New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-04-04
MUSIC

Tho new opera, prO1uced after such ample prepare
ton at the Academy last evening wanted nothing
either the number or the brllancy OF It, audience.
1t has been bOuntlfully heard By the mos, fashion
able of jurie5-One large enough, beside to render
popular verdict and TO stamp the popular valuation
Of the aew opera, and for all 1t the second
work of a fayOrite NelpOltan composer. Signof
Petrella. so Gar az the American pub
lie know him but, Of course, we have
only heard his successes. The CGyRirai is decided
advance on the music which this composer has given
TO lone or Bulwer's Lds, D0ys OF Poapei. In Tn at
work. compared to any high standard, he appears
to have dressed good theme vigorously, but tTash%
lily. Vigorously we say. allowing OF course. that
brass and Catgut ierCely used and voices pnfenet-
cally tried in the service of melOdramatic pas
sion. combine 10 make the true idea OK
operate energy. That lone an effective work,
not without practical and theatrical ability, none
have ever disputed. The growing objection has been
To its essential falsonesS az the manifestation OF a
school or Style-aS another nursery OF yltatlng man
ncrsms familiar 70 the lovers ana c0ntenncs OF ths
grandio,cly inspired Verdi. The CdrRir1i Is broad
advance lone; and this IS significant OF all that
we have 10 SAY in favor of the former.
"The Carnival of Venice" is the full dazzling titls
of Petrella'o work. II might be Carnival anywhere
else, for there nothing enthusiastically local ia
the story and to this extent the title Is pretentious.
The story slight, and only to he PrZed for mum
Der of telling situations which II turIll the CON-
poster Its dialogue lsyiyaclous though Its scenes arc
not uncommon and Petrela has every chance 10 score
tho bOdeSt butiO music. neither scene nor dialogue
cOnstrtining hni. The first act tells NJ that Mrgtg
(SignOr IIclini. crOtchety merchant has removed
from Padua To Venice on account of two pretty
daughters dibn0 Miss Kellogg and ROmeila Nils,
ROncOni. whom the jealous parent intends t9Sht eu'
from the invading eyes of lovers. Thther he IS fol-
lowed by OreSfes and PylqdcS (SiQuOrl BaIagli and
Marpl. two young. gentlemen desperately enam
ored of the two precious gentlewonen. toH lSlgn9'
ROncOnil stupid servant, Is found on ms way seek
ing his master, Music, whereupon one OF the
lovers effects disguise IN the CHARACTER ol me
%
fOils his PLAN and scene OF great spirit ensucs be-
tween the master and the two Dromos OF servants
AbdrCar0le capitally timed and measured but pretle
than strong. Is the opening number Buno dialogue
succeeds in eXhalStleSS flow. We reach choral IN
vocation to silence i'll the next scene, which 4
about ~ noisy as 1t can be, but stun droh
".SH Ie pppie" another good chorus IN the buifs
humor; scene ninth. some t0leraDle recitatve O
Sig. Bellini In the eleventh scene the merchant
Mu2iO is worried in the most exemplary way Dyt
mob of gondoliers, and the composer rs m his best
and most garrulous mood. There y even a lour|
tcenth TO this act, IN which the bio parts ar
as good as ever The final scene Is full OF lie, and
contains . crying aria with few exquisite bufa
phrases; which. bubbered as It were. by tle moor
I'm the second act the beautiful sisters are dsc0v'
cred along with maiden aunt the iaamordfd OF an
ld-fashiOned Count by name BetOla (Slg. BaceliI
Here occurs an aria in good style, charlnlngy suns
by Miss Kellogg" Come 81 Pho s0hdefe.' linen iot
lows an irresistible petition from concert OF TIRES
voices to induce the servant Cola 10 scamper on VIVA
them to the Carnival This musical beseechng il arch
and piGusnt most sklfuy varied by the composer.
and turned to the brightest account in the light oil
the situation The fourth introduces us TO the
Carnival amid all the groesquewondeT OF masqueradei
and for this the mpresssariOs good taste ~ TO be
complimented. Chorus and dance make up the
scene; the music never dull. always yigor-
ous i'm its way somewhat indydualized but still taf
enough from being the comedy of ROSsini The fnQh
is again sustained and striking its best association
being a chorus excellent in form and abundant IN
effect Bh-iO is duped, and the daughters escape
homeward escorted by Cola and the lovers.
I'm the last act the lovers scale the wall of the fort
ress and bring the captain of the garrison TO terms
He captuatcS only after an obstinate resistance and
when assailed by traitors within the walls. Ths
buiiO Cola is here in his glory. the lord
of mOckery and master of droleres. In the
last scene is the passage beginning with
"Ogni laddre," which In respect OF idea and
science has no superior i'll opera. The fndh
Su BalliamO." is as popular as anything the com,
poser has written and il will doubtless be heard
MANY times over. As whole. the new work Is .
popular success Its music If wanting alike IN color
and warmth. and if in no single instance pro.
found or splendid exhibition of genius, IL nevo
unattractiye or weak. This is much to say.
The CaIniral will take rank with such operas
as CrispinO. but will hardly justify the enthu'
sasm which ranks it with the Barber o. Scribe
Its place in favor ia certain, and We may have yea
more or less TO learn from its merits: The per'
formance last evening must be praised as wbolet
so careful and animated every part. With Ron'
conis superb bufo characterization. IL was doubtless
rs good rendering of the work could he had any
where in Europe.