The Sun.
London, England, 1858-11-15 00:00:00

PICCOLOMINI IN AMERICA.

The New York papers speak in rapturous terms
of the great London favourite, who appeared on the
20th October. We abridge the account given by
the New York Herald:—

" The grand operatic event of the season took
place at the Academy of Music on Wednesday
night, when Mr. Ullman introduced to the Ameri-
can public the long-expected Piccolomini in La
Traviata.' Long before the opera commenced the
streets in the vicinity were :choked up with car-
riages, and fairly floated in crinoline. Within,
every place was occupied, the lobbies, aisles, and
corridors being impassable. A description of the
audience may be given in three words—everybody
was there. The boxes in the first tier absolutely
blazed with beauty, and we doubt if any theatre
in the world ever presented such an array of pretty
women. Almost every one was in full dress, and
the effect was worth going miles.to see. When the
fair cantatrice entered upon the scene she was
greeted with such a recognition as our gallant
public always gives to a stranger and a woman.
The first impression was one of admiration at the
rare personal gifts of the new prima donna.. With
a petite figure, and a lovely brunette complexion,
more transparent than those of Italians generally ;
a charming, rosy, tempting mouth ; an exquisitely
moulded hand and arm, and an indescribable fas-
cination of manner—it was no wonder that Picco-
lomini vaulted at once into the affections of the
audience. Her first air was received with a storm
of applause as sharp as a volley of musketry, and
its repetition followed as a matter of course. But
the vocal powers of the lady still remained to be
tested in the scena and aria which conclude the
first act. Those who expected to hear florid execu-
tion must have been disappointed. In rapid chro-
matic and staccato passages Piccolomini is not
sure. Her voice is pure in quality, and exceed-
ingly sympathetic ; it is a good soprano organ, but
not a great one. In the remarkable effect wnich
the French call the tears in the voice,' she has

not been equalled within our recollection. But the
truth must be told, even about a pretty woman,
and the truth is that Piccolomini belongs to a
school of Italian singers who have grown up with
the Verdi operas, and who content themselves
with giving an intense dramatic expression to the
music, without troubling themselves about nice-
ties of execution. The question for the public to
decide is whether or not the grand acting of such
an artist as Piccolomini makes up for the absence
of finished singing. So far the decision was una-
nimous. She was called out three times, and
literally botanished with bouquets. ' The third act
was fine. The artiste seemed almost inspired, and
her outburst of joy at meeting Alfred was splen-
did. It was great acting. After the curtain fell
the pent up enthusiasm of the public broke out in
a storm Of applause rarely heard anywhere. We
really cannot say how many times Piccolomini was
recalled, having ceased to count after the third.
She seemed much affected and inclining her head
gracefully over the footlights said, I thank you
with all my heart ; I am very, very grateful.'
And so, in a hurricane of plaudits, and covered
with flowersLa Piccolomini finished her first night
on American boards." The second night was
equally favourable, and the crowds are described
as, if possible, becoming greater at .eacb. reprc-
sefitatio