New Orleans daily crescent., 1866-11-19


The success Of Max strakosch's Italian Opera
Company has progressed Cresce1ldo, and cuimi-
mated on Saturday evening in such an artistic
triumph as it has seldom been our lot to witness
in this city. "TroYatore, ," Traviata" and "Nor-
ma" were all well rendered, and in every one of
them, although her vocal powers are over.taxcd
by her almost nightly appearance in the most ar
ddous of characters, Nine. Ghoni has come off
with the h0nors which she has SO descrvedly won
as the leading female singer Of the troupe,
although the part Of Fioletta is that which least
becomes her. Her Le0nord and Norma are
truthful and impassioned delineations such as Gu
title her to high rank among the artstes Of Il
day Take it all il all, the second performance
Of Trovatorem was better than the first though
played to meager audience, however well con
stuted as far as taste and judgment is concerned.
Irre's voice was clearer than we had yet found it,
and the diletianf present were wild with enthusi-
asm over his Miserere" song
The two grand successes however, Of the week
in pecuniary, as well as artistic sense, were
"Faust" and L'Africaine." The former was per-
formed last year at the New Opera House. 1t
was no novelty, and drew last week on account
of the great intrinsic merits which our people
were not slow in detecting and not apt to forget.
Therefore it was we recognized SO imanY familiar
faces from the lower districts, who had witnessed
its first presentation here. No wonder then the
ST. Charles was crowded, and so many had to
stand behind the sofas. The camor for a second
performance of this opera, following Immediately
upon the enthusiastic reception with which it met
on its first night, induced The manager to put it
upon the bills for Thursday, when it was again
greeted by an equally large and elegant audience
The story Of Faust and Marguerite, indss0lu'
bly, linked in history with tile name of Goethe, the
greatest of all German writer's, has been SO often
translated and adapted for the dramatic and ope-
ratio stage fer the boUdoir and parlor that it has
become familiar as household words. IrfFe, as
Faust it is needless 10 say, was equally good and
felicitous throughout the eyening-hfs voice never
flags though lie is deXterous in the use Of it, and
spares it usually at the beginning Of an aria so as
| to produce ali the effect which he desires, and
never fails TO accomplish, as it progresses. This
| is the art of a good musician and singer, and the
result Of it is that he never sings false His aras 10
Uoqli0 il placer, sdlte dim0ra, and his two duetto
| with Marguerite were all gems. The charming
Mile. Canissa did the tender Mdrguerdet to periec-
ton, bewitched and hewildered by the machina
tions of Faust and NephiStopte2es, and their gilt
tering seduction-all penitence and tears, like
Nagdalen of biblical fame, after the discovery Of
her sins. Her An, EitStrdi1o potter, was rendered
with all the art!eszness of maiden innocence, hel
non rit0y7na ducor with all the anguish Of woman
Iy love. Susni makes capital Meptistopheses
Madame Strakosch' p0Tlatele ddm0r is perhnp!
the sweetest melody in the whole opera and hel
rendition Of it is entitled to ali praise for its ten
derness ard taste. The audience rapturously ap
pIauded the chora5 and military air in the tourtl
act, and insisted upon an encore.
On Saturday evening the dilettantj from al
parts of the city, assembled at the ST. Charles il
such numbers that many could not get standin!
room behind the sofas, but such was the excel
F ence of the performance that numbers Of gen
tlemen stood, without grumblng, during the Who'll
performance The coup d'oeN Of the dress cirel
and parquette, was besides attraction not to b
overlooked for the array Of beauty, and eleganc
of dress combined, we have never seen eXcelle
. anywhere-sucb was it, in fact, as to divert muc
/ of the attention which Tightfuy belonged to th
stage, The occasion which called such a
audience together was the first appearance {
S "L'Afrcaine, Meyerbeer's great posthumor
+ work-one well worthy Of claiming rank by I'll
I side Of its elder sisters, Robert lie Dable " on
: @ lie Prophete.' The plot is one which require
j, grand spectacular display and liberal outla
J, on the part Of the management. In this respec
e the only scene we would find fault with, is II
e fourth act, in which the scenery was indferen
Y and the members and accontrements Of Sej{hd
soldiers entirely unsatisfactory. The orchest
was luckily increased innumhers Tor the occasio
and the violin unison air in the last act was beau
II fully performed and highly effective.
If Irffe persouatad 9dscj III CANA, the gre
e Portuguese hero Of The fifteenth century to who
j. history gives the credit Of having first discoYer
y the passage around the Cape of Good Hope. L
II plot of this opera is founded uponthe persecutio
RS which he encountered at home, and the a
le ventures which he may have met with in t
East in the prosecution Of his scheme of d
d. covery The Portuguese personages presented
1T the play are true historical characters setkd
NeluSko are creatures Of fancy, though painted
RS accordance with our ideas of East Indian passion
or The character of the polished noble, ready
er sacrifice his very life in the prosecution of kno
9r. ledge could not have been intrusted to bet
ly hands than Irfre. His voice was uncommon
or clear and he as we'll the other engaged, seen
he impressed with the requirements of the occasi
His duetto with Ghioni was the most beautl
nut gem of the opera. 6usini astonished the aude1
by his unexpected appearance, which was gree
)r- with loud applause. Ghioni sang admira
VS. throughout, and though her face was rather
ne' passive for that of an Indian princess, she
evidently identified herself with the character.
oh slave to love, she bore herself throughout with
'no the dignity of an Eastern queen. Her dress
Fy' that of Marra's were unexceptonable.
ner We should like very much (and it was our int
eSs tion) to give a full account of the performo
ing on Saturday evening, but as we are pressed
10 time and space, we will keep this pleasure
ing store for ourselves for another occasion, a
cial we have heard the same opera performed III
Is better advantages, as to scenery and oreAes
ito than strakosch has had at the St. Charles,
slon The Orleans Theater has brought out three
%"S . cerent comedies and one fine drama during
o,vs last week.
o"s s The drama of Latude +" was performed
80 u fore house filled in every nook and COZ
wa and received with repeated outbursts of appr
tl,i1 ton. Ii was followed on the same eyenin
''''7 the comedy, which we have before notice
length, entitled Les Femmes que Pleurent.
ce to On Tuesday, {" Les Petites Mains" was g
Co., 1t is truthful picture of some domestic Gil
eper, when love has vanished and Indifference an
tnge gust have taken its place.
t, by On Saturday Mario uchard's comedy,
n