The New York herald., 1866-04-22
The italian Opera.

OPENING OF THE SEASON IN LONDON-fERFORMANCK
OF UN BALLO IN MAsCHERA, WITH MARIO.
IFrom the London Telegraph, April Al
Tho OF Italian Opera was opened last night by
al the completeness to which NJ eye has long accus-
toned patrons. Precisely at haf-past eight O'Clock
Mr. Costa who noted for punctuality lifted his baton,
and the familiar strains OF the national anthem sum-
moned the audience TO their feet the massive spendor
Of the noby.proportioned house awoke admiration
chorus only and had the curtain fallen
upon this bef ceremony the prelude to the swelling
theme Of a seasons riumphs, than II again upon
the first OF Verdi's opera.
Verdi seems already to have marked the season for his
own. Not only is 1t on his latest contribution to the
stage that tho curtain rises upon the opening night but
each OF tho three works produced In the first week
is likewise the product Of his active pen Un Ballo in
N1schra has scarcely as yet met with its deserts in
England, and It certainly has not received the uni
versal acceptance which has been gained by much
less mertorous works. For this comparative neglect
Signor Verdi has partly to thank himself In lay
ing violent hands the bretto Of Gusape he secured
tried and serviceable scanoding with which to build
avoidable comparison with the gttering fary-ike
palace which to the creative genius OF Aubcr
books which have already been illustrated by their pre-
decessors cannot be too deeply depored, seeing that
tends to mpoveish the field Of art score OF painters
exercise their skill upon the selfsame subject and
though to only we eau assign the PALM may take
ght in ALL observing how each artist has conceived
his subject and by what each has fixed the result
Of his maginngs But from this pleasure the connos-
in music is debarred; for 1t unfortunately happens
that the more recent opera always drives its foreunner
It's model and example-into the limbo OF forgotten
works Both cannot ive and the world Of art is thus
Impoverished If it BIO true that the man is public bene.
factor who makes two blades Of grass spring up where
only grew BEFORE the musician must be doer who
to plant his sweet flower pucks up that by his
neighbor when there is room enough for both to live
complete success can in any case justify the proceeding
and 1t cannot be said that In the Of Gudue Verdi
has completely eclpsed Auber But II the impusive
Italian has not improved upon his great French rival his
B1o Mdschera is of his very best works. instinct
from beginning to end with dramatic life and yigor Il
possibly chosen nights
because must be familiar every concerned in
the performance There was indeed novelty in the
cast
The heroine impersonated by Mdle. Fricci, who
for several has been Of the generally
servceabe members Of Mr. Gye's house, being equally
prepared TO undertake any soprano part and who during
that period has made considerable progress Her voice
has lost none of its brightness or power and in the
tumultuous scene in which Amaa's interview with the
Duke is interrupted By her husband, well in the
pathetic appea! MORO ma prima in grasa, she exhb
tied derable feeling Neither Mdlle SOncri who
sang the three sparkling songs OF the page Oscar with
dash than refinement Mdllc. Iustan who sustained
the small part the soceress altogether strangers
TO an English audience But ungallant It n,ay SEEM
is nevertheless true that the interest Of the evening
was chiefly liked upon the male actors In the drama
when Signor Mario first walked upon tho stage he
greeted with cordiaty that appeared to give him i'm
mediate strength and confidence for he sang throughout
Che opera with much OF his former beauty of voice and
with all his constant grace Of style If his physical
capacity refused at times to follow the promptngs Of his
will the singular charm Of which he still Keeps the
crct made ample amends No other tenor has led
OF the tunefui quintet "E scherzo ed tola" with such
debonair insouciance, or poured such irresistible
fervor into the passionate protest ations that
the Duke whispers into Amalias willing ear.
Signor Grazian also met with n warm reception ut
the hands unusually cold audience and was vocif.
erousy encorcd for his rendering the plantve me
lody, 80 Doice-se Prdae in which Rcnato recalls the
happiness OF the 'days that more" Sgnor
Taglahco and Cappon were picturesque vol as mus
caly unexceptonable consprators and the chorus
even more efficient than usual The orchestra,
Quoted by tho watchful MIR Costa admirable
cvor, and the scenic ARRANGEMENTS artistic and
pete The masked ball itself, which gives its name 10
the opera animated IL s with hosts of fantastical
partcolored groups the sumptuous the
kind over witnessed any stage.
II Tnvrt re Ia announced for Thursday, and la Tfd
vlta for saturday, Verdi has 1t all his way TINS
week