The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-02-20
ACADEMY OF MUSIC.
FRET NIGHT OF THE OLE BULL OPERA

FlkET NIGHT OF THE OLE BULL. OPERA.
The second OF the Italian opera at the Academy
of Music, Fourteenth street, commenced last night
under rather unfavorabe auspices The intention had
been, the public informed through the jour ,als
to "popularise the OPERA by placing the prices at
low figure. One dollar and nifty cents each the
price Of secured seats fifty cents for the third tier and
twenty five cents for the amphheatre At these prices
with new OPERA and a new company II was ex
rected that there would be a spontaneous rush
Of the people to &c. seats for the opening night
such however, not the fact. The lower part Of the
house about fourth filed and the attendance
in the third and fourth tiers very slim. The house
was neither gay cheerful. But few Of the ladies'
were in full dress and the gentlemen seemed to have
abandoned the idea Of dressing for the opera stup
humbug, which 1t undoubtedly is. Not much enthusi
manifested. The conductor (dr Max Marstzsk)
had FAINT reception about equal to that given the
brass band, which appeared the stage at the
cement of the first act The reception OF the
artists also a cold one.
The opera of the night verdi's "Rigoistto,' =
now performed for the first time In the United
States. II is OF his latest works aud
has all the pecuiiartt.es OF that rather noisy
poser The plot is from story by yctor Hugo. and It
is revolving enough TO satisfy the ardent admrer
the horrible The tenor (Bolcioni) is duke with a
strong passion for other peoples wivea- lin fact h
openly states at the beginning Of the opera that he
despises jealous husbands)-and for the female sex
generally. The baritone (Barl) Is the jester,
humpback, Rigoletto by e. with "one fair dauahte
and no more" This young womsn is the Primd donna
Gilda, (Nadame Bertucca Maretzek) The Count Monte
(Coet to court to abuse the duke
seduced hscaughter whereupon Rigoletto who del ght
In saying severe things to every body eers the old
ana IL cursed in good set terms by him return Mon
teione Is disposed Of by being consigned To dungeon
feveTa feet below the surface OF tue earth The cour
tiers have discovered that kgoetto visits woman in
secret and they supposing her to be his MISTRESS resolve
TO steal her from On the same n ght ki,oleto
visits her, and the Duke reappears in black velvet bu
giles ana boots student lover OF Gilda Rsoletto IA
not OF this important fact and warns her aganst
young IN. and similar vanities After the Duk.s de-
partue, kgoleto returns; he Is met by the courter
Dnoioded and with the usual operatc di-r-gari for
probabilities IL Obliged 10 assist in the abduction OF his
own daughter. Abfavo named Sparafuce Rocco now
becomes an important person In the opera. Rgolett.
ctsnes 20 revenge himself the Duke, by putting
that respectable d,gntary's lamp Of life and tne
bravo to DO the work for price and in
the mort thorough manner The Duke eas ly enticsd
to tie brayos house by pretty woman bat ~ followed
by Gda in mems clothes. She overhears the sister OF
the bravo who enceo the Duke to the house putting ia
SPECIAL plea for bis lie. The bravo nbally Assents to
compromise He 10 bound 10 kl somebody nd agree.
that any else to the hoe previous to the
hour sppo. .nted for the Dukss death that the l,st
arrival shall be the sufferer Gilda resolves to
save her lovers life by giving herself up as
a sacrifice 'or him. She does SOL. assassinated
her father, as per agreement. He opens the sack
and finds his daughter instead OF the Duke she
WI ch she besses every body and especially father
and the duke.
There is beautiful music In this opera but il 1.
tao strong for taste The pripd donna night
lot equal to her role she has not the pow wcr re-
quiste for the singing acting OF part ike Gilda
The tenor Is young with fair, even quality OF
voice OF medium compass lie always sings IN tins,
and s fair actor as tenors GO Tue baritone made
the best impression. lie sings with and expre..
zion, and is clever Actof. Rgost,o Is the best
part IN the piece-au the stronZ situations
are his and he Is the only person in the opera who
ftiongly ensts the sympathes of the audience. sgnor
Bari has an excellent baritone voice and good .thod
HIS rendering of Par S,dmo capital,
The ehoruses are very pretty, but they gen
eraIy wen sung The charming " Zith Zlti u,0riap.0
a rendehd In the second act, sadly botchei. The
orchestra composed Of forty performers who, in
junction with the brass BAND succeeded In nakioga
was entirely crushed IL IL stated that the orchestral NJ a.
sie has been vamped up from the piapoforte by
some person this side Of this IL seems 10 have
u was only necessary 70 kck up as great a
or not this 10 the fact cannot say positively II was
however, too evident that something wrong. Inc
scenrry, dresses, &c. kc we're good. The audisnce
The general verdict 10 be that the opers
well treated tfat the tenor fair, The IL not hand.
hsartsJ that the baritone good and that Oh. per
Torrance would have been better II things had not
been hurried. There too much Maretzsk and TOO
Ia Isrdi