The New York herald., 1866-09-23
r l s T o RI.
Second Appearance Of the Cheat
Tragedienne.
Crowded House and Intense
Enthusiasm.

Ristori gave last night her second impcrsonation q
Medea TO house crowded quite fully tho first Tn
audience appeared 70 be entirely new and altogether
fashionable and intellectual that which attended tn
dtbu OF the Queen OF Tragedy on Thursda,
evening. Tho appreciation OF all the sublim,
points in the tragedy perhaps even more
marked than the first representation tn,
audience being apparently prepared to dstinguisf
them almost BY anticipation guided. as they doubtless
wcro by tho intelligent criticism OF the first performance
IL would DO difficult to collect in q theatre OF such
limited capacity moro brilliant asscmblage whether
judged BY the test OF intellectual excellence or
In the light Of fashion Among the audience was the c6m
30 "a creme Of refined society which is always attracted
oy The ma net Of genius II illuminated tho private
boxes u studded tho parquet shono in diamonds In
the proscenium boxes IL was every where; exhibiting
In the earnesness with which every movement of Ristor
was studied and every sublime passage in the story Of
the unhappy victim OF fate goriousy depicted was
appreciated the close communion which existed between
the artste and the audience Among present were
she Russian Minister Baron Stoeckl and tho distin-
suished looking baroness: sgnor Molno the Minister
from Costa Rica and other foreign diplomats besides
generous representation Of the itra learned profess
sions and artists
With Slated breath and evident anxiety "-and yet,
carefully following the Introductory of first
act, between Jason. Creon, orpheus and Creusa which
leads Us gradually INTO the storyhe audience waited
the appearance OF Medea- The entrance Of Rlstori
descending the hill with child caspod in her arms
and tho other at her sde was the signal for a loud
burst Of applause which she scarcely noticed tho fixed
expression OF despair and agony undergoing no change
a she uttered the words of comfort Counge couragc
the haven is nearly reached" From point 10 point
throughout tho whole wonderful performance carried
Che audience With her, the Intense interest for
moment tagging, but increasing with every
We thought It almost impossible for tho force
Of acting further than that or Rstor In nor first
representation OF Medea but the Intensity, the passion,
tho majesty with which she invested the character ON
tho so ond presentation far surpassed her effort.
This was not lost the audience. The applause was
moro constant and the enthusiasm Rlsori appeared
at tho cose OF each ran higher. There many
Ono PASSAGES, too which were given with a fire.
For example, In the scene where she resolves upon the
ath OF treusa cluohing the dagger with an appalling
expression and attitude nj one moment and at the
nsxt melting into the mood and assuming tho posture
OF q suppiiant The transition here was the most
splendid touch of interpreted by art that we have
ever Witnessed Partially, perhaps, from familiarity
with strange audience and possibly assured Of synpa
thy by the reception al her dsbu the verdict Of ap
proval which succeeded H. Rsto threw herself into the
part lasl night with than her former srri, sho
wou be impossible to doscr bo In words tho electric
effect Of The appeal 70 her children In the last act For
moment the audience was stirred with fearful emotion
and ewed into silence Then, when suddenly remember
ting her wrongs, and tauntng Crelsa with having os-
tanged the affection OF her sons, shc casts them
back into the OF her rival. and all tho
dsmoniac nsnc,s--Ihe fatal gin of the gcds-rcsain
possession Of her. all feelings Of tende ness arc trans.
formed into those OF terror When tho curtain fell upon
ths terrible denoSsmen the enthusiasm OF tho audi
sncs found vent In continued burst OF applause and
cries OF ravo bravo Ristori ~ When tho curtain rosc
again. that she might receive the spontaneous ovation Of
the house. bouquets were showered upon her from all
sidss scattering the stage With Towers she gathered
them up eagerly and gratefully, and bowed her aeknow
Judgments modestiy IL unconscious that she had
achieved triumph almost without parallel
Il Ia with some timdiiy that revert from tho sue
cess or the heroine OF tho drama tho details OF the
pcrformance; but there much In the general repre-
ssntation OF the pIcco that invites favorable comment
All the company have improved considerably There
was moro vigor In the acting OF signor Gicchs Jason
emphasis In signor Rstors reading OF the inspired
part Of Orpheus and In slgnor Butts Creon The dim
dsncs which was observable the first presentation Of
che tragedy had wholly disappeared The actors appeared
20 understand their audience better and exhibited !
confidence In tho appreciation OF their efforts signcr
Gech Creusa added TO her personal beauty aud native
sscsfunsss all the charms OF easy yet spirited ren
Aton OF the part breathing soul and life into thu
character Of the youthful and impAssoned bride whou
dslracting from the innocent and girlish purity wici
forms no strong . contrast 10 tho terrific nature o
Msdea We observed also last night ercate
amoothness In the stage business and general I'm
orovement In Affairs behind the curtain There va
ysae noise and confusion In shifting the scenes, and
total absence of that vehement and emnenty lalia'
exclamation which reached tho audience on the nr-
night from behind the scenes greatly 10 their dscoui
fort An acquaintance with the stage and tho scener
has corrected these disagreeablc defects.
Mr. Grsu, wisely mindful Of tho desire Of the people
ses study the greatest living actress has decided
throw family circle open TO the public at the moderai
rate Of seventy nve cents seat and tins portion
he house contains two hundred comfortable seats,
large number Of those who cannot afford 10 pay tn
prices which the expenses Of the management and ID
extraordinary excellence OF the performances rcnds
necessary for other parts OF tbs housc-and this class
numerically very great In New York-msy enjoy a
evening with Risior al comparatively hii,c cost
On Monday night Rstor will assume her great ps'
Of Mary Stuart, which IN Europe and In knslan
especially created superb senaaon The character
The iilfstcd Queen OF Scots will naturally provo NOR
congenJs 10 audience than tho terrible NJ
dss clothed In her mantle Of crmes, her unnatural ven
geance and her aImo< noomprchcnsiblc pasaons, whc
require the Interpretation OF genius erated ~ ,hs
Of Ristor 20 redeem from utter horror ard disgist