The New York herald., 1872-12-03
ADJUSTMENTS.



large audience that braved the sush and cold last
evening were rewarded by remarkably brilliant
well-balanced and eminently satisfactory perform
ance OF AMBROSE Thomas weliknown opera. The
name OF Nilsson has become so identified with the
beautiful, cnildlike creation OF Goethe that II re-
CURED no inc0nsiderable share OF courage in o
prima donna 10 essay the role In this city after the
Swedish Nightingale. But an artist like Nine.
Lucca need have little fear OF the consequences OF
undertaking operatic role adapted to her voice
and style OF singing, no matter how great her i'm
mediate predecessors in the same may have been.
As we have said more than once before, distin-
gushing characteristic OF her artistic qualities
consists q originality and fidelity to nature
In her impersonati0n Of 0 role. She fol-
lows no arbitrary rule nor allows herself
to be held In the groove OF precedent.
Her wilful, wayward nature is shown in various
ways in her impersonation OF o character like
Mignon. Nilsson made it spf,1taele, tender, child
like and graceful; Lucca comes forward as dark,
passionate, jealous easily provoked gypsy waif
who does not stand very much In awe Of Giamo,
loves Guglielmo with all the warmth OF
an Italian heart, hates her rival, Filicia.
with q corresponding amount OF passion, and
In becoming united to her father and lover
forth ~ the wealth sa Of her glorious y voice IN
pairing the Gretchen OF Nilsson with that OF Lucca
will apply to their impers0natiOns OF MignOn. The
ral This refers to ths general outlines Of the role
as sketched by either artist But when we
striking rSs music Of Tso@as een Ss by
voice OF such wonderful breadth and richness OF
tone and strongly defined dramatic quality as that
OF Madame Lucca, differs most essentially from the
Interpretation Of 1t in the singulary pure, sympa
thetic tones OF the fair Swede. Both tnterpreta-
may differ from each other. Where Nilsson made
some Oh ner Dcst points Lucca seemed to pass
ana she down the aese m 10 soenas
where her predecessor was not particularly sue
cessiul. She sang, ''Non Concosci ii Bel Suol ~
divtney, but failed to create an impression in the
duet, "Leggiadre Rondinella." In the toilet
scene Madame Lucca was less demonstrative than
But in the scene where in an agony OF jealousy
ann despair ATTEMPTS 70
found ample scope. The last duet and trio were
delivered with an effect such as they have rarely
assistants, M. Janet and Sign0r vizzani, were in
unusually good voice and spirits. Nine. Lucca
may not count g as her o but
ti0n in her impers0nati0n oft.
The Filicia OF last evening was an immense I'M
The music is mainly Of the bravura order, dashing
and brilliant ,.il as becomes the character Of the
The 'Polonaise,' y which may be found in
every says portfolio Of music was rem
brillancy and abandon that brought her an over
whelming encore In the toilet scene she gave
acting and singing. vizzani surprised every one
in the last act by the warmth Of expression and
Of tone WITH which he the
avoid the fasetto until he has learned
how TO make 1t effective. It is unaccountable
Mignon," should be omitted and also why such an
excellent representative OF the trascible Federico
as Sonora Sanz should be deprived OF her only song
Oa n a. ri ha
Of M. Janet Is one OF his most touching impers0na
tions. There Is kindness and tenderness about
Q prominence to the character OF the wandering
harper, even beside such Mign0n as Nilsson or
stage most OF the effects OF It's rst representation
being retained and the chorus was under better
discipline than M s usual The gipsey, Giorno, ,as WAS
toll that in which Nick OF the Woods bounds
on the Bowery boards A Kickapoo would envy
companion of Filica. Altogether there were fewer
blemiShes ana more strong points OF excellence In
the representation OF "Mi9non' last evening than
In any previous performance Of the present season.
"Africa" at tho Theatre Comique-ssHow
Found Livingstone"
The new sensation drama OF "Africa," which was
produced at the Theatre Comtque last night, Is an
enigma to the critical mind. To condemn 1t would
be to condemn at one fell swoop the most striking
situations In operate performances and melo-
drama, and to praise 1t would be almost as
grotesQue as the performance ITSELF The story Is
better story than "Leo and Lotos,n and the
cocoanut dance Is as marked feature in It's way
as the third act in "Agnes" or the stage scene in
'Round the Clock" But the African King Kongo-
bouri Is q sad disappointment. chief who can
cry so vaanty, "what means that unusual COM
motion ~ on the arrival OF HERALD correspond
ent ought to have been able to resist strongly
the attack OF the tyrant MiramDo. The tyrant,
however, is stern WARRIOR and when he declares
OF the desert is no ercer in rays than in my pur-
pose" he not only shows his temper, but exhibits
that excellent purpose o. aP@proprating @ another
a later civilization. Succeeding in her capture,
but not in gaming her affections, he sells her
rescues her. Out Of gratitude Kongobouri brings
the HERALD correspondent to Livingstone in the
as Mrs. MoHey Is ons IN ns IS
apparent, and Of her grief we can only say, as
Tennyson sang,
Tears, idle tears, know not what they meant
astonsh everybody. Stanley included, but the Ami.
can chieftains were too much like Othello to suit
had that kind in the Moor, but the simon Pure
article, unwaShed and unterrifed. The Theatre
Gomqae is S on se hgh q pr art ground
and the Princess Lotos, or Of Dooney Harris
and Johnny Aaron, which we are also compelled to
Is high art The contrast between the stage
Stanley and the real Stanley at Steinway Hall is
worthy Of study since 1t Is possible to learn OF the
one and laugh with the other, and they both tell
story of HERALD enterprise that has made the
whole world wonder. The search for that "0ne
little man" will last as long In history as the tales
OF Marco Polo and Mungo Park, for ''that man
represents science and civilization"
Musical and Theatrical Notes.
The musical features Of the holidays will ba the
return OF Rubinstein and Wieniawski and Of
Theodore Thomas orchestra.
Beethoven's trio In nat, opus seventy, will be
played at Steinway's on Thursday evening by
Mills, Damrosch and Bergner.
Howis 1t thatthe Mendelssohn Union have shown
no sign since their prospectus was issued 1t is
time that some OF our choral societies should be in
the field OF oratorio.
At the conclusion OF the regular season Of Italian