The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-10-23
ynE ITALIAN OPERA.
n,.v.rorrr,s "star OF the north" Last
Night,


probably live through all time as his ablest COM
position. More popular now, because more
modern are hts Rsoet le Didbe and Les Htg1e'
nOts. 1t lie q little remarkable, however, 'ns'
his most brilliant aud most elaborate WORK,
LEtoiIe du .NOrd, has never been proooCeu
here. It is true that we have had his lie Pardon
dc PioeymeI and his LAfrtcd'ne, whcn "ere
both composed more recently than the &ar o.
he North az d abound like it, in elegant classical
music and startling situations, but no 'npreS-
sorio has ever attempted La Stella da NoTu
here nor indeed in this country, upon
ecale os-maoni6cence that would render It's pre-
sentation a success.
Moyorheer composed Pierre le Grand when
he was sixty years old, but in the full possession
of all his OF wonderful faculties. III was the eua-
no,non of his ripest experience, his most matured
4aste and his most noted period OF ease, ANU
.neo and success. He labored upon 1t for years,
and tbere is every reason to believe that he con-
sidered IL his masterpiece Above all his other
,norks IL shows the brilliaDcy and versatility of
,he author. as well as his sublime appreciation
of the Grand, the beautiful and the true In Gods
greatest creations. He spent more time upon
the Star of the North than upon his last great
work. EAtricoine yet the latter has created
t,,rore wherever produced while the former has
rarely succeeded in eliciting much enthusiasm.
The score of L'Etoie du Nord, like all of
Neverbeer's operas, is perfect wonder OF
elaboration. There is no possible expression OF
the sense or feeling in the subject but what is
tullv and forcibly pictured in the music, some
times in so detailed manner as to be consi-
dered burdensome, we're it not for the artificial
reliefin enchanting melody that is constantly
introduced.
In the little incident snatched from the life of
Peter the Great and his lovely Empress, which
furnishes the plot of this opera, Meyerbeer
found ample scope to compose score which
would exhibit all the emotions of the human
soul as well as that unsophsticated nature
which was entirely prevalent in Russia at the
period described. For grandeur, sublect-ma,ter
is found in the various scenes:-FIrst, In the
magnificent situations, then of a martial sort in
the Silesian camp, afterwards of regal kind in
the palace at st. Petersburg.
The opera of L'EjoiLe du Nord was written in
1854 Tor the Opera Comique of Paris, where it
continues to be fayorite. Afterwards it was
Italianized for the opera in London. Much of
the music of Meyerbeers Camp Of Stesia is in
troduced, including gypsy song and duett
with the flute.
lis first production here last evening created
an impression that will not soon be forgotten.
By special request it will be repeated on
Wednesday evening; we, therefore, here intro
auce the argument or plot OF the opera:-
"At the commencement Of the first act, the
curtain Iises on a village near Wyborg, on q ult .
of Finland. 'Danilowtz, a Russian pastry
cook, is selling his pies TO q group OF shop car.
penters, among whom is Peter Mlcaeot,' DIS
gnised. They challenge him to drink to the
health Of Charles XII OF Sweden. He refuses,
and is supported by Peter EGraeed at this
the wOrkmel are about to assault them, when
the dock-y ard bell sounds, and they are com
PEELED 10 20 TO their labors. Peter remains,
and engages 'Ddnilo Witz' to follow him into
Russia. Alter 'Danilo wtz' has left the scene,
flute is heard, and on Peters replying,
George the brother OF 'Catharine,' a cdntinieTe
appears at the door of the cottage 'Catharine'
has gone 10 ask for 'PrascoVa,' the daughter of
the village innkeeper, 10 be given in marriage to
her brother. AS they drink to her success, she
comes on the stage. After telling them that she
had succeeded she accuses Peter and her
brother of their love for drinking, and tells the
former ola prophecy made by her mother upon
her death-bed, respecting her future husband
On meeting him, she recognized something
so proud and grand in the expression of his
face that she thought him to be above her
own class in life He demands what she thinks
now. Catherine is offended at his tone of
command, when 'Prascovia' rushes in. A
party OF Cossacks are plundering the village,
but 'Catharne' volunteers to save them and
Peter determines upon watching her. she
Cneh qul's Tue stage, ana as Lne CosSackS are
about TO pllage Georges house, she reappears
in gypsy dress. Naming her mother-a Cos
sack fortune teiler-they remember her. After
PREDICTING their fortunes. they reare and
George with 'Prascovia,' leave the stage
to make arrangements for their wedding
Peter and Catherine then betroth them
selves; and the act terminates with her brothers.
marriage to .'Prascovia' and his being named
IN a conscription imposed upon the village
Catherine undertaking to find him substi-
tute, for fifteen days disguisings himself ascends
the jetty, and embarks in his place as the mar
rage ceremony continues.
in the second act 'Catharine is in the Rus
sian camp, disguised as a soldier The Cossack
whose rise TO the rank of a corporal she had
predicted, observes her closely, and fearing re-
cognlnop, she explains to him that this was
foretold him by her sister. 'Gritzenzo.' as he is
named, then tells her that an officer who had
heard hm complaining OF the Czar's decree for
shaving their boards, had given him paper
Since TINS, he had received from him thirty or
forty eopecks day. He cannot read this paper
and 'Catharine' volunteers 10 explain 1t To him
AS she IS ABOUT doing so, Colonel Yermolof
enters and tells the officers around him that the
Cars orders subject the officers to the knout
that they will not submit, as Peter and DAM
lowitz' appear in the dress OF two officers.
Peter after despatching his dtde-de-cdnlpi
to order up two divisions OF the army, enters
the tent prepared tor HIS reception Sitting
down with 'DanllowtZ to drink, heis recognized
by 'Catharine,' while making love to uiudRdiere
As 'Gritenzo' comes on the stage to relieve tn,
guard, he sees 'Catharine' looking into the
tent, and commands her 10 depart. She refuses
and on being threatened with punishment slap
his face He appeals TO Peter who orders he
to be shot. She prays to him, but being IN
toxicated, he cannot recognize heri and onl
when she has been led of the stage does h
recover his memory, and bid 'Grltzenzo"brn
the Young soldier back to him, unless he wishe
for a cIosar acouaintance with the knOut tina