The New York herald., 1873-10-07
AM s EN- + N T s /.
Grand Opera House-Reappearanc OF
Mme. Lucca and Debut OF sfgnor
.v.A~ II

| The opening OF Mr. Maretzeks season OF Italian
| opera at the Grand Opera House last night was
| very encouraging to the manager and the prin-
| cipal artists The immense theatre was fun and
had the night been fair 1t would have been full to
sufrocaton. In addition to this, the audience was
| iervidly enthusiastic. Nine. Lucca especially was
| greeted throughout the performance with such
| spontaneous and overwhelming outbursts or ap-
| pause as almost to mark new era
In the American welcome to a great singer.
! From the moment she appeared till the
| curtain fell triumph followed triumph and
| In response to this heartiness OF apprecia-
tion the prima donna fairly outdid herself She
was never IN better voice since she came to this
city, and she never achieved more deserved or
more complete victory. Signor Tamberlik ap-
peared for the first time In this country. Great
anxiety was evinccd to hear him, on account Of
his great fame an artist ana his wonderful tri-
umphs throughout long and successful career. We
shall speak OF him as an artist and singer simply
and conscientiously, not sparIng him wherein he
was weak; for though he was longi in coming to us,
he comes now challenging criticism as when he
was in the heyday OF his greatness
The restless, never satisfied spirit Of Donizetti,
who was at all times 30 full Of musical ideas that
he could dash of an opera In thirty hours, CON-
plete in all Its details, Is shown to disadvantage in
the work that was performed last night at the
Grand opera House. Not content with the tune.ul
numbers OF ~ Martiri" in its original dress, he
changed and remodeed the music in some essen
tia particulars, without improving 1t. This latter
version Of the opera, under the title Of q" Poliuto"
was the work In which Lucca reappeared, and in
which Tamberlk made his American deb,A. In the
old there is overture, but In the later
there is q naelan0e OF some OF the principal melo-
dies of the opera, with the chorus Of the Chris
tians, 'Tnfamma quest Alma Q Spirito di Dio"
brought in. All Of this Is given before the curtain
goes up and is not worthy OF Donizetti. The opera
then begins with cleverly written march, with
chorus, In which the peculiar dramatic effects
which characterize the works oil this COM
poser are shown to advantage. Here we had
an opportunity Of testing the qualities OF the or
chestra and male chorus the latter thirty strong)
OF the new company. These qualities proved emf
nently satisfactory except in the matter Of ex-
preston. The voices were fresh and resonant and
came out with a heartiness and vgor that would
be commendabe did the composer require 1t In
this particular instance. Were they more subdued
and more attentive to the demands of light and
shade in this beautiful Introduction we might
accord them praise in unstinted measure.
The naxt and most interesting number was the
first scene Of "Poliut0." The well known figure
(well known to an habitue OF the London opera in
days gone by, draped in the picturesque Roman
OF the Catacombs and was hailed with torrent OF
applauding welcome. He substituted for the beau
tiul aria, 'Dun alma trOppo 1ervi da tempra,n
which is found In the original score, melody in
written for him. 1t is not change Tor the better.
Here the exact condition OF 1amberlik's voice be-
to hold sustained notes and the vibratory tones
even In the upper register Of the voice,
wsch ,ns in used
enthusiasm, proclaimed degree OF de-
cadence in power that disappointed all who
Yet the pure Italian school in which he graduated
ana In which he won distinction was shown in the
declamatory, perfect rendering Of the. recitatves
and his gracefulness OF manner and esse gave evil
dence OF what he had been But the voice, the go-
rous voice OF Her Majesty's Opera was gone and
Temulous, uncertain organ was in its place.
After the norid clarionet solo tnat precedes the
entrance OF Pauline ut would be preferable on the
house greeted her with an enthusiasm that must
have been exceedingly gratifying to the little
which the me,ody is sung by Pouto ia profession
OF belief in the Christian religion), was sung
Of sane 'hs and
compartment OF the orchestra, towards the close,
81 acco 1 nep rs soo
adj quai soavi lagrime,n but she substituted for
the popular aria in the original scene an entirely
Martlri I" Is far preferable to the one sung last
night. The long rest enjoyed by the prima donna
during the summer has had most favorable effect,
for her voice was in magnificent condition, and
its ringing tones had an electric quality
% Tne next scene was the riumphaI entry ef Of the
Proconsul, Severus and Donizett has never writ
ten anything more brilliant than the opening
Slgnor Mari, made his first appearance in The aria,
''D tua belta de imagine" and, as he sung, Dlena
nat, his claims an artist were speedily disposed
OF. Much praise must be given to the chorus and
second act " was cut, and we were introduced to the
exquisite melody OF Poliuto, "Sfolgoro dlvino
agg TO gnor II NIB Of we
but the voice still betrayed its tremulous, uncer-
tain tone.
In the second scene Of this act the genius Of
Nine. Lucca shone with exceptional ustre, when
she took up the melody previously III treated by
Ciel," ae % and T When she succeeded PoIiuto in the
theme OF the grand ensemble, one Of the
bore bore away ali the honors Of this scene, in
which the tenor and barytone are supposed to be
pre-eminent, and she was called and recalled be-
fore the curtain at the close In the third act the
High Priest Of Jupiter, represented on this occa-
sion by signor Reina had q solo, and. as we
this gentleman's voice. 1t is only necessary
to state here that his lungs have not de-
the grand duo between Pauline and Pouto
became virtually a solo In the magnetic effect OF
LuScas voice the Joyous I au,s & 2, I'll d suon
Of passion and ieryor by the prima donna with
the full volume OF her rich, sonorous voice that
effect OF Tamberllk's voice in the 'Credo
in unum Deum,n before the altar OF Jupiter
in the preceding act, was the happiest effort
he accomplished In the entire opera 1t was, IN
deed, a splendid piece OF defamation. and gave
glimpse Of what he was in his palmy
days. 1t viii be necessary to hear him In some
OF his best r0les-Manrico, Arnoldo and
Othello-to arrive at a full understanding Of the
nervous vigor and intense dramatic power Of his
style. Donizetti's work does not present him in
the most favorable light, although he created the
title roe in London. His Manrico will probably,
be the next role In which he will appear, and In IL
he has held his own against Mario and Giugllni,
sixteen years ago. Mlle lima di Murska makes
her debut tonight In ia Sonnambula."
Academy Of Music-nlncss OF Mime. Ni1s-
son-Triumphant Debut of Mile. Tor
rianf.
We do not choose to consider the placards which
met the eye OF those who approached the Academy