The Sun.
London, England, 1863-09-04 00:00:00

Reminiscences of the Opera.

My earliest recollections of the opera are of the days
when Sontag was the madness of the hour—the Jenny Lind
of an aristocratic public. But these memories are vague.
Burningly vivid is the memory of Pasta, the unapproach-
able; she stands out, like Kean, Paganini, and Rachel,
among my artistic experiences, as something quite special
and unforgettable. Merely because he sang with her, I also
remember Curioni, who, I fear, was a stick. It is with
Grisi'a first season that my steady vision of the past begins :
and what a succession of triumphs were those seasons in
which she conquered and held her public, aided by Rubini,
Tamburini, and Lablache I Suffix me for a moment to call
up those vanished images with which so many readers must
connect enchanting memories. it was unfortunate for
Grisi's fame with the present generak ion that she continued
on the stage many years after the glory of her voice and
person had faded. She was to the last deservedly a great
attraction ; no one could rival her in her own parts; and
"old Grisi," as she was half affectionately called, proved
better wonh seeing and hearing than the younger rivals who
tried to wrest the sceptre from her. Nevertheless, it is only
those who heard her between the years 1834 and 1814 who
have a real conception of that matchless voice and superb
beauty which placed her above all the operatic heroines of
our time, 'I here have been finer singers and greater actresses,
but no one has been at once so beautiful and impassioned ;
no one has united her excellencies ; no one has been so
thoroughly satisfactory. Elvira, in "I Puritani," has since
been played by Persiani, Lind, and Bosio ; nevertheless the
opera has been a failure since Grisi ceased to play in it. The
part of Lucrezia Borgia was written for Caroline Ungher ;
saw her play it many times, and thought no one could
surpass her in it ; but when the opera was produced in Lou'
don, I confessed that the feverish passion of Ungher was
many degrees less admirable than the terribly beauty and
large style of Grisi. Norma, Donna Anna, Semiramide,
Nina, Norina—what visions they were 1 . . . Rubini, so
indelibly associated with her, was a marvellous singer,and,
until his failing voice made him resort to a provoking sr •
tern of alternate shout and whisper, no such tenor was to be
heard. But as an actor he was null. Ho had no idea of cos-

tume, and was often saved from being " a guy" only by his
unaffected bearing. He had neither grace nor energy;
moving about the stage with an indifference which was at
times exasperating, and which you may now see reproduced

in the dreary languor of Giuglini, without the compensa-
ting charms of voice and style. Rubini, in great moments,
made his voice act for him ; and I doubt whether Rachel
herself ever threw more intense expression into a passage
than Rubini threw into the curse in "Lucia." As I said,
he was a consummate singer, and in grand bursts of bra-
vura he carried us to the seventh heaven of rapture. Never-
theless, on the whole, I think Mario would have been pre-
ferred by most people, when Mario had learned to act, and
had not lost his delicious voice, He is undoubtedly the tenor

k 3 pair off with Grisi, for the rare union of qualities. So pie-

turesque, so handsome, so graceful a tenor, who is also so
admirable an actor, has not been seen; and if he could never
sing like Rubini, still one cannot imagine Rubini as
Raoul, John of Leyden, or Gennaro satisfying the public
which has seen Mario. Tamburini was a very handsome
man with a superb voice, and great power of florid execu-
tion. He was a capital favourite with the public, but I do
not recall him with the same fervour as the others. Rio
acting was animated and respectable, never above the line.
In Assur and Fernando he was very fine. In Don Juan he
was rather vulgar, and in Figaro fussy, not funny. Tho
acting of Ronconi as far transcended the acting of Tam'
burini, as the singing of Tamburini transcended the singing
of Ronconi, And what can be said of thee, incomparable
Lablache? Other singers had been admired; Lablache Was
loved. He was certainly one of the grandest-looking men
ever seen, and had the most superb voice that has been
heard in our time, so fall, resonant, and equal, blending 80
perfectly with other voices,supporting them with firm stacate
notes like notes of an organ, and leading them like a clarion.
Great in tragedy, and great in riotous humour, the grandeur
and passion of the one never prevented the most fanciful
exaggeration in the other ; and he had the immense superi-
ority over Ronconi that his lazzi never descended to vul•
garity.—Cornhill Magazine for Septenzber.

COUNTRY MARKETS.

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BRISTOL-THURSDAY'

At this day's market the supply of English wheat wall
moderate, which met a fair sale at prices fully as high as
last week. In foreign more doing, and quite as dear.,
Some fine samples of new malting barley changed hands°,
38s to 39i. Grinding sorts scarce. Oats inactive, and 6L4
to is cheaper. Scamly anything doing in beans.

MANCHESTER—THURSDAY.
At our market this morning there was a tolerable at'
tendance of buyers, and, with a continuance of rain! !'
firmer feeling was apparent. The demand for new Enghdi!s.as
wheat was more free, at prices is per qr higher than on
day se'nnight. Foreign wheat also in improved do:os'f;
Oats wera easier to sell, and must be quoted as before,A7a
oatmeal was limited in sale. Beans steady, and I°l4l
corn at about late rates, Flour a fair sale,

BIRMINGHAM—TUURSDA.Y.
At to-df.y's market there was a moderate show of wheat,
which found buyers at rather over last week's currencies•
--English wheat was sold at 46s to 50s for white, and 40$
to 46s per 36 stone for red, Barley, new malting, 36s to
40s per qr; grinding, 26s to 30s Oats, old, 24s to 30s
per 30 stone; Irish, 21s to 255. Beans, 40s_to 44s_per qr.
Peas, 36s to 44s per 36 stone.

CORK—SEPT. 2.
The following were the quotations this morning :—.10;(1
v/
wheat, 8s Od to —s 0,1; white, lOs 3d to —s Od , barley,
Od to Os Od ; oats, 7s 6d to Os Od. ; black do., 58 t°
8s 2d.

EDINBURGH GRAIN—SEPT. 2.
A fair supply of farmers' wheat to-day, which met
free sale at is above the prices of last week. Barley r°e
a fair sale, and prices unaltered. Oats dull. Beans we'._,
in fair request.
Wheat on the top"ls Od down average Os ld up.
Barley on the top Os 6d down average Os 5d doWn'
Oats on the top Is 6d down average Os 10d do r°.
Beans on the top 4s 3d up ..average 4s 3d up.

• Total Supply and Sales.
Wheat .lOOB qrs Sold 638 qrs
8ar1ey........ 150 qrs Sold 149 qrs
Oats
Beans 3l qrs Sold 10 qrs
Flour sells as follows :—Whites, 40s Od ; extras, 38s Od i
superfine, 36s Od ; fine, 34s Od.

DERBY SMITHFIELD—SErT. 1.
There was a short supply of fat beasts to-day, and ill!
best quality of 133ef wa- both scarce and dear. The nanl,
ber of sheep and lambs was good, and last week's price;
were maintained. The show of fat pigs was large, and
good demand. Fat calves were less plentiful.
Beef 6d to 7d Veal 6id to Ida
Mutton .... 62d to 7d Pork .. 5d to 51
Lamb Bd to —d Rough fat, 3s 9d per stoat 2
Rides, 3d to 4d; calf skins, od to 6d.