The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-25

public she has this year increased her artistic sta
ture by u 'cubit." fIer voice was never In better
ana nom as singer ,, ana actress sne mas
ting the merits OF all her comrades, Is the most
complete artist now on the lyric boardin London.
Her various performances this season have all been
talked about AZ something TO remember. In FRA
Diavolon the bedroom scene alone, where the inno-
cent zerna retires to her couch, unconscious that
she Is observed by the brigand and his cOntede-
rates. IL enough to make the fortune OF a
well-directed opera house. Her inimitable
performance OF Sclika In ''pAlricaine :" her lively
and provokingly original Cherubno, her Valentine,
in Lies HuguenOts,' perhaps unequaled since the
valentine OF Nine. Viardot, are one and all adm-
rable; for to excel as Lucca does In many charac
tiers, with nothing in common with others, ia
granted to few; yet another must be added-her
bought up at three guineas.
HIGH PRICES AT THE OPERA IN LONDON ARE PRO-
VERBAL;
but In this instance boxes, stalls and amphtheatrc
front seats mo "pitl"-What would Edmund Kean
have have saids were eXorbitanty charged and, must
Princess Of Wales came to the performance, al
though they had only arrived frora the Continent
on the afternoon Of the same day; but, as
no one had any idea OF their honoring
the theatre with their presence, the high prices
have referred to could have had nothing whatever
to do with them. How esteemed Is Lucca by both
these illustrious personages everybody in London
knows fun Wen, and nothing could have proved it
more conVlnciugly than the fact OF their coming In
public on the very day Of their arrival from abroad
1t was the first appearance OF the Prince in public
since HIS happy recovery TO witness performance
OF Pauline Lucca. Lucca's Marguerite is one OF the
best and brightest of her many r0les-nay, the
Marguerite of Marguerites. No one this more
clearly than the earliest appreciation and friend OF
Charlotte Bronte, G. H. Lewes. who when Pauline
first essayed the character in London poured forth all
his eoquence in an article of enthusiastic eulogy-
signed with his inltals--in the PaU MAJ Gazette,
an article still wildly remembered by all.
THE STUDENT or GOETHE
Glowing rs were Mr.. LeweS' praises OF Mario'S
Faust they were still more unqualified for Lucca's
Gretchen--and Lewes Is the biOgrapher well as
one of the most eager and most successful divers
into the apparently unlathomable profundlties Of
Goethe
last word for the present, about the operas
here The chorus mt both theatres Is very inferior to
what 1t used to be. why is not Santi, acknowl-
edged the greatest chorus master now in Europe,
engaged at either house? The answer is, because,
for reasons Of his own he has declined Offers from
both. His Absence nevertheless Is grievOns loss.
Such an incompatible general cannot well he
spared. and every English 0pera-goer who cares for
Il good and effective ensemble hopes for Santis
speedy return.
Now is the Of races, balls, concerts rates,
&c., which, despite the rain constantly and prod
igally falling in this otherwise not altogether
blessed or unhappy country, are eagerly followed
up by all who have the means 10 enjoy them.