The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-05-03
MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.
C.rIosta Patti in Opera.


The general desire to have so fine a singer as
Miss Carlotta Patti make an appearance in
opera was doubtless shared to a very large
extent by the lady herself, for to an artist of
real ability the limitation of the concert-room
must be highly unsatisfactory. Unfortunately
however, the only role In which Miss Patti can
appear to advantage is that of the "Queen of
Night" in Mozsrt's Magic Flute, and as COM
petent company cannot always be got together,
or the opera Itself be indefinitely repeated
without giving the people too much of 1t, the
opportunities for hessing Miss Patti sing with
all the advantages Of full orchestra and other
operatic surroundings must be very rare. The
part too which the "Queen of Night" plays is a
very small one, she being limited to two airs
which, however, by their intricate brlliancy are
we'll calculated to enable hlghly-trained singer
like Miss Carlotta Patti to display the most
attractive qualities of her style.
The opera of The Magic Flute is full of lovely
music, that ranges from grave to gay over
wider variety of themes than any other work of
the kind ever written, and for the sake of its
music it will always have a high place in the
regards of lovers of art. It is burdened, how
ever vi, a tibrstto that is so fearfully and
wonderfully made that even Mozarts music
cannot make it attractive, and that would long
ago have consigned to oblivion the harmonies of
q less harmonious composer. The Magic Flute
survives in spite of it's ibretto, and the large
audiences that it usually attracts indicate how
Grm hold Mozart has upon the regard of
large portion of the musical public.
The attendance last evening was in proper
tion to the interest of the occasion, and Miss
Patti was greeted with much enthusiasm. Her
style is not sympathetic, but it is certainly brill
liant, and in her two arias she gave such exhibi-
tions of vocal gymnastics that the audience
demanded an encore on each occasion. Miss
Patti has given these arias before in concert,
but her performance last evening, with the sup
pert of a full orchestra, was certainly more
pleasing, and she sang with an evident pleasure
to herself in displaying the wonderful capabili-
ties of her voice.
The support was respectable, but not remark
able, and the different artists gave no new reve-
lations of the capabilities of the music. Miss
Pauline Canissa, who sustained the role of ''Pa-
NINA" and Mr.. Wilhelm Formes who appeared
as "Papageno," the bird-catcher, appeared to be
most in earnest, and tho latter gave a very
amusing and very creditable performance.
Mad'lle Canissa was scarcely equal to the ade-
suste Interpretation Of the music of her part;
but she was evidently inspired with desire TO
do her best and to make satisfactory impress
sion. Mr.. Hermanns as 'Sarastro' was uneven,
and although he sang at times with good express
sion, he scarcely made as favorable an impress
sion as he does sometimes. After all, it is under
stood that Miss Patti is the great attraction and
experienced opera-goers do not expect that any
effort will be made by the artists with her to
throw her any more into the background than is
necessary, and from this point of view the per-
formance may be pronounced success.