Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-01-27

ITALIAN OPERA.-The deserved excite
nent and interest with which the appearance
of Grau's grand opera troupe was greeted,
appears to increase rather than diminish.
The Academy of Music was last night filed
with most brilliant audience, representing
the beauty, wealth and fashion, and, to
great extent, the intelligence and cultivated
taste, of our city. That such an audience,
generally respectful of the prOprietiss to
degree that amounts to reserve and almost to
timidity, should be moved to any demonstra-
tion of approval, is unusual and fsttering,-
that they should burst forth in such irrepres-
sible applause as last night greeted the beau
tiful and passionate melody of "Lucia di
LammermOOr, is something more-itis almost
unparalleled.
This exquisite opera, from the master hand
Of Donizetti, is founded upon the legend
which Sir Walter Scott has made immortal
in his celebrated novel " The Bride of Lam
mermoor." TIE outline of this plOt,-nOt
an intricate or complicated one,--is therefore
familiar to our readers. A Characteristic of
the opera is that it throws three characters,
Lucia, AschtOn and Edgardo,-into bold
relief, to the almost entire exclusion of
others. The success or failure Of the opera,
therefore, rested upon tho success or failure
Of Castri, Morolli and Stsfani. The burden
was on their shoulders and they bore It most
bravely and successfully. The fair oastri
carried the house before her in sweeping
conquest. Her beauty and grace won the
hearts of the audience before she had opened
her lips to sing, and the first cadenoes
Of her sweet voice enrEptured every listener.
Her acting, too, though quiet and subdusd,
was very natural and perfect, and her debut
before cur CIeveland audience was a most
successful one.
Stefani's success last evening was even
more marked and f4ttering than that of the
previous night, great as that had been. We
have never had among us a tenor Of more re-
narksble power, purity and sweetness, man
aged with such exquisite taste and feeling,
as this OF Stefani's. Whenever he appeared,
whether IN the exquisite duet with Castri in
the first act, in the terrible passion Of love
and rage in the wedding scene, or in his de-
spsir and grief in the closing scene among
the tombs, he was supreme and unriTalled.
Morelli, too, made most favorable i'm
preston on the audience. A better Asehton
than he, 1t would be hard to conceive Of
for Morelli is perfect actor, and In every
part of the opera was master Of tho situation
His splendid baritone, in all its magnificent
strength and depth, frequently drew, from
the coolest critics, most enthusiastic ap
plause.
Castri, stefani and MorelIi were several
times called before the curtain to acknoWl-
edge the tremendous applause with which
their efforts were greeted. The minor parts
we're well filed by the other singers, and the
chorus and orchestra we're both very fine.
Sig. MuIiO, to whose care the entire musical
direction of the opera is entrusted, deserves
especial commendation for its excellent sue
cess.
This evening verdi's great opera I'll TrO-
vatore" is announced, with Madame LOrini,
whose unrivalled rendering Of LucreEia Bor-
glsis still fresh in our memories, as Leonora,
Mile MOrensi appears as ArEuena, stefani
q, Marico, MOrsIli as the Count de Luca, and
BariIi as Fernando. The celebrated Anvil
chorus introduces the second act Of this just
Iy popular opera. We need not urge our
citizens to attend It.