New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-07-24
RTsToRL, THE ITALIAN ACTRESS.

four fresn corefponeens have occasionally referred lie
sctos lately achieved PGTis The following cTiesn
upeI her taien from the Fans eoresponenee
a lie Grsnztocn Ct L. and SWING the jgs of
cultivated and steissHt G-rmsn VII ~e think be Interest
IN the readers II Tat TRIBUNE, Tor whom Ne snss III
We confss strange eeag ofssdness stole over Us
when for tie first time went to see the performances
Of the tia ian company. We feared that should End
u beautiful language with iis enchanting tones, en-
ragged in the mouths Of unworthy priests Of art, the
fsw masterpieces cf modern Italian literature sbsn-
doned 10 buugers. II i part cf the misfortune Of
Italy that il her dsmemocrmeni she has not the power
to secure Tor the talent which she possesses that fame
in foreign lands which can be given only by the
oreration Of rallied press like that Of Paris and
London.
But how gladly did we find that our fears were
croundless We have Learn cd to recognize in RsOrone
Of tie frst sobesses Of the present time artist
worthy Of reproducing the masterpieces Of every it
erarure. Shakespeare could ask for no lovecr Ju-
let. DO tenderer daughter, 10 Desdemona with more
artless passion; Goethe for no more charmingy self
sacrificing kldrchsn, 10 more womsnly loving
Gretchen than this Ristor She unites pecuiiariiie.
which are found together ooly 10 the most nyhly
gifted Dsture-in the most magnificent talent The
political col dition OF Italy, like that of Germany, has
this benefoent influence that does not encourage on
the boards capacity in one direction ouly, however
great il may he. The Italian cities have not, like
Psrs, twenty theaters, every one o; which fosters
s,ne morbid speciality perhaps az gee'e are lat
tened with particular reference TO their hvrrs. In
Italy, as in many, an actress -ho has become
fevori'e of the public must essay all Departments.
We cannot therefore wonder that Risteri has had &C.
cssion TO develop all her present capabilities in beau
tifu symmetry.
IL .
Silvio Pelicos Francesca da Rimin in Alferis
Minha and Orestos. We have only seen the two
FIST.
Even body knows the daring attempt Of the prisoner
Of Spe berg to stfech Dsntes tragic catastrophe
over FIVE acts liz suite of the fine verse that distn-
guishes Peicos uuse, in spite of the poetic ervor
which the echo Of Dartes great creation awakens ia
he beat Of tie modern singer, the action, feeble,
il eless, and empty mps from scene to 'cene, till
tie decisive moment which Dante has painted 50
toucbHgly so simply and so grandy in siHss
verse:
Quel rioIno pia vi lesgemmo svarte.
Tie artist represented this soft passion, this resigned
love up TO IT, let outbur-t Of fiery passion, with so
much plicty, grace, purity and natural warmth,
that we forgot fo the time al the faults Of the drama
EutrsDood by tie wonderful tones of this musical
yoce-enraptured by this grace Of feature-we fol-
l,wtd with delight every ia eamest Of this poetic
creation Ristor interpreted il TO US 1t is mpossi-
bic to represent with greater truth this love battling
under the veil of pretended sversionths sting of
conscience, which aw6kess when passion rises into
conference.-the holy outflow, the irresistible long
ing, which transports to tue fatal kiss,
la locca NJ bsco iutto iremsute.
ereat artist must sle lie called indeed who in
toduoe suob iDnumorabe shades, such rich variety
into this tedious uniform melancholy. But still greater
astonislmen: docs the actress excite In the part Of
Alfe,is Miuba. Who does lot remember the horrible
fable in Ovid's Metsmophosesl Mrhs the daughter
Of The Kirg Of Cyprus loves her father Cyniras. The
festivities Of Ceres and the wicked help Of her nurse
EuIcloa, who puts the King i'll the condition of Moab,
promote tie crime. CYPRUS curses and disowns his
daughter aud she flies to Arabia. Stmg by conscience
Sic wandeIs about alone until the Gods have compass
sion and change her into the tree which still bears her
name.
The poetry Of the ancients was accustomed to such
fatality Of owe, sil &c snong them love predoai-
Panty elsuous IN It's nature and had scarcely any
thing of that miugng of the soul with the physical
which was brought by Christianity. Ovid allow
Dc siny to he entirely fulfilled and sings that mons
tIous fate with all the horror which such misdecd
avn kens even in the heart OF heatheu. Poetic truth
is in some measure aided by the mischievous poNe
of tbe nerciess Venus and at the same tine by the
participation in the crime of the servant whose attach
nent TO Ter mistress is morbid to the point Of
stupidity.
But for modern reading not even these excuses
arc sufficient and Afer who at first intended to take
tie wlole of Ovids fable for the fous dation Of lis
drama. himself shrank from he monster that threat
encd to appear and crushing this Gogonhead, he de
pictod Tie misfortune without the crime. The unnat
ural desire was hidden in the deepest recess OF the
heart and the spectator who does not kno~ the fable
will not divine from the play, until the lpst act wat
il is about-from tie play, but n from the acted
drama for from Ristori one knows Immediately what
fate has hurled it. belts at this fair head.
Herein les her great triumph. This Impossible part
which The poet sought 10 shield from our adherence
by all the arts OF timorous concealment, she has
folded TO without prejudice to that sympathy which
the struggle Of this mob and in her rendering chaste
soul must awaken in us. Rsiori revesled herself to
us in another form. If size had subduel, soft wo.
manly fondnoss as Francesca as arrha she knew
how TO bring out the womanhood 81 her hear ia terri
be duelism with the frenzy Of excited passion The
spectator csnnot for moment forget that he behold.
fearful struggle between the most beautiful human
purity and the most abominabe love- II there is any
thing in this rendering which we have 10 censure Il Is
The lack Of moderation which occasionally leads TO
overacting. But this fault ia outweghed BY the
many excelercies which are displayed IN other re-
specs. Riston can he endtrly.ioviug, grateful
daughter, selfsaerfcrg friend, and monster OF
passion urged on by the uies, and seldom is 1t that
mien and gait and bearing follow the ever changing
expressions of the tonsue with such thorough truth
here.