The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-01-18
Musical and Dramatic Matters.

The chief event of last week was the 'Don Giovanni II
the Academy grand performance before q great Al
dience. The entire press Of the city has pronounced II -
be the very best representation Of the opera ever given
here. Muscally the ensemble Is perfect; theatrically, tbs
coup d'a1 Of the ball room scene Ia the finest efec, over
seen at the Academy. We would suggest, however, 10
to the capable stage director, Mr.. Debreul, that the
balconies for The musicians on the stage should
be raised Q Little higher. This 10 the only fault
in the scene. The artists are all good-LaGrangs
Caradori, DAngri, LAbocetta, easier, Rocco (shs
best Masetto we have over secn) Ardavani-but
the gem Of the performance IL the Leperello of
Mr.. Formes. AT first we had doubts whether a great
Bertrand, Marcel and Caspar could be q good bu6o actor; 4
would be like Rachel invading the domain Of Miss Agnes
Robertson, but we had q most agreeable disappointment
Mr.. Formes plays Leperello quite Inherently from his pro-
decessors in the role. He is light, gay, mischievua
enough, but still preserves a vein Of seriousness and has
occasional spans OF remorse-thereby predicting the catas-
trophc. When the terrible doom Of his master Is apparent,
hs delineation Of ~abjectfear is grand. He permea,sd with
terror from head to foot. This one persona,ion would en-
title Mr.. Formes TO a position among the greatest dramatic
artists OF the day.
Tho Opera closes with two more performances Of the
"Don Giovanni, - one OF which will be given this evening,
and the other on Wednesday. The company opens al us
Philadelphia Academy on Friday next with "The Barber
Of Seville" We arc glad 70 hear that the season has
been pecuniariiy IS we'll a. a~rtistcally successful, and
that the director, Mr.. Ullman, has the full confidence q
the p~ropristors Of the Academy, as well as the support Of
the public.
Mr.. Thalberg has been giving some very successful co.,
cers In Richmond and other towns In Virginia He goes
to New Orleans before proceeding W Havana, on account
OF the rumors about the yellow fever.
signor Nicolas, late director Of an Opera company In
South America, and well known here, has composed a.
opera In three acts, "Pocahonias - lbretio by slgnor Luir
de Brun. The principal characters are-Pooahon.aS, So
prano; P~owhatan, Rolf, tenor; Giovanni smju, baritone.
The orchestral conductor OF the Ronzani ballet troups
Ia now signor ID Carlo, in the place Of Carl Bergmann.
The troupe is now al The National theatre, Cincinnati.
Mrs. Kcmble announces her last readings this week com.
mepcing to day with Richard II.
At the theatres there has been no startling novelty.
Miss Laura Keene produced on Friday Nj. Morson's sdap4a-
ton Of "The Muleteer Of Toledo" The presen, version wa
produced a, the Princess theatre, London, two years axo,
and has been previously acted here and in the West. Niw
KetDe, Mr.. Jordan and Mr., Jefferson have good parts, and
play them well The piece has been highly successful
Il will be given this evening, with Tsylors comedy, "Aa
Unequal Match"
There seems to be just now a sort OF equestrian and
managerial epidemic in this cty-the horses and the ee-
plants, and the lions and the tigers and the riders having
entered into no less than three theatres. The managers
ofthe Van Ambursh troupe al the Broadway theatre have
lately introduced some new cquestfiennes, and they pre-
~ h.r Vf'hab N NV Nttros VI AZ tSBuA8f hMfT &Es
cinderella" which In 10 be entirely performed by chill
dren-some seventy-hve juvenile artists having been in
structed IN the business by Mr.. Nixon. The play is gwen
in addition 70 the usual equestrian, gymnastic and zoolosi-
cal exhibition.
AT Burton's theatre thereis a revival OF interest for To-
night In the performance Of Twelfth Night" with .
fine cast, which includes Mr.. Burton AZ Sir Toby, NJ, @.
Mathews as Sir Andres, Mr.. Fisher az Mslvolio, an
L. W.. Davenport "a Viola. We all know that Mr..
Is a superb Sir Toby, that Mr.. Fishers Mavolio.
cisely the thing, and that Mrs. Davenport Uhen
was very successful az the Viola OF tho origina
Chambers street. We hear that Sir Andrew Is ono
Mathew beet parts. Mr.. Brougham's "Columo,
ters upon lis third week this evenns.
Al waIlack's theatre " The Poor OF New York,
will be performed, for the twenty eighth time.
bis evening, for the benefit Of the writer's
Messrs. Bourcicault, Seymour 4 Company mo p,ec.
has had, an we predicted, a long and proata ple
run, and We are glad 10 gay for the credit OF the manager,
Mr.. Stewart, that he promptly redeemed hs promise 10 hh
employees, and paid full wages as soon as the receipts
covered the expenses.
Niblo's Garden will be opened 10 night with &c Dan RSce,s
Great show" II includes equestrian performances. q
menagerie, with q trained rhinoceros, aud the appearance
Of Mr.. Rice, a favorte clown. The style OF entertainments
"a a favorite one with a very large class Of our populailou,
nd will no doubt be quite successful al this popul~r
ouse.
NJ the Bovsry theatre this evening the rayori,e eoue--
trian drama, " Rookwocdp ftaken from Mr.. Afnswcrth's
noveD Is 10 be played. Miss Salie 81. Clair. who has lately
been fascinating the outside barbarsns In Boston and
other small towns, has returned 10 the Bowery and plays
hathnde In the French SPY this evening.
Al Barnum's Museum this evening we are b have the
first performance Of a popular revolutionary tale, the
|" Pioneer Patriot, y together with the &C Quecu's Page
Mrs. Charles Howard plays the heroine Of the drama.
The colorcd opera has received an accession ~ Ia
forces in the persons OF the ever favorite Buckieys, Who
have commenced operations at 4u Broadway. This, with
Woods conn any, George Chr sty and George Holland "A
the new hall near prtnra atreaf- And tho Hrsanta A A7l