New-York daily tribune., 1854-09-07
THE OPERA.

Inc excitenAenl OF nrst nlgnts performance On
grand scale Is nvc criably followed by second night
Of reduced numbers in the auditory and then the
attendance increases. The second performance OF
Luere=ia Borgio, a, Castle Garden last evening.
though attended by large number Of pe-sons, ssy-
eral thousand being present, was not. according 70
the above rule as full a. the first bat what vas de-
hcient in numbers was made up in excitement and
enthusiasm. We heard only the first and second
acts. After the first, Madame Grsi and Signor
Mario were called out before the curtain an ovation
at that point OF the opera which did not attend them
the first night. Signor Susn the bass was tumultu.
ously encored, and although on reappearing he
bowed himself quietly without singing, off the
stsge, yet he had to come on third time and repeat
his solo.
The very grand and imposing action aud singing
OF Madame Gris was immense SUCCESS with the
auditory and the curtain fell amid thunders of sppro-
brton, and the three principals called before it
at the end of the second act. Doubtless equal sue
cess followed the third.
The quieter beauties Of Madame Grisi and Signor
Mario well the ambitious features of their
personations, were much better apprehended on the
second than on the first night. Many OF the au-
dence seemed to feel that there is much in the per-
formance OF every great artist that requires to be
studied BY the hearer to be understood How iu-
Decd can the thousand details which 20 to complete
an artist and which have cost years Of toll and en-
tLusiasm to acquire-of study in private, and expe
rience in public-be dispatched by the hurried OBJ
servation of a single night TIE ParhenOn has been
admired since the revival of letters and yet one Of
its most exquisite proportions has only been really
discovered within some two three years; we al
lude to the sligh; detection from perpendicular
which has been revealed in some of the lines, aud
which the all-dscrminating Grecan eye required as
essential TO perfection. So in the cognate arts of
painting and music. Such artists as we now have at
Castle Garden should be often heard to be fully un-
derstood. Their experience and gifts such that
in most things they offer standards of received ex-
cellenoe.
Independently of the singers the orchestra is itself
full attractions such one has been heard at
an opera in this country. All the available excel
lence within reach g cOmpassed by it; and even the
admirable harpst Aptommas is added to it,
As studies for the painter, or as pictures for the
man of taste the attitudes and dramatic gesticula-
ton Of Madame Grisi are magnificent Mrs. Siidons
we apprehend was never finer, nor do we believe 30
sumi tuously endowed by nature in all the multitude
nous beauties of head throat, chest and arms Ma
dame Grisi Nothing approaching in classic splendor
has been on the stage in this country.
The opera in a word, is brilliant and generous
illustration of the sister arts of poetry, music and
sculpture-for the divinity which inspires the chse
is drawn from natural physical beauties artisticay
posed in Olympan-like attitudes and the majesty o
ideal aspiration.
Next week we are to have Norma, in which Opera
Madame Grisi has maintained peerless ascendancy'
All efforts to compete with her in that character in
Europe have ended in the discontinue of rivals Ia
sustain Mr.. Hackets enterprise the musical public
should be up and stirring. Are they adequately
awsre of the variety OF the musical jewels Offered
them But the price of tickets ? Price is compare
tive. house in Ffth-av. is not of the same value
as one at the Five Points and the parallel may bt
drawn with operate values. Supreme splendors in
music, which command high price in Europe, mus
get il here if would hear them. The philosophy
of paying such rates is another thing. The public
may legitimately decline TO pay beyond popular
prices; but the opera must be reduced to system
among us and not be now, occasional thing il
we ever hope have it for less than is paid in Lon
don. Five and ten dollars are given for box ticket
in London. Here the house is open in all its parts a
three dollars; and the magnifed expenses of brief
occasional, and extemporised season to be endured
| that rate,