The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-02-03
THE OPER A

Last night at the Holiday Street Theatre there
was a very brilliant and fashionable audience, to
witness the performance of DoNIzErTI's celebrated
comic opera, Don Pasquale. Public expectation had,
of course, been greatly excited about PIccoLoMINI's
acting and the attention of those who were present
was chiefly occupied by her. The role of Norma is
well calculated to display the charming, cunning
little ways which have succeeded in winning for
PIocoLoMINI her great reputation as actress and
in obtaining for her, everywhere, such enthusiastic
receptions 1t was her first appearance in Don Pas
quale in this country, and in the impersonation of
the gay and impulsve young widow, she has GER
tainly acquired new laurels, and has furnished the
American people with the most convincing evidence
of her supremacy on the lyric stage in the class of
cha, a~.-.s 20 which N.-;..~ belenss-- Nathing
could have been more p erfectly natural than the
manner with which she played her part, throughout
the evening, and while we adhere strictly to the
opinion which we expressed when we heard PIcoo-
LIMINI sing in concert, fortnight since, that her
voice is not at all extraordinary, we must join
in the universal admiration of her acting
Great praise is also due to FLoRENzA,
LoRINI and MAaGIoRoTrI, not only for their exqui-
site singing, but for the cleverness with which they
assisted in bringing out the interesting story of the
Opera, which, for the benefit of those of read
Ernest, (LoR1NI,) the nephew of Don Pasquale,
(MAaGIoRorrI,) rich old citizen of Rome, desires
to marry Norino, (PIcooLoMINI,) a gay, dashing
young widow, with more beauty than money; but
the match is violently opposed by Pasqmale
who knows Norma by reputation only. Finding
that Ernest persists in urging his suit with the
fair widow, Pasquale, although very old, de-
termines to be revenged by getting married himself
and cutting Ernest off with shilling. He commits
sons his friend and physician, DIR. Malatesta, FLo
RENzA,) to find suitable person whom he shall
wed; but Malatesta-who secretly favors the match
between Ernest and Norina-resolves to play trick
upon Pasquale, in order to accomplish his pur
pose. He therefore introduces Norma to Pas
quale as his sister Sophronia, and the Don, smtten
with her beauty and modesty, proposes at once, and
a sham marriage contract is drawn up by pre-
tended notary, nephew of Malatesta, who has been
contract is being signed by Pasquale and Nori-
na but explanation slyly given by Malatesta puts
him in possession of the trick that is being played
at the expense of the Don. The legal document is
no sooner signed than the assumed modesty of
Norma is thrown aside and she enacts the shrew to
the infinite disgust and establishment of Pas
quale. She orders every conceivable thing without
regard to expense, treats her would-be husband
with the utmost disdain, and even boxes his ears
Finally, she drops note which she has prepared
for the purpose of bringing matters to speedy de-
movement, in which it appears that she has made
appointment with her lover for that evening. The
Don finds the note, Gas of course she intends) be-
comes furiousy enraged, and waits in concealment