New-York tribune., 1871-10-21
MUSIC.
ENGLISH OPERA

"Don Gioyanni,n which was 30 highly praised
ON the occasion Of is first performance by the English
company on Monday Of this week, was repeated last
night. Mozarts greatest work seems to us put Ill
adapted to the English language The elevated charac
ter of the music constantly at variance with words
that are commonplace, and turns OF expression
that are too strongly suggestive OF the vulgar
incidents OF everyday life Indeed We are not
certain that the lyric in her hours OF gandcs
inspiration, ought always to speak In foreign tongue
that she may shock by the incongruy OF words
that are common and tones that are divine. or the
really great operas which MI. Rosa has produced In
English, Oberon" has probably met with the most
decided popular success partly because originally
written English words and partly because deals with
certain remote regions and supernatural events which
arc poetic in any modern language "The Marriage OF
Figaro" and Lucreta Borgia came next-the first be-
cause 1t is Of those perennial comedies that are
laughable in all quarters Of the world welded to the
most vital OF music the second because its plot whatever
b story may say-and history has tried to prove that Lu
cretia was o most excellent wOman) Is removed
from the range Of possible human experience
But in "Don Giovanni" have for the first part OF the
evening purely modern story, told in common worka-
day language and yet united with Of the greatest
music ever written the lyric stage. To this in
con gruity need the vail Of foreign language 1t Is
not until the supernatural machinery is introduced in
the latter part Of the opera that the work becomes really
impressive in the vernscular dress
Nevertheless, the Academy audiences nave received
with marked favor The greater part Of the applause
has been bestowed Of upon Madame Pareps Rosa
Few roles Of the many she has ed t her better than
that Of Donna AnnG-and may add that there is no
music Except Handes for which she seems to have
such special aptitude for Mozart's. The next In
merit last night Mrs Van Zandt whose zerfn1 was
everything that Zernd ought to begraceful vivacious
tender fascinating. Miss Doria as Donna EIrtTa MI
Campbell as Don Giovanni Mr. Karl as Otarto Mr. Ayns-
lev Cook as LepereO and Mr. Segun as Aaset added TO
the general effect Mr. Cook deserves especial mention,
because he was better than the others but because
he Was so very much better than his Duke Aonso
in "Lucreta" We cannot say that the whole perform
anee was brilliant One,-indeed 1t heavy and the
chief artists with few exceptions, were dull-but IT
inertia honorable mention, and will serve es prelude to
the brilliant sensational entertainment with which the
season 10 70 close tonight.
MUsIoAL NOTES.
"La Pericholen continues on the boards at
Lima EdWinJs Tbeatef under tile management Of MILE
Aimee II viii soon be replaced by "Fleur de The"
Mrs. Moulton viii Close this afternoon, her
first series OF concerts in NewYork She has met with
as bEilant social success ~ abe could PoSApy have
desired.
An orchestral work Of Mendelssohn's, hith-
erto h to be played for the first time at one
of the London Crystal Palace concerto this season.
for StrinRed and Is said TO be composition
of considerable importance. One q the unpuDhneo I'm
several win also be played at the Crystal Palace daring
Winter.