The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-06
IfaLIAN OPERA.

I'm Emilio en- EJasc;icrn ut the Academy.
'The Masked Ball' H. TO our mind the weakest
ana least interesting oil verdrs operas. Not speak
ing OF the impossible and ridiculous character Of
the libretto, by which the Hub IS peopied with
persons VINO would be more appropriate IL Venice
or Naples Than IN America, and In which virtue and
vice are 50 closely allied that 1t would be hard to
dlstingu between them, the music Is frag neniary
and consequently JACKS that continuity vi thought
essential to q good opera. They make up for the
poverty OF the musical material III the work in Lon
don by spendor OF accessories and, unfortunately,
this Is yet unattalnablc ut the Academy.
The last scene real ''mashed bai4 at C0vent
Garden or Her Majesty's-at the Academy 1t is only
q dilapidatcd band OF oddly dressed supernumer.
aries. The cas-. last night was follows:-Amelia,
Nine Agatha States; Richard, yiilani; Reinhardt,
Buongiorno thls deOnt; Oscar; the page Miss Ora
zclla Ridgway; Ulrlca, Mile. Fontanes; Tom anu
Samuel, Cuclnotta ana Bacelll. Nine, States has
Improved consid eraDly since last we heard her In
"Lurline at the same house. she has acquired
more decision and ease OF manner ana her magniH.
cent voice (one OF rare power and MIGRATORY etectl
to.d to advantage, especially In the where she
meets Richard by moonlight. The great fault
get confused and make SAD mistakes in the music
she sang last nighl like q thorough drttste who
identities herself with The r0le Miss MIDWAY
(AIbites PUPPY made her first appearance on the
stage as oscar ana became general favorite ut
once. she Is aetAe. graceful ana charming 10 ap-
Qualities OF II actress-na!ve winning and nnem
barTassed Her voice Is very pleasing, ana the up
per r12isier Gear loltiei air. III. some notes III
the miIne IeGl3.er st require building up, aud in
deelaIaJry phrases she must have more study and
experience. Eut she exhibited at her dGDut tie
truest qualites OF an dTiSr and we may be able at
no distant day, TO number Miss Graziela Rdgway al
one OF the che! ornaments OF the lyric stage
Villain gave evidence OF having been q great artist;
but, with the exception OF occasional notes, his
voice can no longer produce any marked elect. Ills
tCh0ol IS excellent, and he husbands the resources
O his voice rs only an artist can do There Is hus-
kiness IN his lower notes tiat interleres sadly with
his rendering OF the music. The new baritone,
Bu0nglo mo- Is neither a good singer nor actor.
natured PEOPLE would designate as 'wooden.r and
Is incapable Of resonance or elect. Mile. Fon-
tdncsl adhered 10 the express directions in the
lbrctto ana made ulrlca negres3 OF the most I'M
preao scssing type The character Is generally made
up similar 10 .A4ucena IN the ''Iroyatore.r The
opera WAS ORIGINALLY intealed as Italian
story but the government ceusOrS objected to Ii
tl1 ground tlat the plot contained the record OF
successful conspiracy against an estab s.ea Prince
America; hence the ridiculous character OF the
bretto Slsnor Nicolao surprised us Dy tne shocking
manner In winch the orchestra dealt WIN some i'm
portant portions oil the music. lie Is generally
coaletcnt aud painStaking conductor; but the In
sruments III MS charge last night went OIL INTO
known regions aud induged IN queer vagarles.
1t Is singular anl unaccountable that this
prove more or less Of a failure when II
Is produced IN THIS cay. 10 wOiid be well, per-
haps lOr fuLTtSIyti 10 drop 10 ellreiy rom thei.
~ et.00r% Ihe IN tinee today VIII introduce
again the cnarnlug "Trayiata,n ana on Monday
"Kigoietlo'' VIII be presented with u strong cast.