The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-05-23

FIRST PERFORMANCE OF Tux ELIsIRE D'AMoRE.-
Here 10 at last modern Opera, where there 10 no
fault to be found with the lbretto where we have
lively, witty plot where the persons are no ma
chimes, but real characters where the episodes are
the natural consequence of the main action; full of
comic incidents, studded with spirited and racy
dialogue; with one word, good libretto to which
good music has been written, and not the usual
amount of barcaole arie, dtsetti, terzetti &c. to
which the words have been made to measure,
"warranted to fit" like fashionable dress coat.
The interest begins with the rise of the curtain
every forms link in the chain OF the situa-
tons; the progression Is logical, the denotenef In
harmony with the opening, and the Deus er mdchina
IN spite OF Horace and his drs poetica Is necessary
and therefore to be excused-to bring the play to
sudden end which else would be too protracted.
Poor Felice Romani Il Go. and all you other con-
yourselves before the genius Tin its way and the
invention Of Scribe who is the author of the words,
to which Auber wrote the Philtre and Donizetti
the Elisire d'AmOre the one the diamond OF the
French opfra comiq~e, the other the pearl OF the
opera bufa.
Anna Bolena and l'esire d'amore were the first
operas which laid the cornerstone to the somewhat
equivocal temple of fame of the present purveyor
general OF the Italian opera. Till their appear
ance, DoniZetii was composer Of some repute, but
of some very bad repute, whose operas were some
times taken by the lmpressaril, but never solicited
Now he is a comet, whose tail is formed by all the
z
mara says, and since Rossni's voluntary abdlca-
ton and Beins death, he reigns in the theatrical
kingdom as absolute as Nicholas in Russia. Anna
Bolena begins to suffer little from the lnfirmltles
of an early old age, but the eizlre Is OF a very
healthy constitution, and will probably outive its
numerous grandchildren. 1t really Is one OF the
most pleasing comic operas ever written. and its
success has no parallel since the days OF the glorl-
Gus Barbere Every number, and there are ma
ny, is gem from the esir di 81 perfetta di 81 rara
gualud, down to the mio ueetr0 la mia r,cettd ;,
and the person who is not charmed with the melO-
dies, if properly given, had better make his will
and die at once.
The cast was the strongest and best of the season,
consisting of Borghese. Adina; Perozzi, Nemorina
would be unjust to be hyper-crtical at first per-
Torrance; but we must observe, that each Of them
more or less deficient in energy. Artists who
deal in operas like the Puritan, Lucia, and ii
Barbiere, certainly are competent enough to inter-
pref properly relizire, which is one of the very
easiest operas In point OF execution There is no.
thing more required than little more diligence and
fire in some numbers, and the success, which was
partial last evening, will become general. The
serves much praise but her efforts were somewhat
paralyZed through the lukewarm manner with
which she was econded Sanquirico did not do JUS
tice to the splendid Dulcamara his udite rustici
was partial failure, principally owing to the slow
pronunciation in the partando passages. He was
more fortunate in the qAdntO dm0re, where he ac-
companed Borghese's canto in the most piquant
manner. Bel core is much too feger for Valiellina,
whose Voice lacks the requisite volubiiy; but his
conception of the character of the conceited,
CANT, and lmpudent sergeant was picture full of
truth. Perozzi had some happy moments, and car
ried, with Borghese, the most applause. The house
was full