New-York daily tribune., 1865-12-18
Musical.
CLOSE OF THE ITALIAN OPERA SEASON.

crowded from paIquo to amphitheater 10 witness
the last performance of LA1ricao the last notes Of
which sounded mid hearty applause The success
which the first night OF the season seemed to
predictwas completely fulfilled for night after
night, for many weeks with the exception OF o
few nights of very bad weather, the Academy was
crowded by fashionable, brilliant ala appreciatiye
audiences
The record OF the Fall season has been one OF con-
tinued success The revived operas attracted large
houses and the operas were successful almost be-
youd precedent The comic opera, "Crispino Ia
COmagc" by tho brothers Rcc, Of watch but moderate
success was prOgnosiica'ed became popular at once,
and to an extraordinary degree This was due to a
combination Of ont and artists The music charming
in melody rich in clever concerted pieces and brilliant
IN Instrumentation is admirable because Of its perfect
adaptation to the subject itself apart from the
situations and the pure comic element Effect
i've the music il never rises beyond the level of its
Subject Thus the incidents and the music ale homo
gcncous and the pu5lc are struck Gt once with the
unity of the whole The artists selected to interpret
the music could not have been improved upon Miss
Kellogg created the character of tie cobbler wiej
she entered into all its phases with infinite spirit acted
with pquant grace and sang the r6le with nayete,
Guency, and brilliancy, Belni the Irregular doc
tois VI ihut hOu4u l1Nt MN
in Europe in the front rank Of buo singers His humor
rich. racy and at the time gentemany, and his
admirable singing, left nothing TO be desired Poor
Revere, CFiSpino, maintained his reputation
OF the first of bac singers and identified himself
with the part that his successor will need all the SYM
pathy of his audience and all the force Of his talent
to battle against the popular remniscence. The
secondary characters were ably sustained, the chorus
es well performed aud the band was well drilled and
well conducted II was the united excellence Of the
music and the audience which secured the remarkable
success Of Crispiuo 10 Comare
There is q curious fact connected with the present
success of this opera. Tor years it considered
failure and the reason remained undiscovered until the
work fell into the hands Of clever French critic. WHO
discovered the cause Tic chief incident Of the second
act is the restoration 10 life Of by CFispino
through the aid of fairy in the original score, the
same incident ouy substituting woman, is detailed.
but much less successfully regards the music. This
twice told tale rendered the opera heavy and secured
its failure. Tie act cut altogether the action
became close and rapid, the interest concentrated
and brilliant success the immediate result.
To those who had heard IAfrlcaine its success was
a foTegOne conclusion but not TO the extent il has
achieved. Many doubted its success. from its want Of
the popular clement they did calculate upon the
effect OF the Terfect whole The beauties Of individual
flowers cannot he compared witt the combined beauties
of the partcrre They did not calculate that earnest
passion appropriately expressed would tonch the heart
aud leave moro lasting impression than the semipclks
expressions of love and agoDy which only tickle the
ear. The most ignorant in music willie they comrlsin
that they discover no "tuno." acknowledge the
grandeur Of the whole; they feel the influence Of tho
perfect thought ideslized polished intensified. elab
f.FaN.su 81
of genius However, be the cause what it may. LAf
rcaipo succeeded brilliantly and triumphantly.
Again the artists aided the composer in the face Of
difficulties, which only conscientious sense of duty
could have enabled them TO overcome The compl
Gated character Of the music different from their
school of study, seemed TO spur the ambition OF ZacoE
Mazzoloni and Bellin 10 endeayor to excel, and We
must in Justice record that their best artistic efforts
were witnessed in LAfieaine. These three artists
took in the whole scope Of their respective roles they
sang with artistic conscienttousness and threw the
who force Of their talent into the Interpretation Of
the composers thoughts We accord to them the high
est praise, and doubt II this great work of Meyer
beer has ever received at the hands Of artists
ample and complete justice The whole production OF
LAfrcane secondary characters, ohoruses orchestra
ballet, scenery and general appointments, reflects the
highest credit upon the judgment aud lberaiiy Of the
manager and tie honor attached to the perfection Of
The performance must be divided between Carl Berg
mann and Max Marotzek.
During the season the following operas were given:
Faust four timos Poliuto, twice; LGcrezia Borgia,
three times lone, four times Ernani five times; In
Ballo In Maschera twice; Troyatore. three times l
Purtani twice; Martha, three tmesi Iravata, once
Lucia di Lammermoor, once; Norma, three tines
Robert lie Diabe, three times; Rgoleto, once; Fra
Diayoo four times; Don Giovanni, once; La Sonnam.
bua, once; Crispino Ia Comare, l2 times and
LAfricaine nine times. During the whole of the
season there has not been disappointment except
tic closing OF tho Opera House on the night OF
Roycres DEATH of the singers have been have
pretended to be sick and every promise has been fal
filed both in the spirit and the letter Every work
has been produced in good style. with competent
artists and proper regard TO details, and the
closed with the best possible feeling between the public
the artists and the manager. evidenced by the
superb basket ofowers presented TO Zucch on the last
night and the costly plate presented TO Max Maretzek
together with letter faly indorsing his managerial
course and expressive Of the utmost confidence and
respect from majority ofthe influential and wealthy
habtues OF the opera.
The season Of 1866, the most successful ever
known ia America; the houses must have averaged
nearly 5000 per night the receipts Of matinee
alone amounted 10 - 800 1t may be calculated that
the music loving people of NOwYoik have expended
upon admission to the opera alone. during the past
three months very close upon 500 0)0
The Spring season Of the Italian opera will commence
early in February, leGC
THE WALLACE FUND.
II is reported that the receipts OF the Wallace
Memorial Concert viii net to the Wallace fund about