Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-01-30

ITALIAN OPERA.-The announcement by
Manager Grsu, that Norma would be intro
duced yesterday evening, with Madame
Lorini as Norma, drew together as large and
fashionable an audience, and one certainly as
well informed in matters musical, as has ever
congregsted within the walls of our Academy
of Music. And the splendid prOduction--One
of tie finest, as tits sssuredly one of the most
popular, of all eperss-was rendered in
manner that Bsllini, its great composer,
would have been fully satisfied with.
Our readers are sIrssdy familiar with the
plot of this most popular Opera, and it is un-
necessary that we should detail to them the
story Of the love and secret marriage of the
vsstal Druid priestsss, Norms, with the Ro-
man Prof. Consul, the treaohery Of the husband
and wOoing of another vsstal virgin-the dis
covery-the unsuccessful suing of the injured
wife to bring back her treacherous husband
her mingled rage and love-and her final
vengeance, by which she sacrifices at once
herself and her rscresnt consort upon a COM
mon pyre, content to die tzith him. The
opera is one Of the intensest and most tragi-
cal interest, rising through the whole per-
formance and eliminating in that last fear
fal scene in which Norma SO grandly demon
strates both her love and her hate for Polio.
We must confess to slight feeling of dis
appointment in witnessing Madame Lsrini's
"NOrmA." The part, indeed, is one which
none but the most extraordinary genius
should ever dare attempt. The intensity
and feverish powsr Of passion, the majestic
snd yet fierce cOmuingling of hate and scOrn
and love in the persen Of Druid 'high-priest-
ess, are such that they make the effort Of any
usual songstress appear tame. Madame Lo-
rini did not fill, as no one whom We have yet
heard o1n fill, our ideal of Norma. But she
was splendid in her great part, and in the
scene of the discovery, in the duet with Mo-
rsnsi, commencing 81 has Viato, a5brdei0mi," {"
and in the final scene, she rose to magnificent
power and PathoI,
stefsni was as splendid in voice and song
as ever, and won fresh Isurels in his role of
Polio. His part was not one to call forth
the full powers Of his magnificent voice, but
he filed it finely, looking the disdainful RO-
man to the life. In the scene with Adalgiss
he was splendid.
But the queen of the opera, by a strange
reversal of Its intention, was Morensi as
Adalgisa. Popular and brilliant as she has
been heretofore, she rose last night to new
and unexpected heights of power and sweet
ness. Her pure cOntrHltO was richer and
more powerful than ever, and in the scene
with Polio, and the two scenes with Norma,
won thunderOus applause. But her acting
and personnel we're, after sll, her chief at
fractions. Rarely has q lOvelisr vision aP-
pearsd upon our boards than this AdaIgisa of
Morsnsi. Her acting was perfection. Every
attitude was a model for sculptor; every
glance Of her dark eyes study for an artist.
In brief, Morensi was the star of the evening.
The other actors, especially COletti, the
chorus, and the orchestra filed their parts
we'll.
Tonight is the grand gala night of the
season, and its closing one. Don Giovanni,
the opera of operas, will be produced, with
MOrelIi In his great role of Don Juan. The
three primo donna's, Lorini, Morensi and
Castrl, ali make their appearance. All should
turn out to hear this greatest of all music l
entertainments.