The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-10-21
P1cc0lOmaua.

The grand operate Of the took place the
Acsd~my Of Music last night, when Mr.. Ullnan CON-
menced his winter season, and introduced 70 the Aner
can public prma donna who has led the British lion
captive during The long expected and much
desired Marietta Picoolomin made her debut La Travia
IN" under the favorable auspices The splendid
theatre presented an unusually gay appearance. Long
before the opera commenced the streets in
the vicinity Of the Academy choked up
with carriages, and Irving place fairly aoated
in crnolne Within, every place occupied the
lobbies aslcs and corridors being almost impassablc
description Of the audience may be given three words
every body was there. The boxes in the first tier
absolutely blazed with beauty and doubt II any thea
tre the world presented such array Of pretty
women. Almost every one was in full dress, and the
effect worth going miles to see But the opera;
When the fair canatrce entered upon the she
greeted with a reception which was extremely
cordial-suoh a recognition, in fact, as our gal.
liant public always gives to stranger and woman.
The first impression OF admiration the per
sonal gifts Of the prima donna With petite figure
and lovely brunette complexion, transparent than
thoee Of Italians generally; charming, rosy, tempting
mouth; exquisteIy moulded hand and arm and that
indescrbablc fascination OF which call capt.
vatngtwas great wonder that Ia Pccolomin vaultcd
at into the affections Of tho audience EVERYBODY sad
"How charming she isl" and then waited 10 hear her
her sing when she took up the air of the Brindisi !"
from Stefan she looked like a duodecimo Hcbc,
go, up in the most splendid style. She dashed
through with true baochanalian fervor. There could
be no prohibiiory liquor law where In Piccolomni
gave supper parties. II received with storm Of ap.
plause sharp yoey Of muskciry, and repetition
followed ~ a matter cf The pretty lis,ic duct
80, Happy Day" was charmngly sung, and the prima
donna threw thousand sensations into the Adio What
sharerc calls the "s~eet sorrow Of parting perfectly
understood by Pocoomn Bot the vocal powers OF the
lady stn remained be tested In the sccna and aria
which conclude the first Those who expected 10 hear
nord execution must have been disappointed In rapid
ehrcmate and ssaocaso passages Pcoolonni not
Her voice spuro IN quans d exceedingly sympactc;
=, good soprano organ but not rcai The lower
notes especially good, and with she produces
the remarkable effect which The French call the "tcars
in the voice" In that speciality she has not been
oqualled within recollection But the truth must be
told, even about pretty woman, and The truth that
Piccolomini oen sings false and has bad habits,
not 10 say radical faulty method she belongs 10
school of Italian singers who have grown up with the
Verdi operas and who themselves with giving an
intense dramatic expression 70 The music without trou-
bling themselves about nicctcs cf execution The qucs
tion for the public to decide whether the grand
acting of such ars Piccclomln makes mp FOR the
absence of finished singing so Car the FIRST act went
Of Pcoolomin shc called out three times and literal
" boianizcd with bouquets After the third call the
tain raised and she repeated the final air Bui 10
our mind bor strongest point in the with Ger
mont In the second act. will be remembered that the
situation is especially touching volea sacrifices her
lover Al The earnest pleading Of his father Pccoomn
elaborated all The details Of the conflicting passions which
aga'e The breast OF the unhappy girl with great skin
Her acting study for the connoisscur II perfect
as chef d0uwe by old master One point was artistic
In the extreme Her parting with the father earnest
respectful and pathetic, but her sscu 10 her lover
vas an outbreak of her whole sorrowng heart The suf
fused eyes, trembling hands quivcrng and words
broken with sobs, irresistbly touching Similar
honcrs accorded TO her this act as for tho FIRST
From this period OF the opera up 10 the third act The
prima donna has little TO do And that reminds us 10 say
In passing that rccccmni s great little things Her
by play exceedingly artistic and her movements upon
the stage fun Of symmetry and grace The third
was finely rendered The artist seemed almost inspired
IN rendering the " Gran Dior and her outburst
Of Joy at meeting Alfred splendid. n was
great acting Alter the curias fell the peut
NJ enthusiasm Of the public broke out in storm q ap
pausc such rs s rarely heard anywhere We really
say how many times rccolomni recalled, having
ceased to count after the third she seemed much affect
cd and incning her head gracefully the footghts
SAID ~ thank YOU with All my heart am yery ycry