The New York herald., 1850-12-08
Great Excitement and Enthusiasm at the
Astor Place Opera House.


Astsr Place Opera House.
Last night, after day Of storm and rain inessssnt
there was present at the Opera house one Of the
most elegant and truly discriminating audiences ever
seen within its walls. The smphitheatre crowded
and the large array Of beauty, taste, wit and inte
genee in the Parquette and lower circles added to the
brilisncy Of the Before the audience entered
the house, 1t was announced TO those who arrived at
the doors, that the performance Of Lucia di Lammer
moor" must be suspt ndsd in consequence ofthe inds
position Of one Of the vocaists II was enough how.
ever TO tempt every person Of taste to enter when 1t
was added that Parodi would sing In the Opera Of
"Lucrezia Borgis''-one act Of which only had been
stipulated for in the bills Of the evening.
The hour having arrived for the rising of the
tain, that amiable and industrious artist, Max Ma
retzek, appeared before it, and announced his sincere
regret that he obliged to change the performances
and stated that his only reliance upon his
pahy and Parodi. The magic Of that name had its
effect. Applause followed upon applause and IL was
evident that the public were more grstifed to enjoy
a certainty than an uncertainty The opera, in due
time, commenced, Maretzek being received as he en-
tered the orchestra With the spontaneous plsuis Of
those present who readily appreciated the severe re-
grets he felt his inability control the dispositions
and ndisp Of Others The opening chorus was
well received, Patti, and Lsrini being welcomed
on tneir entrance upon the scene. When Parodi
appeared, however, tempest Of appreciation shook
the building and the audience then lulled into
calm OF erene confidence in the presence the ruling
star OF tn night The cavatina broke upon the still
ness hushed to bresthlefs silence, like melody
Of another sphere and when the allegro passages
poured out in a volume OF delicious tones, which Paro
dis voice alone has the power Of moduating to
take the prisoner and to captvste all the senses
the whole audience became willing and passive instru-
nents In the power Of the majestic artistic. Lorini,
who sang with prudence, sub uSsting his power
ful tones within the bounds OF expression, told the
story Of Gennaros org gin with tasteful delicacy of
feeling that added to the effect of the the
whole oootrssted, like sunlight against storm and
darkness with the subsequent tempestuous attack of
the enemies of Luereza they confronted her masked
majesty with the terrible recital Of her awful crimes
Hedged and hemmedin by those who hated her in that
first scene Psrodi arose both in lyric and dramatic
grandeur to the very height OF the sublime and the tor
rent Of vocal despair poured from her unsurpassed
power melody in alternate sounds of wailing
and anger such pierced every heart and ped
hey ond he pitful insis of the mesnoss
cay as the first yic artistic OF the age She started
into an attitude Of intense rage, when the mask that
concealed the Borgia was torn from her face, and
fell upon the ground the grand embodiment OF the
detpsir and remorse OF crime In the presence Of
enreged multitude. such triumph did not pass un-
rewarded. Psrodi was called forward to receive the
acclsmAtiors Of the sudence-n.ver known to be
more sincere or more deseryedly earned.
In the second ect, Beneventano, as the Duke, with
bis noble voice and musical precision, came for.
singing With great expression, and introducing us
to the story OF the second, or poisoning scene,
where he, kerini, and Parodi have that great
trio celebrated In lyric annals. II was
cored and the repetition as brilliant the first
essay In the scene however, Parodi enlisted all SYM
patE'es. Lucrezias tale of Gennxros absence-her
st1diou anxiety for Gennaros safety the earnest ap
peals ma 10 the Duke for Gennsros life the attempt
TO releafe him the trembling Of her hand as she
poured out the poison-her imprecation and despair
and then that sudden burst of Joy when the Duke
leaves the apartment and she finds the antidote that
these VI
shades Of emotion, contained ia their correct express
sion were depicted by the voice the manner and the
mind shining through the face and by the agitation of
every muscle, by an artistics perfection to which
midnight memory can ne more than family allude.
when Iarod rushed forward with Gennaro, i'm
ploring him to take the remedy supplied by her
hands, thossand tumultuous passions seemed
fsce-in every motion of her frame. shc swept
the stage with the speed OF life itself overtaking
ccoth and batting the grim monster Of its vic,
the notes CT dsspsring angels voice-there
climax TO that terrible that shook every soul and
bss our,aia. aud bouqnst.
fell at her feet thckly as leaves in vaambrosa
The scclamaiions OF the audience vehement loud
and pfotracted, and the very bTlsnts which the
calist wore In tiara upon hsr head seemed paltry
eaubles compared with the btiiiauey OF such genius,
In the third act the chorus we're particularly eec.
tive They sang With a care and ,iency truly de-
eious and seemed to have been lea into the general
enthusiatm 81 the occasion. The banquet soene
commtneed wita sincerity, and when Amsia Patti
time better than the frst like tht angel of dsath
Luer, again tIoke upon the jewellers with fearful et
feet ard Was again doomed 20 dni that she had ends
gered the lie Of her When the victim, ofher rage
had net thtir doom-when the guilty mother aud the
unconfcioUs son now met face 10 face, tse former de-
clsing that the latter with great drastc DO ser
BOigia who can ever forget the vocal and dramatic
intensity Of that scene Lorni seemed Inspired by the
genius a his side He partook Of the cup bitterness
that wts 70 be qusned and his dying econiss In the
oi the BCTgia were correctly expressive ap-
propiiate to the oeossion. When Psrodi beEeycr as
9ennRro lay dead put her hand upon his n to
ietl one single puetion OF that life that trembed In
unison with htr ast departing hope whom che sang
that lait wall Of remorfe, despair and mprscatiol
and electrified every auditor she completed the third
triumph Of the evening and left every person present
viih the vivid imprettion Of that genius which car
fade fom the memory. ami which IL is vain 10
ticIa.e can be sDPPaIt,d BY other forms other
voice..
IlIA zen, vas what created the excitement al
tnthusia'm last night Tie public will nov aoknov.
ledge that all our fcrner sfatG OF Parodi have been
based upon Judgment liable 20 err. but not easily
deceived. We have known that the day would come
vhtn all would Acknowledge the correct meas Of the
position which we have taken With respect to this
great artite II has arrived than supposed
u could and, from this hour the presence Of Parodi
will be tho signal for degree Of public stteptiQn such
vocalist has ever yet eonmap led In ihs ooun.
try by the sole aid OF her own siits accom- pihments
and genius On Monday she viii sppear again a.
but in which she is unapProaehabe By other vSsalss
L L. Iasww