New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-08-07
MUSIC.
CINDERELLA AT NIBLo's THEATER.

CINDERELLA AT NIBLOS THEATER.
The sweetest of fairy LEGENDS is Cinderella. With
what compete hold does it seize upon the youthful
Imagination How the young bosom swells with in
denation at the injustice and cruelty of the heartess
old father and unnatural sisters How tendery 1t
sympathizes with the gentle and forgiving 1t not I'M
complaining victim OF oppression How It glories in
the power of the fairy to reward and punish in ac
cordance with the strctest requiremen's of poetica
Justice; and lh what infinite delight it contemplate
the exercise Of that power in the transformation Of the
rats and mice ard pumpkin, and lizards, aud Of the
heroine herself ard her final triumph through the pos
session of that most adyke attribute the tinest mt
lie foot in all the world Cinderella without the fairy
and her works is Hamlet without Hamlet. Yet such
is the Italian story it appears in the opera of Gene
rentola, where human agencies accomplish every
thing; and hence that opera, beautiful as 1t Is, and
comprising some Of Rossinis best inspirations, has
never been a remarkable favorite with English or
American audiences.
The cleyerest Enelishman that ever translated and
adapted foreign operas to our language IS Rophino
Lacy. A poet and musician combined, he possesses
the rare gift of knowing how 10 choose the most meo-
dious words and how to put them in their proper
places SO that they will sing" task of Infinite DIFF
fcuty. considering the Astounding consonants and
which Lacy proves csn be accomplished. Perceiying
that translation of Ros.inis work would no. be ac-
ceptable TO our taste, Lacy has reconstructed the plot
according to the accepted English story and retain
ing most of the music Of CeRrGnto'a has added SEINE
brilliant and beautiful pieces from the same CON-
poser's Arnida, Maomctt0 Secoado and GuiHaume
7tR and has thus produced the charming Past'eeio
Cinderella, which has proved more successful than
9TH ENGLAND Or
Lacv's version Of Cinderella first performed in
America by Mrs. Austin, a charming singer and
beautiful woman, at the Park Theater in ls3o-when
New.York was village in comparison with its present
lmits-and even then had run Of sixty nights. In
subsequent seasons Mrs Wood, Madame Caradod
Miss Sheriff and many other English vocalsts have
so often appeared in II that the total number Of its
representation. in this City has probably reached five
hundred About the time Cinderella was produced IN
New.York Robert le Diaje frs, presented at the
Grand Opefa in Paris No work was ever more sue
cessful there or up 10 this time oener psye1 yet the
number of representations OF Robert q Dabe in Pans
has not eoualed that Of Cinderella in New-York; a
fac, which speaks volumes Of the desire and ability Of
the people Iere TO support opera presented IN the Ian
guace they understand. On this subject and the
prospect Of success for competent manager who
would undertake the formation Of a complete company
to represent in peroc style in the great opera houses
which this City and Boston already possess and which
Philadelphia viii possess, operas in the Enghsh
language we shall presently have word TO say Our
object now is to notice Cinderella as it was given last
evening for the first time at Niblos Theater.
In the great opera-houses of Europe such Tor e1'
ample ss.the Academic at Paris, the Royal Italian
Opera a. London, the Scala at Milan, the san
Carlo at Naples singers of the highest grade for each
principal part, an orchestra of eighty musicians
chorus of sixty, numerous corps de ballet and
host Of supenumersries deemed absolutely re-
te to present operas in the best style and worthy the
approval of cultivated public Here on the con-
trary at Niblos Theater one principal singer OF dis
tincton, an orchestra Of thirty and chorus of twenty
! FIVE are considered sufficient; and If the manage
believes the employment Of such company more
profitable than lsrger asd more complete enc, o