rare and AZ expensive as other
s features Of the CO s9ncorss 1 t., To that end Anton
ninety mon. The soloists have been high priced.
Mme. Sembrich got 81, $50 for singing at tho
Plancon is also to sing there.
carpet is spread over the ballroom floor. The
conseryatories of the ballroom are open. At
sSs snd e s the
placed. Small gllded chairs as we'll as arm chairs
freedom that ono would have in private house.
No rows Of chairs stretch at regular intervals
across the red carpet. They are gathered In
groups, and whether It be the music that one
wants to hear or tho crowd that ono wants to
see. either of these purposes very readily be
served. The musical programmes arc rather
brief. Mr.. Seidl shows a tendency to mako them
shorter aB the season progresses. and, classical
As they are, there Is no tax on tho patience OF
anybody, Tho question has been whether the
the programme shortened. Mr.. Seidl decided to
make the n ami bors fewer. ana the audiences have
kind.
Short as the programmes are, there has been
left time enough for ono ceremony, which IL
2eopliarly feature OF these concerts, When
eAo intermission 10 reached, silent walters ap-
pear with Observation-Disclosures and Ice
eream-which they distribute TO such of the
audience may desire them. Ono 10 at liberty
TO accent or refuse the refreshments. but all OF
the features OF tho concerts are not DO much 9
matter OF ones own volition. Tho question oi
hats, Tor instance. 10 decided entirely by the
management. They have made the strict rule
that women shall not DO allowed to wear hats
At tho concerto. Hats may not be carried