The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-03-26
RECAPTrULATIoE
Whites, s; Blacks and Colored, 14-Tota1. 20.
Office Of City Registrar. March 25 1863.
GEORGE 8. PsLZER, NJ. D., City Registrar.

TEE OPERA LAST NIaHr.-Mozart composed
his first opera sLa Fints Semplice" when only
six years old, and before his death, twenty
seven years later, had created hundred mu-
sical works, each OF which would have been
sufficient to make lesser man immortal.
"Cosi fan tutti," ''Idomoneo" and ssLa Glenn.
enza di Tito" are now never seen upon the
stage, but ."Don Giovanni" s'Le nozze di
Figaro" and 'Zauberfote" still enjoy the
freshness and favor Of youth. "Don Giovanni, u
the foundation upon which rests the gigantic
fame of Mozart, was written for all time, and
''Zauberfote, written in the ripe maturity OF
his powers, is full of weird and tanciful beau
ty, which has made it the idol Of the amateur
as well as the favorite Of the general public.
Full Of grace, overaowing with melody, rich in
harmony, varied in expression, deep in it's
pathos, quaint in its humour,-the 'sMagie
Flute" has again and dagain been produced with
all the care that operatic managers could be-
stow, and to have represented it with worthy
success has been the pride ofa musical season.
Mozart is 30 essentially different from the
dramatic Meyerbeer, the sparkling Auber, the
earnest Mendelssohn, the melodious Bellini,
and the blatant and sensational Verdi, that he
can be judged by no other standard than him
sell, and he frequently disappoints those who
look for the gold upon the surface, and are
more tickled by the songs Of 'The Minstrels, :"
than awed by the solemn strains Of the
"Requiem," or charmed by the graces Of
DoI b;o
must be so. There is "Mother Goose" in
opera as well as in nursery rhyme, and they
who are still learning, with orchestral accompa-
niments, that ga was an Archer, who shot at q
Frog" must be content to leave the polysylla-
bles Of musical composition to such audiences
as that which last night crowded our miniature
theatre to suffocation. A common taste and
rude ear cannot comprehend Mozart, and it is
a qualification to be assured that there are so
many hundreds in Charleston who know what
classical music is, and who are so discriminat
ing as to mete out praise only where praise is
justly due.
Last night the company sang with vigor and
spirit, and they made the performance a sue
cess far beyond that Of either s'Faust" or sDer
Freischutz. Mad. Federico as Pamina, was
warmly applauded, and deserved more than
the applause which she received. Himmer as
Tamino, was in fine voice, and sang with great
force and effect. Reinecke as Papageno-the
Buffo Of the opera-was vocally dron and faci-
ally funny; and sang, besides, as though he
had never known cold or rough trip by sea.
Savastro-Herr Weinlich-was massive and
imposing, singing with huge ponderosity and
power. The orchestra was well handled, and
under good control. In fine, the programme
was marred by no hitch, and was cheered from
beginning to end.
OF course there were some trifing anachro-
nisms. There is no congruity in winged bulls
and pine trees, priests OF Isis and plush
breechcs, cane-seated chaira and protecting
Geni, but these little things I'D not trouble
the audience, nor do they trouble US.