The Sun.
London, England, 1858-10-19 00:00:00

COMTI.LVENTAL MUSICAL GOSSIP.

PARIS, OCT. 16.
" Rigoletl ;o" was given this week at the Italian
Opera, the principal characters being played by
Madlle. de Ituda, M. Ludovico Graziani, Corsi,
Madame Nal Iticr-Didiee, and Angelini. When an
opera has h ,een often played with success by any
particular scat of singers, those who follow are sure
to be victims of " comparison. Sometimes they may
act and sing qu. ite as well as their predecessors, but
there is a marks ,d difference in the appearance of
the personages, another quality of voice Land an-
other delivery 'of familiar passages—in-Tact the
audience are cal led upon to forget a past pleasure
before they can appreciate.the present new reading
of their favourit e opera. We are as much creatures
of habit in music as in more material things. People
older than ourselw. •se,s will not go to the play became
Mrs. Siddons and all the stars of the past dramatic
glory are dead. TI t ere are many in England who do
not care to hear ''Norma" or " Puritani" without
Grisi or Rubini. r.,)1.1.ne reproduction of " Rigoletto"
at the Italian Op era-house in Paris was accom-
panied by the detri.) k ,tion of comparison. Two sea-
sons ago this masterpiece of the modern musical
drama was interpr( by Mesdames Frezzolini and
Alboni, and Mario and Corsi. Every one re-
members, how m oc:11 like a gentleman Mario
acted the Duke 3 and how, when in good
voice, he left sue. i pleasing sounds in the ear
as occupy a place in memory. Then, we had
the accomplished. Frezzolini for Gilda, Al-
boni's matchless i I)ice for the little part in the
wonderful quarteOto, and, finally, as now, Corsi,
who has made the Court Fool his own. Never
was " Rigoletto" 13 otter played and sung than by
these artists. Mad .11e. de Ruda, our new prima
donna, is the child. of some northern land—we be-
lieve flungary. Sh e is youthful and pretty. Her voice
does not appear to -us to possess strength or quality
for sustaining ar ry long and laborious role ; she
sings, however, with intelligence. The general
impression is that. Madlle. de Ruda will eventually
find her place in what is known as the mezzo
carattere of su,:th operas as " Elizir d'Amore,"
" Gazza Ladra," " Matrimonio Segreto," " Don
Giovanni ;" or the "Puritans." Her success in
" Rigoletto" was certaintly not a complete one.
Graziani, the teller, has evidently not yet appeared
in a role suitable to his voice and acting, andthere-
fore we will pass over his singing in " Rigoletto"
without further comment. Madame Nantier
Didiee is the most animated artiste on the Italian
stage, and most charmingly did she play and sing
her pretty little scene in the tavern. Corsi is be-
yond measure the best Rigoletto on the Italian
stage.
The maestro Ferrari has produced a new opera
at Genoa, entitled, "Un Matrimonio per Concerso."
It is described as being a work of considerable pro-
mise on account of the originality of the melodies.
Mercadante's " Pelagio ' is being played at La
Scala (Milan), with but little success.
At the Grand Opera (Paris) a new work by F.
David is about to be produced, in which Madame
Borghi-Mamo will occupy an important role.
Meyerbeer has given in the manuscript of
a new opera to be produced at the Comique,
but it will not be brought out before his return
from Nice. The principal roles are confided to
Madame Cabel, MM. Faure and Sainte Roy.
The receipts of the theatres, concerts, and public
amusements of Paris in September last were
1,062,409 f., being 297,074 f. more than in August.
Alexander Dumas has nearly completed a
" Faust." We must say a " Faust," as there are at
least a dozen in the dramatic library already. The
work in question is to be given at the Ambigu-
Comique.
Giuglini, the tenor, is now engaged at Trieste, at
the rate of 16,000 f. per month. After singing a few
nights for this immense sum he proceeds to 'Madrid,
where he is also to be paid some fabulous price. A
successful singer gets more money than a prime
minister, and is sure to remain longer " in office."

COUNTRY MARKETS.

OXFORD—OcT. 16.

There was a tolerable supply of wheat at market to-day,
with a slack trade, except for the primest samples. Inferior
sorts were quite a drug. Barley a ready sale. Oats were
a steady sale. Other grain scarcely in demand.
Wheat ....40s to 52s Oats
White .40s to 52s Beans 42s to 49s
Barley .32s to 44s Peas ....40s to 47s
Flour, 32s per sack—Good hay, per ton.