Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-04-14
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP

bill was called up.
Mr.. Montgomery moved to insist on which |
motion he demanded the previous question.
Not seconded-ayes 1Os, noes 10Y; when the
Speaker voted in the negative-making tie.
Mr.. English moved that the proposed confer
ence be granted, stating, at the same time, that
he did not think he could, under any circum-
stances, vote for the Senate's Kansas bill. On
this motion he demanded the previous question.
Mr.. Garnett asked him to wshdraw that cal,
to enable him to explain the vote he should
give on his mr. G 's) motion.
Mr.. Stanton objected.
Mr. Washburn, of Me, rising to a point of
order, commended that the motion of Mr.. English
was not in order, the House having previously
voted to adhere.
The Chair overruled this point of order; and
the previous question being sustained, the mo-
ton to appoint a committee of conference was
then carried-yeas los, nays 1O8-(the Cha
voting in the affirmative, and thus carrying
the proposition-making the affirmative vote
1897
FIRST NIGHT OF THE ITALIAN OPERA-VER-
DIS TRAvIATA.-The success of Herr Maret-
EEK $ troupe last evening was eminently trium-
plant. The performance was worthy of the
distinguished and brilliant audience assembled
in response to so courageous an appeal to that
growing love Of art, which has already sum-
moned the Inner and the statuary to decorate
the Z" frozen music" with which the architects is
adjoining the national capital.
1t is pleasant to find that in this crater of
political excitement, Gazzaniga, Brignoli and
Amodio lat two dollars n seat should have at
tracted as enthusiastic a crowd as Senator'S
Toombs, Green, Douglas and Crittenden.
Grateful indeed is the civilizing mission of art,
when we reflect that not long since Signora
Gazzaniga was gathering bouquets hurled upon
tho stage in frantic delight by the Queen and
Court of Spain; that later her exquisite vocal
and dramatic powers were invoked to cOnse.
crate to the muses. their new temple in Phila-
delphia; and that, later still, she was rvaling
in the Havana, the warblers of the tropics.
The plot of the @ Traviata'' is a parsphrase
of that touching chapter of sadness, the Dame
aur Cameiias of Alex. Dumas, the younger
While an episode so full of tears might have
been more tenderly interpreted into the lam
guage of song by Bellini, We realize an over
flow of passion and pathos in its rendition by
the author of " Ernani."
1t is impossible to impart to musical dialogue
that continuous flow of varying expression
which commands breathless interest in the
highly-wrought drama and we know of no
modern opera which has hazarded tho intro.
duction of more multifarious action or more
striking contrasts.
The platform of phrenzied conviviality upon
which the opera commences, reminds us of some
Of the old theatrical shows in which the cohorts
of Lucifor were finally vanquished by angels
and compelled to do homage to holiness
There is dash of the Malibran about Signora
Gazzinaga; dramatic truthfulness which i'm
presses US with its sincerity; while her admi-
rable method, her sympathetic voice and her
perfect modulations of tender and passionate
expression, reveal the accomplished as we'll as
the inspired artist
Signor Brignoli was avaricious of bis organ
during the first two acts as it is of exquisite
tone and sweetness, we experienced that un-
essiness with which all true lovers of song ap-
prehend the falling of that rare star in the
vocal frmament-a pure tenor voice. Towards
the conclusion our anxiety proved unfounded
The stops of the organ yielded some thrilling
bursts quite equal to the occasion, and we re-
membered how often we had seen tenors hus-
band their resources like the Matador during
Spanish bull fight, who occasionally throws a
bamdeya or cOquettes with the Toro, and only
rises to heroism and brings down the house,
when his weapon finally CLEANS in the air and
is buried in the victim.
Of SigDor Amodio's rich and manly voice we
cannot speak too highly, while his prodigality
OF tone evoked responsive thanks.
GasparODi, too, was correct and effective, and
the whole representation would have been
honored with the appreciation of any European
audience.
We trust that the enthusiastic enjoyment by
our musical elite of the repast with which his
| enterprise has provided them, will encourage
Dir. Stuart to extend these performances be-
yond the season to which prudence had limited
them.
Torriani is prodigy in his way His or
chestra was composed almost entirely of Wash
ington musicians; few, comparatively, in num-
Der. We do not remember to have heard more
effective orchestral accomplishments than his
single days rehearsal, with such material, con-
jured up, more especially after the perform
ance of the second act, when La Mamma, that
most capable of theatrical leaders, took his seat
at the head Of the row of first violins. The
bow of their old leader, in that position, GER
tainly inspired his cohort to do wonders under
the circumstances, in fulfilling their difficult
task.
The chorus, too, was appropriate to sing with
such artists as the prima donna, tenor and
basso of the OccasiOn-the only correct one
the only operate chorus without single voice
to mar the musical effective ever listened to.
Opera was never before put on the stage in
this city with 80 much taste or so successfully
in all respects, as was abundantly testified a
dozen times in the course of the evening by the
highly appreciative audience.
Tonight, the troupe render Donizetti's chpf
d'e"r,e, Lucia, with Signorina Cairolo as
Lucia, Brignoli as Edgardo, and Amodio sing
ing the role Of Enrico No richer or more mel.