The New York herald., 1871-11-01
rhs PrsssM Italiaa Opsss ssasss aaA
I6~n RHohnc0nnnRn.

TAs PrssssN .Italiaa Opera ssasss asA
Its PrsAscesssrs.
Asw ! ehequsrsd sxisseass of many ysAra
during which It has undergone moro revolu-
tions than therepublic Of Mexico, Italian opera
atieegth has . fair chance Of success and ef
obtaining long lease of life. Although II
the years gone by we have had the best lyric
artists that Europe or America could furnish,
and at times constellation Of then tosstbes.
yet never before were our people 20
anxious and willing to lend a helping hand 70
the lyric drama as they are this fall. Since
the present season opened the Acsdeny Of
Music has been thronged with the Slix OF
metropolitan fashion and intelligence. and
each representation has had as brilliant an
audience as could be brought together in any
opera house in the world. Never before
during the administrations OF Ullmann, Grau
or Maretzek, was such warm interest in the
opera manifested by the New York public a.
there is ut present. When we look back to
the various seasons during which Grisi,
Soutag, Piccolomini, Bosio, Lagrange, Col
son, Patti, Kellogg, Medori and zuoohi
fonrished, and in nearly every case met
with but stinted patronage from the people Of
New York, the present operatic situation is
encouraging in the highest sense Of the word.
1t may be remembered that many years ago tho
seasons were 80 Improbable that the artists
had frequently to form themselves into .
managerial association. Even the best Italian
Opera Company that has ever appeared in this
city--the Havana troupe, of which B0siO
aud Stedanone werc members-failed to cover
expenses. Therefore Mile Nilsson has every
reason to congratulate herself on the triumSt
she has gained during the first season of her
operate career in New York. ei8a osg.r =
The Swedish Nightingale is the main cause
Of this success. Although she gained laureas,
and enduring ones, too, in the concert room
and made herself respected in the field Of
oratorio, yet her genius found for the frst
time here full scope in opera. Her histri0nic
abilities have never been excelled and rarely
equalled on the stage of the lyric drama. She
lent new charms to the Bride Of Lammer-
moor aud invested the Lady of Camelias with
grace and tenderness that Dumas fills never
dreamed of and that the traditional ViolettS
entirely ignores. voice Of the ut
most purity of tone and susceptible
of every shade OF expression and q
charming, naiyc manner on the stage
makes the Casta Diva of opera nowadays
creature Of poetry and tenderness. To-
night she appears in her greatest rSls, Mar
guerite, in Gounod's ssFaust." 1t is the veri-
table Gretchen of Goethe-such m imper-
sonation of the poor German peasant girl ~
has never been before presented on the stage.
On Friday, the sixth subscription night
Mlle Nilsson will essay the c0quettish s'6Sc
OF Zerliui in Mozarts chef doeuore, sDoa
Giovanni" and she is now studying the great
r6le Of Leonora in Beethoven's ''Fidelio." Al
for those two characters she has Gre
ated-that of Mignon and that Of Ophelia-
in AMBROSE Thomas operas, the universal
voice Of the European press has been enthusi-
astic in its praise We trust that the man
agement will give our public chance to hear
this incompatible drtiste in the character Of
Gilda, the best of Verdi's numerous heroines.
Miss Annie Louise Gary, the contralto 81
the troupe, has one Of those lovely, sympa-
thetic voices that are always heard with pleas
ure, and that give the music of each r6le she
undertakes new charms. Signor Brign0I is
In better voice than ever before, and
the term golden toned" can, be ap-
piled to him now in the fullest sense
of the word. NJ. Victor Capoul achieved
such q success on Monday night as Alfred.
Germont in ~Traviata" as rarely falls to the
lot Of any tenor. He Is . perfect lady killer
in his love scenes and evidently set about the
conquest of the female heart with an earnest
ness that is irresistible. Mile. Leon Duval il.
very pretty and engaging and as Donna
Elvra on Friday night she cannot fail to mako
an impression on the susceptible hearts
present. M. Janet has fine, sonorous bass
voice, and as he plays one Of the most
important parts in opera tonight, that of
Mephistopheles in 'sFaust," we may look for .
really grand impersonation. u9t 81
In the chorus aud orchestra this company is
particularly strong. Both Of these important
departments show evidence of thorough and
careful training. Here we have the weak
points of preceding seasons. The chorus and
orchestra have been the disgrace Of opera at
the Academy heretofore. Now they are the
most commendable features Of the opera.
Sixty singers represent the former aud fifty
instrumentalists the latter. In "Lucia."
'sMartha" and ''Travata" they did their duty
nobly. In 'sFaust" we may expect still greater
things from thcm.
It must be admitted that Italian opera iss
the only species of amusement thak draws.
forth the creme de la creme Of fashion in this
CITY. Hitherto, it has been standing re-
proach to the metropolis of America, but now,
with such transcendent genius as Nilsson, it
bids fair to become permanent and artistieally