The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-04-13
TIE ACADEMY OF MUSIC.

The production OF Meyerbeers magnificent opera,
"Gli Ugonotu" at the Academy last night. was a
serious undertaking. Ii would be perhaps unfair
TO expect the same completeness and perfection
here That we would expect in London or Paris,
and this beng held In mind. the performance
last evening must be pronounced satisfactory The
grandeur Of the music, tnged as 1t Is with mclan-
choly character. demands such combination Of
talent as we have not within ready reach and the
critic, as well as tile public, must take this fact into
account in passing Judgment on the performance.
The opera had been looked forward 10
with no little curiosity by the musical world as
afording wachel full scope for the full display OF his
powers. As Meyerheer wrote, the tenor score is
remarkably nigh. The Incidents OF the opera, too.
furnish abundant opportunity for throwing passion
ana feeling into his rendering or the role. 1t
tany brought out his best points; out regret 10
say that the defects we have are tidy pointed out in
ms singing, OF unevennesS ana want Of power u eX
press tenderness, were made equally pr0mnent.
HIS rendering OF the rOmanza, "Piu L\inca del
Veo," was given too much in brayura STYLE
and had none OF the tender feeling we
should look Tor in lover recountlng the praises of
his mistress. But the manner IN which he gave
the upper more than counterbalanced every
snortcoming in tae minds OF those VINO can see no
beauty except in sensational enorts. In the
rendering OF the bravura passage IN the
celebrated septeue. "De Dritu miel no Palma
Accessa," Wachtel was completely at home, aud
sang with wondrous vigor and u depth OF passion
which he did not again reach. In the grand duet
Hc was cSpcNiauy uiNdppOiutiHp, anu though the
audience gave raplnrous recall, we fear Ii was
more because they thought they ought TO
a ap he ren aa IRON FOR the nrnsG merit
delness OF the lover nor the rage OF the hero
received adequate interpretations. We could not
help thinking now differently Giugllni would have
given utterance 10 the lovely aria, .'Tu m aml,u
which was altogether deficient in feeling Even in
the expression or violent emotion OF rage Wach-
tel was mol equal to the expec atoms that we had
formed OF MIN. To express deep passionate anger
by jumping Is rather novel made OF Interpretation,
Crtl
But with these many blenlshes Raou was
markedly striking lmpersonatlon. II lacked
sweetness and sympathy, ana was no. up
to our Ideas as picture OF passion; but the vocali
cation had rugged strength. which, perhaps, is
tinct aud remarkably pure. The faults are
Capable OF correction, but the eXcellences,
, ,9r the most, most Part, only nature can confer.
madame Parepa-Rosa was IN excellent voice, and
displayed her brilliant vDcazaton IN the duet .'In
MIC Sosplr" ana The melodious complaint,
portunlty, but what he mad to sing was given
with that charming roundness ana hnish
mnca as sban 1se nnye enU ua mss rni
fGl. Her first song, '.Nobil Donna Q tanta
onesta" was not perfectly satisfactory, but the
The aria, mo, no, no, was brilliantly rendered.
with unusually correct vocallzation. The part Of
way, whose voice is rather unpleasant, though evil
dencng considerable culture. In the crescendo
9a assai OF the her yoes o vay0
but she recovered herself and displayed IN the aria.
"a QueSta VOce SOlaU brlllant VocaiZatiOn, with
great clearness, combined with something of sril-
ness In her notes. In the duet with Raoul ..Bella
Divina 1ncantatrlce." she acquitted herself very
well. though the staccatO passages were wanting
In lightness, aud her trilling though prI-
liant little Nat. Mr.. Ryse made but
very Indifferent Narcotic, his rendering OF the
OF The ''Pin PAM was very poor His voice is not
deep enough 10 enable HIM to reach the lower
notes and he sings constantly fiat. lie very nearly
spoiled Parepa Rosa'S efforts In the the
ond act. In the organization OF the chorus an
innovation was made which we believe IS not sane
toned by prece lent ana certainly Is not happy IN
us results In order we suppose, TO introduce the
whole strength OF the company a number OF nuns
are made to take part III the bic ssing OF the
does not seem TO have struck the management. nor
the effect which the introduction OF q ramber OF
soprano and alto voices would have in thin alng
chorus that was already poor enough. lne addl-
ton OF the ladies' III tins scene had Just the eject
thaJ water has Oh punch-lt increased the quantity
but took from the quality OF the volume OF sound
The chorus was OWING IN part 70 TINS cause, wanting
IN lorce. the Lcgato passages were, how.
ever, Wen rendered. The grand chorus III DcSunr
brought out the whole i0rce OF the company, and
was cerrany very effective he emaie chorus
was very bad, The alto voices beng especially
weak-in fact, they We're inaudibe. me
soldiers chorus was remarkably well
given, and reflected great credit the men,
bers ana their training. Press OF time prevents
wIltng at the length we would desire. ana though
we feel called upon to point ont some OF the short
conings we desire also TO recognize the eXceenccs
OF last night's performance. which was one OF the
mos, creditable ever given in America.