New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-10-01
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.
AIIISIC.


OPENING OF TIE OPERA SEASON.
The opening of the opera season was cele-
hrated last night by brilliant audience. crowdpg the
Academy TO the point Of discomfort and filed with hos
ptable feelings toward the prma donna who after so
many preliminary nourishes. was to make her nrst
appearance in America That the debut OF Madame Lucca
was successful everybody Will take as a matter OF
course; but the part OF Sed in "LAfricaine"i Is
the one in which most captyaes mankind is not so
certain The story printed the programmes that
Meyerbeer selected her for the role when the opera was
first produced in Paris, and only accepted Madame
sasse substitute because the King OF
Prussia would not allow TO leave
Berlin and that the composer would allow "LAri-
cane performed IN London except with Lucea Tor
the heroine Is little fiction OF the management
''LAfricaine" never was performed anywhere during
heyerbeers hfetime,-was indeed left incomplete
and the late Mr.. Fetis prepared IL for the stage
from a great mass OF the composers undigested manu-
script The ideal Selitd requires certain elements OF
grandeur which Iucca apparently does not possess The
charming and beautiful artist who conquered New-fork
nv her face before she had sung note' gains
her general laurels probably by qualities iar
different from those greatness. Piquante ana WIN
ung in her ways quick I'm her impulses, woman in pas
.on tender and wOmanly in feeling, and unfailing In
her intelligence she has nearly all the best gifts OF an
actress but bright sunny nature was not made Tor
sublime and commanding roles. Hence, hne as
her personaton was last night and despite
the impresvenes of her two principal scenes the duet
With Vasoo " and the death passage at the end
the opera missed something in lack Of which the
Effort lust fell short OF greatness. Her NGrghe
rita tomorrow We dare say will be much
Srander, and comedy characters she
must be inmitable OF her rank vocalist, Settka
hardly qualities the critic TO speak decidedly but so Tar
a. her requirements tested last night they seemed
to he all that report had painted them Hervoice Is
rch strong and true, full Of warmth and sympathy
without being phenomenaly brilliant a little
sharp in the upper register, yet without
une harsh tone, and with some notes OF
al indcscrbaOly touching quality a grand and magmh
cent voice that would be fortune Alone even without
the tascinat0ns that accompany II. FINALLY her ghIs
are regulated by fine dramatic instinct which never
oyersep the prophecies OF the scene and never
allows her TO sacrifice the situation for the sake OF
round q applause or recall In the last scene espec-
iallp this artistic restraint was admirable
OF the rest Of the company can spare time at this
late hour for only brief mention. Sig A0rugnedo' me
rqseo Of the evening reasonably successful ana has
good points that will be appreciated better here
rrcr In STYLE he is a senore rObuSto but he has
not a robust voice, his tones being reedy and
produced from the head, and lacking entirely that
vibrating quality so highly valued in singers Ike
Watchol. his voice IA pleasant. not strong, ana
his culture IL highest order is certainly more
than passablc The Tnc- Of Madame Ieyie was excel
lent in execution though the lady has rather sharp
voice The new baritone Moram made of Aettsko a
rrotesque and unpleasant eXtortionist He has
neither an agreeable voice nor a guod mdthod. NJ.
Janet who is always welcome, reappeared as 10"
retro The rest OF the characters call for no special re-
mark and the chorus scenery and appointments were
about what they have always been. There is little
change in the appearance Of the auditorium and no per
scptolc change on the stage, unless We except new
hauzaula tree. The ship shabby IN the eX-
IRENE.
The audience usewarm through the first three acts,
became enthusiastic during fourth, and at the end Of
.ne nth Madame Lucca recalled several times with
tyery demonstration OF delight.