The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-10-24
PAULINE LUCIA.
Another Triumph for tho Diva-Ndoxart's
Zorlina In Propria Persona.


Zorlina In Propria Persona.
The 'Don Giovanni" OF Mozart, albeit IL does not
address itself unsteady to the pr0tdnun vesl0sss.
but to the true cOnnOisseur OF art, never fails to
draw large house, on account OF the necessity OF
concentrating upon the cast from beginning to
end oil the strength Of company The people are
always sure that when this opera Ia produced they
can have an opportunity OF judging the merits Of
the principal members OF the company. But what
managerial rock 1t Ia Many an tmpresart0 has
bitterly repented bringing II out and thereby show
ing the weakness OF the company. for there Is no
covering up defects In the music OF Mozart.
It Is like mirror, faithfully and nat
uray rejecting every phase of character
that passes before II, and the very
simplicity OF its music is all the more difficult task
for an artist to make any success in 1t. When
mediOcrity pervades the cast "D0n Giovannn is an
intolerable bore; when genius Is In the ascendant
1t ia delicious treat. large proportion Of tho
opera is in recitative, but how many artists
to-day can declaim in music One out OF q
thousand. Recitative, acclaimed by o true artist
is eloquence ITSELF dr0ned out, without any apprc-
citation Of the spirit OF the scene, 1t Is worse than
twenty-twoheaded sermon by prosy preacher.
Hence everybody goes to hear great combination
In "Don Giovanni" and, in nine cases out of ten,
everybody goes home Disguised, disappointed and
mad
TO show that the cher d'gurre OF the most poeti-
cal and touching OF all composers has been attrac-
tive, 1t Is only necessary to point to the most Ccle
brated casts. Max Maretzek produced it years ago
with Steilanone, Whiting-Lorini and Boslo as the
the other roles. Poinsot sang Donna Anna and so
did La Grange at the Academy, with PiccOlomini.
~
and Don Giovanni by Badiali On the other side
Of the Atlantic Oovent Garden and Her Malesty's
really grand distribution of characters. At the
former house the Donna Anna was Grisi; Donna
E Esas care snd BosS Don osso
Mario; Don Giovanni, Tamburini; Leeporello. Carl
Eomes ne pest OF the
house Donna Anna has been represented by Pasta
and Titiens, Donna Elvira by Nilsson and "
sier, Faure and santley, and Leporeiio
have been Persani, volpini and Leritaky.
In the minuet at both opera houses danced Tagioni
and Carlotta Gris Therefore .Don Giovanni d one
Of those works that bear high record in the an.
nails OF the operate stage. But woe betide the
manager who produces It without an artisticaly
strong cast. He will fare worse than the person
who plays Hamlet with q lot OF supernumerartea
around him to I'LL In.
Now for last nights performance. Nine. Lucca
BILE deneations OF the role Of zerna we have ever
bold relief from the mass Of melody and
instrumentation last night; They are the
:%eara oarIno" To- hear yucca sing n In these
pieces is like an echo from the past, when tho
stage could boast Of giants and giantesses in art
Her voice was particularly good, and revealed Q
thrilling eect In tone that repaid even the short
after encore rewarded the EFFORTS ofths truly great
artist, and she was called out repeatedly.
Miss Ss s e s no e ne
is adapted to her voice and style OF singing, for
this reason The voice OF Miss Kellogg Is essen
TALLY soprano S1000to, and Donna Anna
Grsi, Titiens and La Grange were. Yet the
American prima donna was in excellent voice, and
in any other role more congenia, she would have
made great success. But Donna Anna ID NO (
more in her line than is Macbeth Richard iii. In
the repertoire OF Lester Wallack.
roles, but she fails to give Donna Elvira particle
OF interest. Sgnor Vizzani made the same mis-
takes IN Don Ottavio that he did in Faust and Fra
Diavolo. He sung III milo tesoro" very wel-thst ;
Is, without mistakes but the effect was COM
petely neutralised Don Giovanni was represented
by Signor Moriami In manner that made the role
the weakest and worst In the entire opera.
M. Janet brought all his cOnsummate talent as ana
actor and his abilities as singer to make the r6le
Of Leporello At companion to the Zerlna q Nine;
OF Masetto, which role he has played for over q 4
quarter OF q century.
We almost forgot to state that the Don Giovanni 4
on the occasion almost produced chaos in the
serenade by skipping bar, and here 1t Is neces-
sary to say that the leader OF the orchestra, Mr..
a very nervous, excitable leader, and he lost all
idea OF tempo In this particular piece; The
mSsS % Mozart snsa So
possess His men got unruly at times, and con6icted
with the chorus and the solo singers. Again the 4
grand letter air Tf Of Donna Anna was expnnged.
In fine, can only account for the magnificent
house present last night on the score that when
this city she may be always sure OF large and at
tentive audience She Is the card OF the season.