The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-03-01
AFFAIRS in THE METROPOLIS.
DEATH OF CHEF JUSTICE EDWARDS.
LECTURES OF SAM HOUSTON AND DIR. HULL.
INTERESTING PRISON STATISTICS.
Observation-Disclosures,
G3c., &C., &c.


DRBur or sIenoRA vEsTvALI, IN LA FAvonrTA, AT
THE ACADEMY OF MUsIC-YoUNG AMERICA IN A
STAIR OF BzcrTEMEsT-THE AUDIENCE AND THE
- PERFORMANCE.
last night the fifth Of the Opera season at the
Academy of Music, under the ole Bull regimi. As Ri
goleto did NOT achieve great success the manage lent
resolved to give that portion Of The public which in
duges in the luxury of the lyric drama another OPERA
by other artists. The "Favorta" was the opera select
ed, with the principal parts thus distributed
frst appealanc: here S'sn0'' ''''V'H
(First appearance here here ! ''-'' l'''.'
(ust appearance with this troupe
Balthagsr.. Signor Joletti.
This programme includes the OF several popu,
lar artists, but it failed to draw sufficient number of
persons to Gil half the house The rima donna of the
night made " hit" some two weeks ago as MaiHe Or.
sini in "Lucreza Borgian y and Young America ter
ribly fascinated with her This usefut class of
population came out in pretty good numbers at the
Academy last night, and behaved in the ususl
The long ovsrcoats, profaLey called Shanghae, the
waiscoats the tight owEers, the bouqu for
the charming object of the aectonsthe little eye glass
inserted in optic after the most strenuous efforts,
and maintained in its place by the most painful
muscular e1ort-all these the subjest of admira
ton to their proprietors, and amusement to the
outside bsbsrians The attendance of the arstocrac
dGbues OF the opera light Irving place and Four
eenh street did not present the long array Of carriages
which usually annoys pedestrians whenever there is
anything at the Opera In fact the number of pri
vate carriages very small and the audience was
mixed and AZ democratic assemblage have
seen at the Italian Opera. Some Of the ladies
opera cloake diamonds, flowers brocades and other in
lspensable for full evening Dress but they few
and far between. 1t really seemed that the fashionable
people had given up their favorte amusement Most of
the ladies' appeared in bonnets and the ordinary street
costume. The delegation from Fifth avenue found
themselves in decided minority, and they seemed very
cold in their white opera cloaks, their frgdty and
their reserve.
The most striking contradictions in costume Wis
ibe every side In the dress circle, sitting in the
same row, might be sturdy democrat, rejoicing in
rough reize-like overcoat, and Broadway dandy, at
tired in the height of the mode; lady in q twelve
shilling shawl and another in cashmere, which cost
somebody no! less than a cool FIVE hundred; while to
complee the picture, pocem an in the neat uniform
Of the force appeared 10 the background Really the
Opera, by the appearance Of the Academy last night
seems to be growing popular with the people. II was
the sort OF audience that would in any theatre
CT Donzetts numerous operas La Fduoritd is de-
servedy esteemed the most original and perfect as com
position. There less evidences of plagiarism in 1t
than in any Of his other works II may be less spark
ling and less captivating in popular than
OF his older compositions but il Is satisfactory to
the mind of critical judge The role Of Leonora Is
1uous one and requires not only great of musical
but hisrionic talent Of high order Perhaps
artist combines these two requisites in greater de
| gree than GIisi and the performance Of the part
during her late engagement here accordingly
one of her greatest The selection Of
this role ior the debut of siguora veatvsl last
night struck us, to say ths least of Il, amb
effort after such recent opp rtunity Of comp.r
son with that great artist, and that we felt
little curiosity to judge how this lady would acqut her
self under such upfayorable circumstances The dit
6cuty of the undertaking OF course enhanced by
fact Of the part being in degree, unsuited to
the qualities OF he: voice. which is fair cOntrdo one
rich in the lower but defective in the higher notes. In
part in which she had already appeared at the Ne
tropoltAn theatre she had made mos. favorable i'm
PRESTON but at the time II must be resollected
that within the legitimate range Of her powers
subjected them to greater effort than they could
| fairly meet
10 say that under such circumstances signora Vest
vail did NO. break down, is already high degree Of
praise but warranted in going further and stating
chat she surprised every by the energy the depth Of
kfeeiDg ami force Of expression with which she
dered this difcult part In the early part Of the
ing she manifested considerable nervousness which
casionay impaired awkwardness to her movements,
the opera progressed this feeling away and
she became composed and natural. Her appear.
ance Is very much in her favor. She is a tai finely
Formed woman with small but beautiful features flee
Expressive eyes and brilliant complexion. She is, w
ySbeheve, q Pole by birth, but has very much
~ me style aud manner OF French In the ductt
with the king, (Badla,) in the second act she
quilted herself most credaby, as also in the impreca
aud the finale Of the piece. She warmly
Gppauded tbrou hout and several times called before
the curtain TO receive the tributes Of the audience
although not what would call a brilliant success
signora vestvali's performance what the French
would call success destime and viii give the fsir artist
an honorable place in the public favor.
OF the other rersonages Of the piece with the excep
tiou OF BadA there is not much to be said. That adm
sabe arto was usual correct and spirited in his
dering OF hs part and We happy to hnd that his
betrayed evidences Of his recent ndis ton
SgDor Iorin made very respectable Fernando rather
weak at times but st rising occasionally to the level
ref the requirements Of the part The Ba.hazar Of Col
Ietu vac about OF the best things have him
ao. Altogether the opera went on very crsdaby,
sderng that the troupe Is st short Of the numerical
strength aud quality of arsticl talent which is to
s;itu,e its effective force This deficiency w however
be remedied In the Of week two by the
keessve deb,as Of the other artists Who engaged
Coroner's OGice.