The Daily Dispatch

OPERA DIFFICULTIES.—The Academy of Music, under the management of Ole Bull, in New York, has been closed. There are several stories relative to the cause of the difficulty, but the following is given by a correspondent of the Philadelphia Ledger, as the truth of the matter:

Vestvali, the contralto, was announced to sing in an extra concert entertainment, on Saturday evening, but she failed to appear on the boards. The triple partnership of Ole Bull, Max Maretzek and Strakosch, included also, it appears, the wives of the two latter, and herein was the source of the whole squabble.

Mesdames Maretzek and Strakosch were to monopolize and regain their lost spheres as prima donna and contralto, as their lords held the places of conductor and impresario. This arrangement, however, did not work. The public wanted new singers from the impresario abroad, (Strakosch,) but none were forthcoming, so Ole Bull undertook to engage the Vestvali, on his own responsibility.

Now, the gossips say, that no sooner was Vestvali engaged, than the other ladies caballed against her, and resolved to overthrow or oust her. A general civil war in the whole troupe followed. Vestvali thinking herself slighted, if not insulted in a variety of ways, refused to sing at the Saturday concert, and hence the "smash up."

All the artistes engaged at the Academy were discharged this morning—the most of them unpaid. But a card from the management states that all just claims against the concern will, in due time, be honored.

The company held an "indignation meeting" on Monday afternoon, and passed resolutions denouncing Ole Bull in strong terms. Meantime, it is supposed the stalwart Norwegian, having failed in his effort to establish the opera in New York, will betake himself to the rural shades of his Pennsylvania colony, where he can find solace in the solos of his magic violin.