The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-25
THE LONDON OPERA SEASON.
italian Opera as Fashionable Club-The Secret
Of Attraction at Covent Garden and Drury
Lane-Decay of the Lyric Drama in Eng
land-Gye versus Mapleson- Nilsson,
Kellogg, Tetjens, vizzani, Campa-
mini, Patti, Lucca and Other
operate Stars Reviewed.
LONDON, June s, 1872.

Although politics are much discussed lust now,
and sensible people in England read with an In
terest easy to understand what the HERALD and
other organs OF American opinion Out particularly
the HERAID) say about question OF which all the
world has been talking for months, this being what
Is called ''the London season. public entertain
ments engross very large share OF attention.
Above all the two Italian opera houses are the
topics Of conversation not merely in high circles
among the "upper ten," but In circles where art,
and particularly musical art and most especially
operate musical art Is an absolute necessity
OF life But apart from these considerations
Italian opera in London has become inds-
pensable to certain classes Italian opera
may fairly be regarded as a club where
ladies and gentlemen habitually meet and
interchange ideas on all existing topics no matter
what. TWO years ago the idea OF ladies' club was
projected, but for reasons unnecessary to mention
1t fell through. Now the ladies are obliged to re-
sign themselves to inevitable fate and TO hold their
club at the opera, where they, as matter OF
course are compelled TO include gentlemen as
members. This, indeed, Is their place Of rendez-
vous, where they can converse freely to the accom-
panment OF music from orchestra and chorus or
orchestra alone, just the may be, until q
Lucca or Kellogg opens her lips and MARBLES
mellihuous strains 10 enchain their immediate at
dwell upon and discuss. Opera, ana especially
Italian opera, would long ago have declined and
faded in the old country but for this
Then we have at the London operas an element OF
attraction which alone would suffice to keep them
up-I mean the dazzling attraction of ''evening
dress,n with the ladies' Respondent in their tot
lettes ana their beauty outshinng the very lights
that make them visible. The gentlemen, too, are
all attired with the incest scrupulousness This
appears to me, as an American, the very acme of
good taste-an exhibition OF mutual courtesy, a de-
sire to please and to be agreeably presentable to
each other-which does honor alike to both sexes
And more especially at the Italian opera-which
has been, Is ana must ever be q
luxury, like other luxnries, principally for
the weather. classes, who alone can help to
support it--does this seem cminenty desirable.
Now If the result Of this habit-a habit which has
prevailed since the glorious Handel was manager
and director of the Italian opera here at the
commencement OF last century-has been SUCH
what would it be universally adopted in America
the unquestonaby destined home Of the arts, and
particularly OF that form OF art which is so grace
fully represented by the opera need hardly tell
even an inhabtant of the "0ld World" that the
personal beauty OF the American ladies' is as I'M
rivalled as their taste In dress is exquisite.
DECAY OF ITALIAN OPERA IN EUROPE.
1t is Of no use concealng the fact that on this
side OF the great Atlantic Italian opera is gradually
going into decay. The club system, the union OF
ladies' and gentlemen, the evening Dress the pleas
ant talk, &C., alone keep it up new composer
OF genius might revive 1t for time but there
little chance OF such phenomenon, OF another
Verdi much less chance of another Rossini; least
OF all of another Mozart, with "Don Giovanni
in his portfolio Wagner won't do under
| any circumstances.) But the Americans, being
| UNREASONABLE and open to new sensations seem
absolutely destined to take the sceptre OF art from
Europe's hands and to WELD It for the universal
good 0farsts in particular and the world generally.
In America feel thoroughly convinced that Italian
NEW AND PERMANENT HOME
more especially II IT is made the fashion, 1t has
so long been here, and if its attractions en-
HANGED by the means have suggested. New York
has with good management, already the power to
surpass anything now to be witnessed in Europe,
whether at Milan, Berlin Madrid or st. Petersburg.
and may safely add Paris or London.
Now that both of the Italian operas have been
open for some time I am able to tell You fact or
two. MaplesOn, at Drury Lane, has the best con-
ductor in Costa, and the best orchestra. The men,
bers of Gyes orchestra at Covent Garden may be
individually good for the most part, but, owing to
the
UTTER INCOMPETENCE OF HIS TWO CONDUCTORS
fancy two conductorsD the performances are at
times below medocrity. At Mapeson's the fame
OF Mile. Marmon has very considerably diminished.
Her vocal facility is not questioned, but her style
and department are considered somewhat vulgar
and her rOuades and cadenzas, all prepared for her
by her master, NJ. Nation, and tours de force, are
now for the most part looked upon as stcreotyped
good artist, none can honestly deny; but that
CONSTANT WEAR AND TEAR
in London during summer and autumn In the
country during winter and spring, have materially
injured her voice, and that she consequently
often sings III as well Is no less undeniable. In
thinking of Tfetjens and Nilsson am often re-
minded OF that wonderful picture by the English
Turner, in which magnificent old ship OF war is
being tugged up the river by an insignificant little
he m 0f
the Temeraire), in order to be converted into
hospital. And yet would you believe ito some Of
those English newspaper reporters thus they are
here humiliatingly styled who were wont to extol
Christine to the skies, positively have
THE IMPUDENCE TO CRITICIsE HER,
You will laugh but it Is true all the same. The
Teegyaph has significant hint or two as to her
voice in the upper register having been injured by
over-exertion while the queen and AuteaPu,b go
straight to the point and accuse her OF certain ex-
aggeratons which render her performance in the
lraviatar much less acceptable than IL used to he.
Another critic finds that Mile. Nilsson has abandoned
the Bosio reading OF violetta for that OF Picco-
lomlni leaving his readersto choose which they like
best. There was an enormous house on the occa-
sion OF Nss0n's first appearance ffuesday last, by
no means an enormous house on the occasion OF
her second (Fri0ay). tell you candidly | do not
think that her prestige in this country will endure.
But az she Is speedily to be welded to constant
adorer OF many years, what does that matter
AN AMERICAN PRIaA DONNA.
You will be glad to hear that our charming COM
patriot Clara Louise Kellogg, has again met with a
cordial, nay, enthusiastic, reception from the Eng
lish public, who evidently rate her at her genuine
worth, rs a very accomplished dramatic singer.
Kellogg has played Linda and Lucia, both with cx-
traordnary success-a success spontaneously recog
nized by the entire London press.
The new tenor Campanini, is disputed triumph.
Some call him Guglinis legitimate successor; others
will admit nothing of the kind take the medium,
and prefer to think that, though not yet great
singer, Campanini has beautiful voice, and greater
promise than we have seen exhibited by any tenor
Tor years past. Mapieson, however Is rather for
tunate in tenors. For example, he has got vizzani,
who IL very young, extremely good looking graceful
and manly in bearing, possesses really beautiful
and sympathetic voice OF wide compass and good
quality from the highest note TO the lowest, sings
with invariabe taste and acts with intelligence
that many ong-accepted tenors might envy. Viz
Zau Is a valuable acquisition, and the more so be-
cause ms repertory Is varied and extensive.
At Covent Garden 1t is still. In great measure,
patti Patti, Fatti.r 'Too many patitades,u az
the great English wit, Charles kenney, once replied
to some one who asked his opinion OF eyes pro-
spectus for the season.
Patti seems DESTROYS OF extending her repertory
In the wrong direction. Last year she made
ddsco as Valentine in the "Huguenots''-a part ut
tery unsuted TO her; this year she has played
Leonora, in ''Il Trovatore"-the drst time with
great applause, the second time with considerably
less IT she persists In these endeavors (and like
poor Grsi, she Is both jealous and Omniverous) she
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