The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-09-21
Triumphant Debut OF the
Queen OF Tragedy.
UNPRECEDENTED OVATION.
The Most Brilliant Dramatic
Night on Record.
A NEW THEATRICAL ERA NluGURATED.
&c. 60.


last evening, was moro than success-t was triumph
From this performance must date new era of dra-
matte art In this country No words can do Justice 10
the perfection Of Ristors impersonaton The sdjeoyes
sgrand, y sublime I" ''magnilcentu s'supcrbp winch
burst spontaneously from the audience amid a storm
OF applause at the close Of each act seem too weak TO
convey an impression OF Rsori and her acting From
che rise to the fall OF tho curtain she was not Rstor
she was Medea; and her audience felt that what they
saw and heard was not acting-t was nature.
The weather last evening extremely disagreeable
rainy murky, muddy night in which nobody cared to
be abroad, was hardly favorable TO a crowded house
Yet such was the enthusiasm in regard the debut of
hsori that crowd collected IN the rain outside the
theatre door and stood patiently observing the carriages
that rolled rapidly up the glare of the calcium light
as II hoping that by other tho dramatic
sensation inside the theatre might produce external
phenomena worth witnessing. police force, under
Captain speicht, kept open passage way through THE
crowd for the ladies and gentlemen who fortunate
enough to have tickets for the performance and
large corps OF nshers in charge OF Superintendent
Rulman, seated the audience without confusion MANY
persons werc present at the opening OF the DOORS At
little after seven O'clock and when the orchestra began
The overture every scat was occupied
The audience was a remarkable one. A more select
critical and fashionable assemblage gathered
in this metropolis The French and Russian Ministers
were present. attended by NUMEROUS diplomats Promi-
nent authors, dvines, critics, lawyers officials polite aus
and gentlemen OF fashion filed the boxes ard parque
or promenaded through the theatre Almost every person
within the range OF iorgnste noticeable eithcr
for talent, wealth position The ladies attred in
full evening costume aud, for wonder, the gentlemen
unanimously followed their excellent example. At no
other performance the opera in the height
of its prosperity, much attention paid by the
audience to the costume rsge The consequence was
brilliant house. before which il was pleasure Tor any
artist to play The approval OF such a collection Of the
wits and tho beauties the beaux and the bellies, the
leading representatives Of every profession and the
kpowledgcd arbers OF taste and fashion, OF itself
compliment but the enthusiastic applause that Rison
won may be truly termed an ovation
The tragedy Of Medea opens with a scene between
Crson, Jason and orpheus, and It proceeded the
dence felt that the artists who had been selected 10
support Ristor were themselves star actors. ALFRED
with classical simplicity the dignity Of their demeanor
and the eloquence OF their oraory marked the Sgnora
Czech and Cesarc Rstor worthy impersonators OF
their grand and difficult roles and when signora Czech
entered Creusa her youth her beauty and her quiet
grace al every heart The excitement TO see
Ristor momentary increased All the praises that
had boon written of her power half potent
the fact that had such sublime confidence in her
genius TO surround herself with such assistants each
one Of whom could with the sblcs performers upon
stage This audactv, unlike the conscious weakness
OF some Of our own stars, who purposeiy assign the
subordinate parts TO mere supernumeraes In order TO
add an iegilimale and artificial prominence TO their
own attractions was appreciated by the intelligent audi
encs aud provoked their already great expectations
At las, Rstor entered leading her little aud
absorbed her role as to pay no attention to the warm
welcome she received from every hand Her first words
sent thrill through the audience, and from that
al
performer. Ristori's tall and stately person naturally
assumes the most saiuesque attitudes Her mobile face
varies with every phase Of passion. Her voice now
sweet the softest melody and now instinct with hate
or revenge Is full and clear and exquistey modu
lated as the finest organ Her limbs move 10 graceful
gestures emphasize her ut,erances Her eyes fash
ghtnIngs melt the scrnes heart TO pity, as she wills
Imagine this wonderful woman, quecnly in look and
manner clad In scarlet robe that seemed dyed with
Tho blood that she had shed with Jason and
Modes stands before you. All the strangely
diverse emotions OF the character she fully
and perfectly expressed Now nging Ike usreS.
~ her bctraysr; then metng into mothers tender de
voton Infatuated by The gods then raeked by her
Queuchlsss love; With renorse, then pleading
for pity irresistible tones Disgusting her revenge
ful plots beneath scornful acquisssnce in Jsson's
wishes then giving free vent 70 the hatred mat con-
sumed her. IN every look, accent gesture and po> she
the theatre, and all cze urconneced with the fearful
drama that she depicusg
Under her influence the audience eat spell bound
Their cheeks blsnehed and their lips rembled as she
narrated nsr wrongs and planned her deep revenge.
When wept the tears started unbdden every eye
There bat little applause tie audience forgot that
In the GREATNESS with which they followed the
swiftly eliminating story. Only At the end Of each
aid the general enthusiasm nantes, Itself unani.
nous recall But euoglstS than any clapping Of
hsnds or shouting OF "brsvos' th. sudden silsncs
THAT fc upon tho assemoage when Ristori came upon
and ssh u repressed excitement ihs, fol
lowed her exit Speaking . language which compare
lively Of her auditors could perfectly comprehend,
she reached and s~ayed them through that universal
language Of genius which none fail 10 understand
Tho most unlcered OF the audience could hsvs trans
lated Rstos sentences almost word for wort although
they may have tired 10 vain catch the drn Of the el0
auest speeches Of Groom, orpheus and Jason aud he
na,denly usterances OF Crcusa The representative u
Ness characters were admirable actors but Rs;Or ID
than act without r.at without tearing her %
sion 70 tattcrs without any exsravagance Of voice A.
utude she conrved 70 convey to the aud the exact
impression she desired She sad without falling nto
che Evolutionary posture; abe raved without screaming
ciutching her hair The most diverse passions we're
equally well portrayed Nothing could be tragic
than her awful threats against bsr rival and yet
second during the Interview WIN Jason, when sue pre-
tends agree 70 his proposals, she proved herself
Queen Of Comedy we'd as OF Tragedy and the sadenee
smiled with her only 20 frown again shs hurled her
tremendous invectve upon her recreant lord.
For almost the nrst time since the visit OF the eder
Kesn have real tragic acting upoa the American
stage Rsiou Ia artistic who can teach our sctor.
thsir art, and will EDUCATE orr audiences that they
will longer be satisfied With more mounting Last
evening they showed themselves hssry snd critically
spprscssive. Tho points iha, moved the pubos
81 Italy. Of Germany Of France and Of London 70
thusssm were q, recognized and spplsudei bore
ny wbs, srl Risior produced her effects II imp7ss
bio 20 determine A times she appeared inspirei