The New York herald., 1872-07-05
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.

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We hear no more talk OF "Lohengrin" being pro.
duced at COvent Garden this season.
Friedrich Gerstacker, the celebrated German nov
elist and tourist, has died in Brunswick
Thaberg's widow has sent 5000 francs for the
sufferers by the late eruption Of vesuvus.
Mdlle. Floretti, the danseuse, has signed an en-.
gagement to appear at La Scala, Milan, during the
season.
"Der Unglaubge Thomasn drama, In five acts
by Alexander R0st is IN preparation ut the Leipzig
Stadt Theatre.
Signor Ferdnando Martini has published at Pisa
his successful properbe In act, entitled Chi SO
rArte non rlnsegni'
Shakespeare's 'Timon OF Athens" In a German
adaptation, by Herr Albert Lindner, has been pro-
duced, with success, at Oldenburg.
At the Lobe Theatre of Bresau, the first perform
ance OF new character play, In Ave acts, by Herr
H. Bohrmann, entitled "Lady Esther' was success
ful.
Among recent dramatic novelties performed in
Italy, Signor Fulcos lie Cipoe" was successful at
Lucca, and a comedy entitled 'MassImo dAzegllo,p
was well received at the Teatro Gerbino OF Turin.
'The Undergraduate" four-act drama, by Mr..
John G. Frcund, will be produced at the Queens
Theatre London, at the close OF Mrs. ScottSlddons'
engagement. The first two acts will represent COL
legt life at OXFORD. Eft
Russia, has been giving concerts in France to help
to pay the Prussian debt, and thus free the soil OF
his adopted country from Its German OppressOrs.
Jaell is native OF Trieste, consequently OF Aus
trtan-Itaian origin.
The strange dramatic mania which has affected
the Turks, the Armenians and the Bulgarians In
Constantinope has now reused the votaries OF an
older drama-the Romaic. DR.. Stamatiades has
brought out at the Greek Theatre, In Pera, farce
describing the adventures OF Greek medical stu
dent In Syra, Athens and Paris.
Gamma Bolena" has been the second part of
Madame Sasse at the Paris Italian Opera House.
Madame Pence has been re-engaged and has APP
peared twice In 'Norma." The new tenor NJ
Sylvia, who has made his debut at the Grand Opera
in 'Robert le Diable" has been quite successful
his defamation OF recitative is highly praised
N. George Hainl has been appointed musical
Director the successor to NJ. Gevaert, now prin-
cipal of the Brussels C0nservatoire. NJ Hanl will
continue TO be the conductor Of the "Soclete des
Concerts but has resigned the direction. M. Hain
Is an able musician but no adequade follower OF
Habeneck In the welding Of the baton has yet been
found.
sidering the immense number OF parts, Of every
! kind and character played by Madame Lucca,
that in London they are 30 seldom varied.
| Berlin paper, reckoning the other day the num-
| ber of different impersonations In WHICH Mad
ame Lucca had distinguished herself arrived at q
seemed nothing to the Berlip Journalist, who went
on to complain thai Aadcrne Lucca had not yet un
@rIn" One can oeve % anytbio H. ~ ,be yerlattv
Of an artist who appears with equal success as Ter
lima and as Selika Caerubino in the Marriage OF
III
na or the sake OF the artist at least for that Of the
| theatre and OF the public. 1t would be good idea
to bring out In London s)me OF the numerous works
| unfamiliar, II not entirely unknown, to our au-
diences, In which Mime. Llicca has gained such re-
| markable trfumphs at Berlin 1t Is an advantage
all the same to be enabled to hear Nine. Lucca from
| time to time In "L'Africaine,r which many will
think the finest OF all her representations, and the
hoses ~ nothing %h ,S o. s legitimate enect
stage at the Royal italian Opera.
The London Athenotne thus speaks OF Mile
aSs at ans IN
Margheritas as there have been Aminas, although
Bellini's 'Sonnafnbula' was produced many years
vince Of an artist possessing histronic genius and
musical resource to enact an operatic heroine
under very varied attributes, and to obtain, by
In the domain OF art. Therefore, when the Swed-
tsh songstress first stepped on the boards TO de.
lneasss Margherta 1t was at at once seen that
Goethes ,,:"nntchen was before the audience
Dramatically, there v.sa lack Of power; I yoca,IE
shsse n,se Ns,on!s WAS sscsnry MaTSynera q va, .st
%sst @ sisiIse ' IN, IL payssal aspect lsdyilke
IN its department., sympathetic IN It's musical ele
moments. There Was charm II not power; there
was intelligence, ff not eloquence. In Short
@nys ereave t & %ss rsDsss S e sesss not
with tenderness-was trnly feminine and most re-
fined. why, then. should the Margherita Of the
Margherita OF this seasons what is it that last
saturday night caused the prima donnas most en-
mark that there was a marked falling ors The rea-
son Ia not to be found In any dIminution OF the
organ, for that Is richer and rounder In the medium
and lower notes than ever. But the American tour
seems to have suggested 60 Mile. Nilsson entirely
novel views In her readings OF character; the sub
dued tone Is now changed for the demonstrative
style, both In her Traviata and her Gretchen she
has abandoned her speciality her natural, un.
affected manner-and has become stacy, and
almost violent. And thus, with an auditory feeling
towards her, that persistency OF attachment for
oncc-estabshed fayoritcs which IL peculiar to our
country, there was unmistakeable frfgidity In her
reception as the opera proceeded, yet ever and
anon, when there came those moments OF repose
which constitutes her peculiar claims for sympathy,
the erect was unmstakable, Her school Is not the
passionate one; she has not tine faculty OF eiectry
ing her hearers; nature has assigned to her rare
gifts; let her not abuse them, and above all let not
her success before transatlantic audiences mislead
her into neglccting the ren0nstrances or her more
experienced London listeners, the elders who can
recall the days OF Pasta, Malibran, Sonag and other
artists; and the youngtr apateurs who recol-
speak o. the prime d6nne OF tine day at
which Is, however, unpardonable. who gave
composer OF .Faustr Is the prima donna or the
conductor TO be responsible for such departures
And is the artist to set her win up against the
Judgment OF both composer and conductor Ana
debating the time Or the movements Nile. Nilsson
course Of action may % In America, but 1t win not
answer here. Tue public know H. Gounod's score
BY heart and they also are well aware Of the con
ecicnti0usness Of Sir Michael Costa Faust aud
Margherita dragging the Time st their will and
pleasure n order 70 indulge n wire-drswn dtns!n-