The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-10-18
The Opera Last Night.

EZRA ADIAvoLo"-RoNooNI's SECOND APPEARANCE.
Aube1 is the "Prlnce OF French composers"
He is living in affluence end elegance in Paris,
and although eighty-hve years OF age, is said to
be hearty, and in the full possession of all OF
his remarkable faculties. This great composer
was so completely charmed with the perform
ances of Giorgio Ronconi and Adelina Patti in
his chef d9uure at the Grand Opera, Paris, about
a year ago, that he determined 10 reconstruct
his great work-Frd DidUOlO-eXpressly for his
favorite executive artists. He has done mis-
work WELL The opera as presented last night eX-
hibited no startling briliancy, but the music is
modernized, and the details are systematized to
a degree that renders the action Oolder without
marring the beautiful and sparkling music
The ''gemsn are toned down to a nicely, and
although the strains are as familiar as ever,
many eXcrescences, that were always OF doubt
tul value, have been ostracized. The opera now
is, in every respect, a nobe work, and will live
forever as monument to the great genius OF
its author.
The cast OF Fra Diavolo last night was dis
tinQUe, comprising the folio wing aatlsts:-
Zerina .................Mi Miss Clara Louise kellogg
Lady Pamela. .Sgnora Nata -resta
tIa DlaYOo.. ..........SgnOr MazzOleni
LORD hocDurg" .Gior giO RonCOnI
Lorenzo. .,SlPnOr BerDardi
''''''''oignOr DuDreull
Mhteo. .Signor Banh
Kellogg and Testa appeared to better ad =
vantage last evening than upon any previous
occasion, we think, and they fairly divided the
honors Oft great triumph which was attained
by the entire troupe. Miss Kellogg sang in the
sweetest style throughout the opera and her gene.
raj performance was so perfect and pleasing IN
execution that the audience, engrossed in her
delightful recitatlve voca'ism, missed several
opportunities for obtaining 'encores.r In the
second act Miss kellogg created great enthu-
siasm, aud exhibited an exalted taste and
| really elegant Jtnesse. She is, indeed prima
| donna of whom Americans have lust cause to
be proud. Testa was also superb, and the care
and iealty with which she executed her difficult
! part were fully appreciated. She looked very
| pretty, and acted her role with extraordinary
nea.ness and appropriateness. Her voice is
very sweet and sympathetic, and has sufficient
ta,a6re for premiere roles.
OF Giorgio Ronconi we can only say that he
made to us an entirely new creation of "Lord
| Rocburg.h His acting was matchless and his
| humor electrifying. We never witnessed g.
| great contrast as that which forced itself upon
us last night when viewing Ronconi as Milford, y
and recoIlecting him as "Crspino." The trans
formation was wonderful. Ronconl looked tle
picture Of the cockney. He hal all the veI-
dancy, eccentrcity, jollty, obstinacy, aud
drollery of the English snob, travelling in an
unknown land, where everything is suspicious
that is not Anelo-Saxon. Ronconi lived his
character throughout the evening, and never
once allowed himself to forget for moment the
requirements of his roe. 1t was indeed the
finest piece OF musically expressed carlcature we
have ever witnessed. 1t was perfect and even
performance throughout, aud fully stamped
Konooni worthy of the immense reputation he