The Sun.
London, England, 1863-05-11 00:00:00

ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA,

S GNOR

Signor Mario is so associated with the noble'
memories of this theatre that his presence Ina
always be viewed by its p, trons as setting a seal 1
its pretensions. There are so many characters tilt
are still his own, and a 3 many more that
our reco
lections will insist in including in his list, the%
absence, whether as a positive or imaginal
loss, could not fail to be injurious t
the scene of his old successes. There
a higher ground, however, on which his value i
to be estimated. His artistic claims, both voce
and dramatic, reach so high a level of refinemen
that he is become a standard to the musical worli
in respect to all points of taste and feeling, and
therefore, not only is he a source of great enjoymenl
in himself, but a means of detecting a true enjoy'ment in the powers of his competitors. San
an influence, of course, is Lot merell
limited to his auditors. His standard cannot
•
tail in inspiring the efforts of new singer
until it gradually becomes as permanent as it is la
every way desirable.
There is no character in which Signor Mariof
more distinctly attests his eminence than that of
Almaviva, wherein the grace of the nobleman to so
essential to verify the mirth of the comedian.;
and the love that prompts him to scivea.
lure, affects not the taste with which it is indulge"
Here the illusion that he raises by the means of the
truth that stamps his gaiety is one of these in'
stances of consummate art that never fails to be;
come historical. Quite on a level with his perfect
acting is his singing of his character in which ever/
charm of feeling and expression is so abundantly
displayed. Among our few remaining artists whangi
taste and culture are of a kind to enable
them to do justice to the refined brilliancy of Ras'
sini, Signor Mario in this character possesses 01°
the advantage of a voice whose unequalled sweet'
_ ness enables him to do justice to Rossini's melody
l°
Here—unsubjected to the strain which so Inan
impairs it in tragic opera—its delightful tone as welt
as pliancy finds its full and appropriate scope and
leaves an impression that is undisturbed by
eof
contemporaneous effort. We are glad to reeol
that Signor Mario was in admirable voice on Sa•
turday evening, when, to the great delight of 6
crowded house, be made his first appearau'a for
the season, and that he never sung or acted wit"
more success than on this occasion. From
the first note of his "Ecco Ridente"
he last he had to deliver, the iraPreS;
sion was as complete as it was in eve:jA
respect delightful. Signor Mario we need nos ,
was most warmly received on his first entrat
and rewarded throughout the evening with all the
testimonies he has so long been used to. Neel:
say how wonderfully he was supported by the
of Signor Ronconi, the very greatest histrionionl'
that our stage has ever seen, and the test of
merit in this particular is its power to make us forget
all its deficiencies of voice. Such overflowing Iclun3c)nb
in combination with such shrewdness and a°
spirit, stamp this performance also as one Of the
uuique things of our time.
Another feature of the evening was, of course, the
Itosina of Madlle. Patti, which, in like noniter°
may be cited as one of those characters that 11i-8
become her own. Nature has done so much to Can-40
this alike in her genius and physical
gifis—Sbat ilt6
had but little to develop in order to establish eanh- s
ro
claim. Her petite and graceful person is not rii° a
appropriate to the conception of this young
playful being, than her piquant huinoarhoes
adapted to give its spirit the freest scope-41"-y, •
the marvellous quality of her voice enables 11.er ll
convey its florid. music in a manner that leaves
rivalry a long way in the distance. Inspired, so
we thought, by the presence of her
great asseniates
on this occasion, Mademoiselle Patti never ns°6
,
or acted with more triumphant excelieli
tier " Una voce" was, as usual, a Pe, ,00
rfea
00t
bi.ze of vocal brilliancy—and not less successful -
her singing lesson, in which she introduced a Wa.11%
Was
rapturously encored. She has rarely
by Mr. Strakesch—" Di Gioja insolito," d r
mainteilie
her reputation more superbly than by this Pe4
tortnance, or elicited from her admirers strolo,
testimonies of the fact. Signor CiampiNy's d,
Bartolo, and though, as usual, somewhat inannn--
ro
played with much force and pleasantry. •
ce6l
'their Royal Higbdesses the Prince and PO° e,
of Wales honoured the performance by their
htr ed
P
sence, and apparently were not the le' at deliP
of its spectators.