The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-12-04

This opera was presented for the nrst time IN the
Uptted States 1t the Academy OF Music last ngnt
Via rraviata" 10 OF verdis very last works. and
failure At the Italian theatres This, however, 10
crsri for the "rrovasore" had far grestr sue
Paris and Now York Than Milan, Naples. or
Florence. The '"Travaia" has not ye, Dsen given tn
Paris; but was produced at Her Hsjestys theatre 10
Lor don for tho DEBUT OF Mile Piccolomn the 14th Of
Way ast We give the partition Of the chief roles In each
city
Caayno>u London N,o York.
Alnet Germont.. Sig Cazols-i..... Sg Brgnols.
G'orgIo 1r,mont. Sig. Bsne seotuao. stg. Amodio
Violeta vaeny... Mile Piccolomiu. Nine. Do lagrange
The OF the opera, viosets, young woman Of
dssipAsed habits, falls love with Alfred, provincial
who u terribly infatuated with the FRAN beauty.
VioIetsa, with her Alfred, has nice time 10 the
county with the money she has received from
previous admirers. The little affair n, however, broken
mp by The sudden appearance Of Giorgo fshe. oil Alfred
who impores vioetsa ia give the young man his con9t
Alter good deal OF anguish masicaiy expressed. Vo-
etsa conseDtcu,s her Alfred and returns TO the dssi
patioDs Of Paisoonsumpsion, champagne, now lover
and other uxuries Alfred, misakiug her real motives,
follows her about, and works himself up TO high state
ondgnaton throwing her portrait 1t her feet calling her
hard names and otherwise msbehsving himself In the
last voIe,,a dies Alfred finds out the truth whom
II IL longer matter OF the slightest consequence
Il will be that the plot Identical with that Of ia
Dame aux Caweiias" an extremely improper, but
particularly exciting, play In stealing which the Engsh
play writer's were put to great deal of trouble Miss
Davenport arranged . version In which the heroine
was made . coquette This was fimsy mask,
and made tho play neither thing the
other. Miss Laura Keene ingeniously got over
the difficulty by making the action Of the play transprc
in dream. ending with happy denousnsent Under al
forms the play has been favorte one-chieAy because
gives fine opportunity for effective acting although
In moral point OF view II must be condemned. Our
audiences, however shocking may seem, do not regard
the theatre he shop for morals" and 20 long - they
excited and amused without positive nfrActon Of the
propretes they do not pay much attention to the lesson
moral immoral, sought 70 be conveyed. The true
cret Of verds popularity 10 in the fact that he knows his
audience and gives II precaely what Graves. Without
doubt both In his music and his selection OF subjects for
lsbre he the most effective Of composers The great
success Of the "Trovatore, which extremely faulty
work Of art the best proof Of the peculiar adspta
bilhy Of the composers mind 70 the popular taste,
lack Of taste, whichever the critics. par ssencs please
TO call II.
With reference to the music OF this OPERA the London
critics set down the composers weakest work. Not
altogether agreeing with that opinion, the performance
Of last night sat fed that although Ls Tfavata
may not be so effective ~ the "Trovatore," 1t still
abounds In melodies which win catch the popular ear
and, therefore that its quite certain In the
first act havea monoogue Tor volesta which displays
all the powers Of the composer In excellent light and
the finale joyous cabaleta, full OF brilliant divisions
and reaching 70 in alt, made positive furre Madame
dc La Grange, who executed the music exceedingly we'll
but has dramatic feeling called before the curtain
and compelled TO repeat the finale This compliment y
due 10 the composer almost entirely In the second act
there 10 . we'll written romanzs, very well sung
by Brisnol, who appeared to great advantage in
the part Of Alfred, and . capital duet for the
soprano and baritone. Sgnor Amodo has . solo, "Di
Prousnsa IL mar, IL suol," which Is Of the best
things the opera and received the best treatment II
tho hands Of this excellent artist. voea has two meio
dies In this act mon Sdpete quale G6eto" and "Addo
del paaafo," which exquisite. Al reste, the third
long concerted piece, very verdish and very
dramatic, from the surroundings Of the scene
than from the music, although that Is excellent.
The opera given to very critical audience and
nade . SUCCESS. It u hardly possible to pronounce
finally upon the merts Of work Of this kind after only
hearing; but is certainly safe to say ths the
rraviata" will achieve here oaly second 10
that Of tho ''Trovstore"