New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-01
THE NEW OPERA CONIQUE.
FEATURES OF THE NEW HOME OF THE
FRENCH MUSICAL INSTITUTION.

Paris correspondence OF The London Post
The opening Of the new opera Comique is to
take place at last after delays and postpone
ments which for many years have been 4 stand
ing joke with Parisi1ns. II seemed for long
time as IL the building which is to replace the
theatre whose burning was so terrible q dis
aste- would never be finished. SO slow was the
progress made The. structure. however. is now
completed, and IL will be opened on Wednesday
with considerable p0mp and ceremony. Some
description Of the new theatre on the eve Of its
opening may be Of interest.
The present opera COmique has been designed
by NJ Louis I3ernier. Its dimensions are some
what small, but II Is generally held that the
arc Infect has made good possible
OF the space at his disposal The stage Is fairly
spacious. il being exactly the same size as
that II the Odeon. which is larg. as Partisan
stages go. The auditorium. agreeably decorated
in white and gold, might have contained more
seats than II does If the architect mindful OF
the catastrophe that befel its predecessor had
not devoted exceptional amount Of space 10
the exits and passages. Indeed. TIE new Opera
Comique is probably the safest theatre in eX-
istence: the audience can leave the building IN
an incredibly short time. Even the seemingly
Indispensable contr6le the sort Of counter at
which ne tickets are taken. that blocks the on o.
trance 10 every theatre In Paris, has been rele-
gated % side corner so az 10 leave the main
staircase a fine marble structure, entirely free
Room has been found for only two hundred
orchestra stalls. but ii may be doubted whether
these seats Will prove 10 be the best III the
house. = description that VIII rather apply 10
the balcony stalls and boxes. whence the view
Of the stage is really perfect The fact that
none Of the boxes not even the Presidential
bOx is provided with ante-room has provoked
some criticism The orchestra is beneath the
level Of the hall and some Of the musicians Will
he under the stage. The acoustic properties or
the theatre so far they have been tried az
present have given the utmost satisfaction II
is said that every note OF the music can be
heard from even the most distant seats. Inc
artists also express themselves satisfied. stat
ing that they can make themselves heard with
a minimum OF effort
NJ Albert Care, the manager or the opera
Cornique is understood to be even better pleased
with the arrangements behind the scenes than
with those In front of the house and on the
stage itself, where some difficulties are anticl-
pated in connection with the shifting Of the
scenes A feature Of the theatre that will prob
ably be popular is the smoking foyer, a me
roomy hall. provided with three immense WIN
dows opening on Rue FavarL
A number OF well-known artists have cor
tributed TO the decoration OF the building Gut
side are placed two marble statues represent.
inc Music and Poetry the work respectively or
NM Puech and Guilbert while Immediately on
entering statue OF Thought by Michel catches
The eve On the walls OF the principal stair
case are compositions by Luc-Olvier Mersoh'
Toudouze Collin and Flameng. The most I'M
portant paintings. however are those WIN
which NJ BENJAMIN Constant has adorned the
crnoia. Poetry. Symphony and Song are de-
rIcted lowering amid the clouds. and around
them are grouped the masterpieces or comic
.onera Manon. Carmen Mireille, and their TEL
iouus Great attention has been paid. too, 70 the
sacoration of the foyer, and with excellent re-