Year: 1869

Italian Opera in Now York.


All attempts Of the old Academy clique, the
old, wornout artists and the associated Bohe-
utterly tail. The season, SO called, which has
just closed has proved failure, like the others
that preceded it for some years past Had it
not been for Miss Kellogg the doors of the
Academy would have been closed after the
first night or two. She alone kept the opera
on its legs even for the short period Of its ex-
istence. In fact, the way in which Italian
opera has been presented here during several
years past has been an insult to the New York
public. The artists have been second or third
rate, and in the great capitals of Europe they
would be regarded scarcely fit to belong to the
usual stock companies. In the absence
of q good company in this country
the ancient manager of the Academy
thought he could compose one Of the drifting
odds and ends of unemployed artists that
might answer for while. He thought that by
swinging round all over the country and not
staying long enough in any one place to dis
gust the public overmuch, and by the aid Of
the crowd of Bohemians whom he subsidies
with lager beer and free tickets, he could sue
ceed for a time. But the American people
cannot be humbugged in that way any longer.
They demand fresh artists, high order Of
talent and good management. Our people
cannot live upon the past. In this age and
country whatever is not advancing and i'm
proving must die; and it is because italian
opera is in this condition that it cannot exist.
Indeed, it has declined from what it was for
merly and is no more worthy of the name.


We see occasionally spasmodic efforts with
other managers or would-be managers to
revive italian opera, but they fail, too, for the
want of the right materials, means or know
ledge of the business. And we hear now that
the ambitious Fisk is about to try his hand
and bring out ''Lurline." The aspiring flights
Of this gentleman are as amusing as they are
sensational Like Alexander the Great,
he sighs for more worlds to conquer.
Having conquered several railroads and
any number of railroad jobbers, crowds
of Wall street stock gamblers, opera
Joufs, comedy and burlesque at Brougham's,
together with pretty actresses and fascinating
danseuses enough to make large harem, he
aspires to capture Italian opera and all the
prime dcnae. Nothing short of putting the
theatres and theatrical world under his feet,
as well as the railroad and Wall street specu-
lators, will satisfy his ambition. He is a man
of most unbounded stomach. Seriously, we
think his friends should place guardians over
him, or be may in his extraordinary flights 60
up in a balloon.


But to return to Italian opera, why do not
such excellent managers as Grau and Strakosch
join together and give us something worthy
the name of opera2 They understand the
business and are full Of energy and enterprise.
Each has been successful and both together
would carry everything before them. Mr..
Grau win succeed for a time, no doubt, with
the splendid new op6ra bouDe, ''La Vie
Parisienne,' which will be presented on Easter
Monday for the first time; but opera bo,.fS
will not always take and has nearly run
through its career in this country. The
great want now is italian opera, with first
rate artists and good management The peo-
pie are ready for ii. Mr.. Grau Is the man to
bring about revival of this highest order Of
amusement and Of the public taste. Let him
unite with Strakosch and bring out the finest
singers and performers from Europe, with the
best talent that can be found here. The
American people never fail to sustain and pay
well for what is really good, and Grau and
Strakosch can, If they viii, revive and estab-
lish Italian opera in this country, with profit
| to themselves. 1t can never be revived under
the old Academy rsgime nor can it be run by
Fisk's Erie locomotives. 1t can only succeed
under some such experienced and skiliul
management as we have mentioned