New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-09-19
THE BALLET IN PHILADELPHIA.

From Our Special Correspondent.
PHILADELPHIA, Sept. IL, 1857.
Wednesday night, the first night of the season at
the be sutful Opera. House of this city, memora
bic one In the theatrical annals of America. On that
occasion was produced for the first time this side
the Atlantic, grand ballet, with a company eatire
and perfect in every particular, with all the scenic
aoeessorie, complete, and with every detail, no viewer
minute, articay elaborated to the last point of
ceepce attainable in first nights representation.
The ballet has never before been transplanted TO
American soil in the full vgor Of its developed strength
end beauty, and it is yet question whether it will
Dear kindly the degradation from it's home, and will
flourish In an alien SOIL Comic ballets ballet in
ludes and scraps of grand barets we have had pre-
scented for critical approval, in various shapes, aud
the success of three half blown enterprises has been
such as TO encourage the attempt TO introduce the
Terpsichoresn Exotic in ali the native magnitude of
the Grand Ballet.
Mr.. Z. A. Marshall has been the first to make the
attempt Mr.. Max Maretzek under his direction,
engaged in Europe a company who have gained
favorable celebrity as the RonzaD Troupe" They
arrived here about three weeks SINCE aad having de-
voted the intermediate time to the necessary rehesr-
sails and after afordiDg time to the scenic artists to
perform their very important part of the preminares,
they appeared for the first time in this country on
Wednesday evening.
The ballet chosen was Faust" which was rem
dered into the saltstory and pantomimc dialect If
there can be dumb diaect) by Signor Domenico
Ronza himself the maitre de 6ae, the composer of
the piece, and the epacor of the grim Meplistopheles
II is the same old story Of the ambitious scholar, the
tempting devil, and the betrayed and bewildered
maiden, but we have Faust "do1e' into English
by 70 mary trsnsators, and adapted by so many dra-
ma.ists that it most grateful relief to End version
of the story that is mared by any bunders in the
text Goethe himself could not complain Of the Ron
xsni translation any score of Misrepresentation OF
sentiment rhythmic shortcomipg. lnasmuch as
the most must be made Of every opportunity for see
mic display and for effective grouping of the masses
Of suxiaries employed, number OF scenes which, in
ether Adaptations of the drama, surred over or g-
nored altogether are here elaborated TO the utmost and
made most prominent feature. The Wapurgis night
seepe s an instance of this and is amid the unearhy
music and the widest revels of the witches aud the
disbOHc orgies of the rejoicing demons, that the
deemed Marguerite ascends to Heaven, while Faust,
the er1ipg and unhappy, ia dragged to the lowest
depths through consuming fires And throughout the
entire piece those parts Of which the scenic artist and
the ballet master could make the most those psrticu
Jar portions in which concentrated the elements of
Whit is expressed in stage psrleuce by the technical
word effectiveness" are brought into the greatest
prominence, ard the result is that although the same
old story Of Faust is told is zed 10 the mind OF the
observer by different points from those used before
the same tune is played, but in different key.
The artists are worthy Of the name. The principal
dapseuse, Mile Louise Lamoreaux is lady of most
interesting face, figure unexceptonsbly graceful,
and manner modest and most unsesuming.
She epacts Marguerite, or Margherits. Her
pantomime is expressive, natural, being also
most lively and vivacious, while her dancing, in
point Of precision, ease and grace, excels any.
thing seen in this city since the day of Ellsler.
She executes the most difficult and complicated tours
de force with an apparent lack of effort which comes
next door 30 msrvelousness. She made great nit
and was called before the curtain at the end Of each
act. Several of the other ladies m,st excellent.
The principal male dancer Signor Gaspare Fratesi, is
Che beet we have ever had here. Domenico R)nzani
himself though very we'll by no means excels inpanto-
mime or as dancer, several we have already seen.
The piece was put upon the stage with most lavish
expenditure of money; nothing has been spared in the
way of auxliaiies 200 Of whom the stage al
snce) costumes, decorations, or any appliances which
would contribute to the success OF the ballet Barring
defects in the working of the machinery, almost
inevitable first night the performance was all that
could be asked.
The house was crowded to its utmost capacity, aud
the applause hearty and frequent.
The company will shortly sppesr in New-YoSk.
DELEGATES TO THE REPUBLICAN