Theatres, while not strictly part of the musical life of the country, can hardly be separated from it because they were the home of ballad operas, and all musical stage representations. They were already in existence in New York, Boston, and Philadelphia before the beginning of the nineteenth century, but we find in 1807, the opening of "Le Théâtre St. Philippe" in New Orleans with Méhul's one-act opera, "Une Folie." This theatre being burned in 1817, a new one, "Le Théâtre d'Orléans," was built and opened in the following year. This theatre was the finest in the country at that time and was the home of opera for a number of years. The record of opera in New Orleans is incomplete, but it is well known that New Orleans was the home of French opera in America long before it became popular in other parts of the country. But America was gradually edging up to the time of grand opera. Singers were arriving from abroad and brought with them their ambitions. We find that an English version of Rossini's opera, "Il Barbiere," was given at the Park Theatre, New York City, in 1819, with Miss Leesugg as Rosina, and in 1823 an English version of Mozart's "Le Nozze di Figaro" was presented. Again in the early part of 1825, Weber's opera "Der Freyschütz" was presented, in English, at the Park Theatre, with Miss Kelly and Mrs. de Luce in the leading parts. Similar performances followed in other cities, and the country was thus gradually prepared for the real thing,--grand opera,--in its native language. While the record of items during the period 1800 to 1825 is not very long it still shows considerable progress. The people grew up in a country where there was little musical cultivation, where there were small communities, and where the struggle for existence had been the first consideration. They responded warmly to the efforts of the country singing teacher, the choral society promoter, and later to the producer of opera, and if history shows many failures, it may be pointed out that these failures could not have taken place if no effort had been made. Perhaps efforts in many cases were premature. Also there was much to learn in the management of masses of people. The virtues of a true democracy are nowhere more necessary than in a choral society. 1800. Bassoon used in Bethlehem, Pa. 1800. Dec. 23. First Annual Concert of the Philharmonic Society given at Tontine Hall, Broadway, New York City. 1801. Handel's "Messiah" given in the hall of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. 1802. "Harmonic Society" founded in Philadelphia. 1803. Benjamin Crehore of Milton, Mass., made the first pianoforte in New England. 1807. Massachusetts Musical Society formed in Boston for improving the mode of performing sacred music. Ceased to exist in 1820. 1807. "Le Théâtre St. Philippe" opened in New Orleans with a one-act opera by Méhul,--"Une Folie."