New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-02-20
THE NEW OPERA At THE AcADEMY.


in the musical world. That of yeriis R,solst.o,
las. nigh. Q, the Academy, for the frs, time, dre<
together large sadience notwithstanding the
counter attraction of the insl appearance of Grisi
and Mario q. the Metropolitan Theater The merits
of an opers as q composition, are t~o'told-tae 10
,erest OF the work as drama with gooi situations,
exciting the genius OF the composer, by their natural
character and not by exaggerations. and next the
value Of the music, in all the various requirements o,
vocal and instrumental conponen,s As reglrds the
plot Of Rigoistf0 we would mention that although It
Is founded on the royel Of celebrated suthor. lie
Roi s Gnnss, by Victor Iugo-it is confused and
satisfactory. The earlier scenes are very intense
iniense enough for the culminatons of the fourth
act and there il. therefore, Of the gradual loom
ing Of the musical orator up to the cnsteric point
We confess not 10 have understood some points OF
the plot, but that the reader may be put 10 possession
Of ell the Illumination of the printed argument,
give i, in full, with the characters:
TIE DUKE or MASroyA covNr MosrERoST.
RIGeLErro, biz butOon. MARvLLo, courter.
GfLpA dauaher Of Rigoletto. BoRsA smother coulter
SSaEATuciLE, bravo. CoVNr CEFsANo. D..
MsGpaLES. bis sister. COUNTESS CEPRA>o his wife.
GIOVANNI soyerne. Of Glide Al OFFICER Of the Coaft
APAGE Of the Duchess
CboIus Of Gentlemen ard Ladies OF the Court Pages,
Soldiers, &c.
ARGUMENT.
The Duke of Msntova was no less celebrated for
hs p. rsonal bravery and beauty han for his system
sc and prohigsie iucopstaDcy. At the commence
I1ept Of the opera he is troubled IN SPIRIT by pas
81, nate love for two beautiful womeB-One the Count
ess Ceprsno, the other tHcog7tr His Je'ter, the
hump backed Rigoletto suggests that ne should steal
the Countess away from her husband aud dispose %
him by poison or other9ife. la the midst OF this
conversation, the Coun, Monterone forc.bly enters
and coIfron,s the King, demanding reparition for
the dshopor Of his house through the shame and de-
sertiou Of his daughter. The Jester mimickiug the
voice OF the King scorns acd insults the Old noble,
who re, cling ibis insult by Indignant words IL seized
BY order of the King and conveyed TO prison. Ere
be goes he soemny curses the berrtess Jester, who
could mock the sorrows Of an agonlzed heart. the
courtiers even, with all their hsbisus moral nOit.
fererce outraged at the ins0euce Of the jester
Each Of them had sOrne wrong 10 right, some bitter
poir TED sarcasm resent ard with accord they
vowed vengeance upon Rigoetto. One said that the
hump backed buffoon had mistress whom ne loved,
and II was determined that night to steal her from
bin.
Rieoetto in the dusk of evening" with the curse Of
the Old lord weigh ing heavily on his heart, goes to-
ward his home; he is accosed by sFaraiqcne bravo
hy profession who, seeing his troubled look, offers
for small sum TO put any enemy out OF his way say
ing that he keeps a retired inn and that his sister,
who very beautiful lures the victim into the house
where he is quietly made away with. Rigoletto re-
fnses his ASSISTANCE, but takes his address. He ap
proaohes bis home and meets near by-not his mis-
tress but his daughter. He urges her 20 keep close
within the house, and after a tender interview he
leaves
cogpitis from church, steals in unperceyed, aud
hears that she hiss observed him often and loves
him He makes himfelf known to her as young
student aud VOWS Of mutual affection ar5 ex-
changed HesriIg footsteps, be leaves ana she enters
the house. Masker- apprOach-they are the cOnspl-
rato-s come to steal his supposed msress-they are
about placing the ladder against The terrace, when
Rigoletto enters and discovers them Ihey pretend
that they have taken his advice and have come to
steal the Countess CepIauc-;hath he must assist them.
Il leN mt A m.
a hArdkerchief literally blind him. While they
ascend he holds the ladder. They come forth, bearing
away the Jesers daughter. who, screaming IN despair,
inyos.- he father aid The Jester tearing aside the
bsnoaee behods his daughter 10 the arms Of the con-
spirators who bear her away IN triumph.
Gilda i borne by the conspirators to tbs Palace,
and ylaced in the apartment OF the Duke, who IS whi
with delight the unexpected appearance OF his be-
loved. Rigoletto pursues bis enemies, and at last
tracks them to the Palace: he seeks tie Duke bu,
the courteIs stop him. They learn that they have
mistaken the daughter for the mistress and halt re-
er,t the psrt they have played. Suddenly Gi.da
Pushes from the chamber Of the Duke into the arms
Of her father. They quit the palace Risoetto vow
irg terrible vengeance ON the Duke.
The plan il laid and the scheme begins to work.
Tie sister Of the bravo, Magdaen, has been thrown
in the way of the tickle Duke who quite forgetting
Glds, throws his whole soul into tho pursuit Of the
new beauty AZ last the end Of the contemplated
tragedy approaches The Duke is to visit the house
vi Spsraiuolo, who asrses with Risostto TO murder
him place his body in sack. and deliver II ID Rlgo
etto at one clock. The duke. disguised, arrives,
and becomes more wildly enamored OF the beautiful
Msgdalen; Rigoletio and his daughter Glda observe
and hear him through the open wnd0g-illda Is
heart broken a. the fasehood OF her lover but Rgo-
letto bits her be comsorted-the shau be avenged.
He sends her home, assures himself that the bravo
true 10 bin, and then retires terrific storm has
now set in-raip, hail, thunder and hghtning-ihe
Duke vows be must stay all night, and the bravocon
sens TO let him have his bed The Duke retres In the
meantime Gilda, disguised in mans attire, approaches
81. afs cDud
for the life Of her tsthless lover. Trembling AMID
the piiiless storm, she oyerhelrs the sister plead
ing TO the brother for the life of the handsome sran
ger whom she has learned TO love. The bravo says
his hor or is concerned and the man must die and be
delivered at clock. But he consents at last that II
AM body else shoud arrive before that time 10 make
Bn the victim and spare her lover. The clock strikes
bsfpast l2-Glda hears it-there IS no ume 10 oe
lost-in IL pureuess and holiness Of her love- she de-
termines TO give her life 10 save his She KNOCKS al
the door-it opens-she enters IL IL closed Rlyoletto
advances in the storm ard darkness-knocks az tne
SpaIaflcile brings forth the sick-recelyei hs
nav and reres. Rigoetto, gOating over the idea OF
bis contaminated revenge before committing the
body TO the river prepares 10 unite the sack that ne
may gaze upon his victm-when from the mouse ne
hears a yoice-a voice he knows-the voice OF tue
Duke-wbOse bOdyi Is contained within the sack -
his hands tremble-hs heart beats and With cry OF
horror by the aid Of the hashing lightning, hs DIS
covers the features of his beloved child, She s.lh
breathes and blessing her lover and her father oss
in bic srms The curse Of MOnterone IS accomplished
This certainly is involved and saDguinary enough
The piece was well put the stage; the first scene
of the ball room was brilliant, and an extra blaze Of
musical splendor lent to by the introduction OF
military bsld alternating and coiescing with the
well directed orchestra led by Mr. Maretzek. The
character of the music throughoulis dramatic yibrat-
Ing b. tween pure defamation and esntable but no
eordity 70 be mentioned. The music is wel-written
throughout; but it must be judged more from dra-