Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-12-03
From tile Ne,c York american.

From tile New York american.
The first representation last evening
Of the Opera Of the Barber of Seville
was most completely successful. NeN-
er before within the walls Of the Park
! Theatre has such an audience been as
sembled, and never before have they
resoundrd to such music BY eight
O'Clock (lhe hour at which the curtain
rose) the pit and boxes were filled 10
OVERT lowcrand second cir
cles were occupied chiefly by elegant
and wcll-drcssed FEM ales; and il our
faircorrespondent Cinderella was there
as doubtless she was, it must have
gratifed her, as il did the house at
large, to perceive that no unsightly
bonnets marrrd the view Of those &C.
cupying back seats, or detracted from
the array OF beauteous and smiling ia
ces, dccked in native curls, or embel-
lished with w:ea,hs of flowers, or taste.
fui turbans.
When the orchestra began the over
ture, most gratifying silence was i'm
media,ely produced, and continued
throughout its performance; which well
repaid the attention bestowed upon it.
After the curtain rose, the performers,
as they successfully appeared, were re-
ceived with marks Of great kindness
and when the charming Rosina, (the
Senorina Garcia in the 4lh scene,
came forth for the first time, she was
greeted with great and long continued
applause, which was renewed on the
termination Of the air with which she
commences ind voce POGO ia.
The whole opera was performed in
style and with spirit that cannot,
we are persuaded, be surpassed at this
moment on either the Paris or London
boards. Not only was the singing
good, but the performance il consider
ed merely as acting, exhibited comic
powers of the highest order. The
scene between Rosina and Bartolo, al
ter she had written her billet to her
lover, and when the jealous old guar
dian detects ink on her fingers, and
sheet Of paper missing, was admirably
PLAYED. The ingenuity Of Rosina's
excuses, and the account she gives Of
the suspicious circumstances the per-
fectly natural, playful, fcmnine-guile
must we call it-by which in all
times, damsels i'll love have been in
possession of the privilege to cheat
their Argus-eyed tutors, could not have
been rendered with greater effect, or
more grace. Bartolo (Signor p. Ros-
ich) sustained his part with great spi.
rit, and carried the house with him.--
Figaro too, the convenient, mischief
making, introuUnble, Figaro, who, with
a BARRIERS privileges of universal cir
culation, combines the address of Mer-
curry, and the compassion for suffer-
ing and separated lovers, of Cupid
himself. found most successful rep
resentative in the younger Garcia
AS comedy alone, without having re-
gard to the music, we again say, this
piece as played last night, would have
interested the audience. But when to
that are added, sounds such as most o.
those present never heard before; the
deep, full bass of Angrisani, the fine
clear tenor Of the elder Garcia, and, a.
bove all, the silver tones of the Senori-
ma, poured forth without effort, or dis
torlion, and the whole sustained by an
orchestra, better as whole, than that
of the London opera itself, though less
pow erful in numbers and instrumen,s S.
itmay be readily imagined, that the
utmost qualification was afforded to the
attentive and delighted house. Such,
indeed, was the fact. No sign Of rest
lessness, or fatigue, appeared. The at
tention was constant, intelligent, and
eminently flattering 10 the artists who
were the objec,s of it. On two occa-
sions songs were encored, the first in
the music lesson, where the Senorina
sang very pretty Spanish air, accom-.
panied by her father on the guitar; and
the second trio, by the same and Fl
caro- beginning Zitti. Zitti; and on both
occasions the call of the house was an
swered with ready and graceful &C.
quiescence, that vii! not be lost.