The New York herald., 1871-10-29
A M u S Z III E N T S.

Italian Opcra-0Marfhn."
The third subscription night or the opera season
drew very fine audience on Friday night. which
rvaled In numbers and brilllancy that OF the first
performance. Every seat was taken, and fashion
was In the ascendant. Flotow's sparkling work,
"Martha," was presented with the following cast
Lady Henrietta, Mile. Christine Nilsson; NancN
Miss Cary; Lionel. Mr.. Capoul; Plunkett Mr.. ia
met; Count Tristan, Mr. Coletr; The sheriff,
Mr.. Lyall. The presence OF Nilsson was the great
attraction that crowded the house, ana in the title
role or this ever popular work she gained another
triumph. AS the aris;ocratic lady she was dignity
and grace themselves, while during the mad froic
In which Lady Henrietta is entrapped at Richmond
Fair she played the coquete to perfection. Then in
the love scenes with Lionel there was mingled
passion and maidenly timidity that lent each we'll
known number Of the opera new charm Never
on our boards before did 1.-The Last Rose OF Sum-
mer" receive such simple, tender we might say,
spi,ftueile, rendering, and In the sparkling spin
ning.wheel quartet her voice rang out In merry
Of laughter tnat were absolutely contagious.
1t was not probably comic Martha as the metro
poltan public have been accustomed to, but 1t had
the great merit OF being consistent and
thoroughly artistic impersonation. Never for mo
ment did Mile. Nilsson forget In her peasant dress
that she was the high born lady. There was finish
and brllancy In everything sne sang in this opera
that gave the music a fresh interest," and every note
OF her voice glowed with warmth ana expression.
Miss Cary's beautiful contralto voice was shown to
@ a and q that are ns
for this role. We cannot place ner In comparison
with either Miss Adelaide Philips or Mrs. Edward
Seguin, whose rendering OF this cOquettsh role Is
so well known. More fire is required for such part
than we deem Miss Cary possessed OF. Then to come
sudden change OF the opera, due allowance was
made for the shortcomings Of Mr.. Capoul In the
sented himself for the first time before The New
York public as fair subject OF criticism In hls
Of t6e
PLY, not fulfilled. whether 1t IS natural or
superindnced by cold, ms voice had dlsagres, ,
% Character. Even the Eappari, that piece q
his hands. II was evidently an effort OF no common
Kind for him to sing this ara with the passion and
fire it requires. Better would i. have been for the
management to have committed the role TO SgnOr
Brgn0ll, VINO has frequently made genuine sue
French character and aDounds too much in un-
necessary gesticulatons to satisfy one VINO has seen
new Dasso, Mr.. janet is almost o counterpart in
voice and acting OF Antonucci who Will be
Maretzek reoin,e lie mas fne, sonorous, well
cultivated voice, which gave zest and spirit to the
magnificent drinking song tnat commences m the sm,rd
but his acting like that OF Antonucc Is devoid OF
heartness and dramatic power. IT Will be remem-
bered that Antonucc after he left here went TO one
OF the London opera houses and tailed to create the
Impression expected Dy his aumrers at the Irving
Mephistopheles when "Faust'' is produced, and
as that Is test role for basso we may be able TO
speak more definitely OF him then. The Plunkett
OF Carl Formes when he was the Formes, pre-.
cluues 10 any one who witnessed 1t, the posslDiiy
OF speaking in terms OF high commentator OF MT.
Jamers mpersonation on Friday night. AZ l0r
Messrs. COletti and Lyall we have spoken OF sneM
before ana we do not wlsn 70 naye SUCCESSES
were among the concerted pieces, the spinning
wheel quartet and the lonely mezza Note ,l,, Icy
were given admirably, thanks To the ruling spirit o
each quartet, Mile. Nilsson. In the Ialr scene;
which, by the way, lacked the busting - nv
the English opera Company, q most exslaoi Ms m rne
and unwarrantabe innovation was maze ~ oas ..1
AaaIn. in the third act, when the ladies OF the
chorus enter IN hunting costumes rss,or,tw
were dressed In veivcs cs,cn anu dresses. @ Which
should never nave been permitted on tnc & s'Sge- ~
Tine scenery was exactly the same as mas peen P Pro.
sented with this operah pc he on Wednes
day may be taken ~ definite. the company aesss
solely on Mile. Nilsson, anu the only really ar'snC @
rest are $3.50 good, bad and Indifferent such a.
we have been accustomed 10 and sucn as we nave
written for na AS .Ta pope ae
three opening performances OF the season have
failed 70 show 1t. Lucia" with the incom-
was rcpcated at the matinee yesterday, and Mile.
Nj Isso was again the great artistic she proved her
self at the opening performance ON Monday even
IN ins .TravSa sr1 one OF her very best s Sotss.
and the one In which she first made her
great triumph In Paris and London. IL Is NOT
grand original impcrsonation or the far victim or
misplaced afYecuons and crue, destiny. On Wednes-
day We are TO have ner crowning success, the
Of L % Se
ance TO be remembered In the annals OF the NoV
YVgk Academy of n.uics