, 1864-02-14

The Italian Opera aeaeon closed Saturday
right after q series OF twelve perform
arces In which, the operas: .of LuczezIa,
Fayorita, Norma, TroTatosc, the Marked
Rall, and Don Juan have each been given
once, while Lucia, sounambnla and Martha h.
been twice represented; not By any meaD~ -
liant array Of novelties, but yet wor.. - bril-
ample opportunities for the de. ~.~as sfosdins
1yric power; opportuntsf" play OF tho h!ghes.
slightly q clord 80 however, improved bn,
ihe comp-- -prareutly resting over most ~ ~
parfr~. ~ay during the whole fortnight The
oa,.. .a9es commenced with an apology for ono
n"''' Ha!ea mas been continued Tcpeate,jr f,r
others until tho indulgence Ut the audience Ina
been claimed for most .; the principal artists In
securing seats day or two In advance, you were
hs no n,cans sure Of hearing the opera OF tho ar
fists you bargaIned for: nor Was 1t better OF the
day Of the performance, Tor moro than once the
opera wss changed within few hours Of the ris-
Ing Of tho curtain. You Went to hear your favor
itc artist in role you most admired, and heard
your particular aversion, In his most 1epugnanp
strains. But the audiences wero indulgsur, and
seemed TO appreciate the fact that colds md sore
throats were beyond the control Of the naansser
Loriui, Coraier and Caatri, sopranI; Morcna, con-
tralto; Steffau and Tamaro tenori; Morel1,, bari
tone; Formes, coetti and Bari1, bassos, hare sus-
tanned the principal roles. Iorin1 the chief pr1ma
donna, has appeared but three times, owing to
sickness. When she has sung, che has shown that
che possesses great dramatic power. In Lucrezis
and Norma she WAS superb; but 1t was evident
that she was not In voice, md We can hardly aatter
ourselves that We have yet heard Losin1. Coraier
LES hardly been more fortunate, she, too, having
Eeen IN The hands Of the phyaicians during her en-
Lie slay here, and she il better known and apprp-
ciated By her admirable performances or last sum-
1.cr than by anything she has done In her recent
engagement. The sickness Of these two artistes
los been serious drawback to the success Of tho
Opera in an artistic sense, for In pecuniary WAY
1t has been, we understand, satisfactory to the
manager. Madame Castri, although not altogether
exempt from the prina donna epidemic, has ftc-
qnent1y appeared, and such has been tho
general excellence Of her performances that
size Is fully established as Myorite with
our opera goers. Her yoice is q light soprano.
clear and sympathetic, with no little fedbilty,
and In such parts as 8hc has essayed, she has
acquitted herself as fne singer and clever ac-
trees. Her Lucia and A1nina were admirable her
Zerlina charming tmpe1aonation, md If in Mar
thu she was not as much at home It is sufficient
excuse that II vas her frat appearance In tho part
Altogether, We consider her d most promising
young artistic, and predict for her brilliant career
Morensf, with her rich conttalto, handsome per-
eon and graceful ratriage, has dcepcned the favor
able Impression she made IN the summer, and a.,
beyond a1l question, the most popular member Of
me company sne mas divided the honors with
psima l aonnas, MOI alWass giving them the largest
l.ns aua aa0 ~ every M1S oeen recognized oy the
Auuleueo 90 .ue ,,.', felnns u'ofl'e' eae mas In
pto'ea not u4ae' stace LASS year Inc quality OF.
oer no'es oeing nenef, anu ner execution moro
perfect no" taan taen. "nl1e IN familiarity with
Iie esage o1slness sne mas made corresponding
progress. She has appeared In the Favorite, as
adalRiea, as Asuccna, aud IS Nancy, and 1t would |
be difficult to say in which she most excelled. |
La somnanibula. was selected for the closing
night and was very we'll presented, Castri being in
excellent voice. Tamaro singing unusually well.
md the chorus and orchestra being much be,ter
ban heretofore. Castri as Amina added TO tho
aurals she has already won. and was warmly an.
,laudcd. Her Al non oiua1e WIS ernnis,teiv
uns, and her singing and acting throurhout the
,pera left little to be desired.
S,etfnni, The tenor robusto of tho +,onne h.
uttered also rtom b:s throat and b;a f-sr a,ras
nee created a preindlca against him. frnm 1ha
art Of h1s beinp ohI,oe3 tn frc hfs votre IN o,1a