The New York herald., 1873-10-11
ITALIAN OPERA.
Lueca In .L. Favorita."

Nme Lucca achieved an extraordinary feat al
the Grand Opera House last night, carrying the
opera Of ia FavOrita" on her shoulders alone and
bringing 1t TO o successful close. The role OF Leo
is eminently suited TO her peculiar lyric tai
ents, and in the more passionate scenes the spas
modic outbursts Of ner glorious voice were electric
in effect. She was In the best spirits for such q
role, and nothing could be more thrilling than
the effect she produced in the scenes with
Fernando. When in the first act she
took up the melody in which her lover addresses
her in the pleading accents, 'Denl vanne, deh
parti," there was mingled love and alright in the
agitated tones. The bitter feelings that actuated
her heart in the reproach addressed to King Al.
fonso in the aria, "In questo suo" were expressed
with Indignation and sorrow in every tone. The
anathema hurled against her by the representa-
tive OF the Church gave Nine. Lucca an oppor-
used to advantage. In the fine, expires:
sive aria, "O mio FERNANDEZ she gained
Wealth Sns one 5um aa 81 ss WINCH s ss
poured forth In this aria thrilled the house. and in
the succeeding caoaletta, "Scritto in cel," she
completed positive triumph. In the finale OF the
third act, when Fernando i1rst learns the disgrace
inflicted upon him by his marriage with the mis-
and acting OF Lucca again enthraled the heart
and ear. over chorus and orchestra It's full, rich
% a ana ee tae nts
building with a hood OF melody. But IN the death
scene she attained still higher success. The
pleading appeal TO her husband, her pteous cry
ior pardon and her great JOY In being once more
reconciled to him, was delivered with power and
effect even beyond what the habttueS OF the
Academy felt last season. Throughout the success
OF Nine. Lucca was OF the most emphatic kind.
The next one In order OF merit was M. janet, who
but made so much of 1t that he deserves to be
placed after the prima donna Sign0r vizzani,
although his voice was unexceptionabe, did not
fnfuse the requisite amount of fire into the role OF
Fernando, with the exception OF the 'SpiritO Gen.
ill.," which was given with due erect. The great
drawback to the success Of the opera was Signor
Mari, who appeared King Alfonso. 1t Is unne.
cessary to enter into detail regarding this barry
tones efforts last night as 1t would De impossible
to point to single instance in which they were
even tolerabe. AS the role oil the King occupies
a very important part In the opera, the failure OF
the barytone was all the more perceptible. Spara-
PAM sang 1t with success last season. and 1t Is to
be regretted that he was not retained for 1t this
fall. NhF MMT8 N5 fna
ia Favorita" ranks very high among Donizettl's
works. and, when gwen with complete ensemble,
1t cannot fail to please an audience. 1t Is singular
lZed the season In both the Italian opera COM
panies. He is, undoubtedly, very dramatic, and
gives artists ample opportunities Ior display. But
there are many other composers more acceptable
to the ear OF musician. However, Donizettt
afforded Nine. Lucca last evening vide field for
the exercise OF her remarkable vocal and hstri0nc
talents and her triumph Is all the greater ac-
count OF the poverty of the surroundings. The
chorus did well, the minor characters 10 the cast
badly, and the orchestra INDUCED In unwarranta-
bic vagaries.