The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-25
NEW HERALD 2 ls7s-QUADRUPLE SHEET

END OF the Opera season-The Going
and the Coming Singers.
Tonight the short and second season of
italian Opera here will end with q benefit
to Miss Kellogg, Madame Luccas benefit
and farewell performance having taken
place last night After that we may
expect no more Italian Opera till next
Fall or the beginning of Winter, when the
Strakosch company, including Miss Nilsson
(Mme. Rouzeaud), will have the Academy of
Music. For the promotion of art and in JUS
tice to the artists it is proper occasion to
take brief retrospective and prospective
view of this fashionable and most delightful
of entertainments. Public interest is centred
principally in the two stars, Lucca and Nils
son, the former now leaving us and the
latter, SO well known and highly APP
preciated, who is about to return. While
the American people are not satisfied
with an incomplete or Indifferent combi-
nation of artists, and demand better one
than has been furnished the last two or
three years, yet the star system has proved
snccessful in financial point of view. Miss
Nilsson made great deal Of money the two
years she was in this country, as well as her
manager, and Lucca has made about eighty
thousand dollars since last October. Ameri-
cans love music, admire genius and literally
encourage the highest order of talent. This
is seen in other cities as well as in New York.
Lucca, for example, realized over twelve
thousand dollars ina fortnight in Chicago and
was as successful, relatively, in Boston. But,
while this generous support is given to artists
Of the first class, the improved critical taste
of our people requires better ensemble of tai
ent in opera. There is, it is true, q scarcity
of the precious article in the world. There
are but four or five prime dome of the high
est class, scarcely o tenor, and hardly any
baritones or bassos. If we are not entirely
satisfied with Vizzani and some others in
Maretzeks company it is but fair to say that
there are not many superior to them, par
ticularly to janet, the basso, and that Viz
zani and Sparapani especially have improved
by time and experience.
But as the success of Italian Opera has de-
pended, and still depends, chiefly upon the
prime dome, let us look at the one who is
going and the other who is coming. First, how
ever, it is with pleasure we say that our own
countrywoman, Miss Kellogg, who has always
q sweet, reliable and pleasing voice, though
not powerful, has improved upon her defective
acting Of late, and seems to be ambitious of
attaining higher position in her profession.
Lucca is woman of genius-almost child
of genius in freshness, naiuet< and impulsive-
ness-and has surprising versatility for
faithfully representing different characters.
She can become heroic, pathetic or senti-
mental with as much facility as she can be
comical, humorous or coquettish. Her action
is always fine and sometimes thrillingly dra-
matte. But the wonderful charm in her is the
eloquent expression she gives to the various
passions or sentiments through the peculiar
manner in which she uses her voice, as well
as in her action. Her notes are clear and re-
sonant, and roll over her tongue at times with
q velvety softness in the middle register that
charm as no other singer can charm us. AS
consequence she fascinates the public and
grows in its admiration the oftener and longer
she is heard and seen. With all the disad-
vantages of not the best management of an I'M
fortunate combination that provoked jealousy
and attacks, and that did not entirely satisfy
the public, she forces admiration and has
attained the first position as an artist in
America. She leaves New York now and
we may not hear her again. Christine Nilsson
takes her place, as was said, at the
Academy of Music next Fall She is well
known to the American public. She possesses
a pure soprano voice of rare quality, and excels
Lucca in the sweetness of the higher notes.
She has fine stage presence and dresses un-
exceptionally. She studiously cultivates society
to make herself popular, and has the tact
not to admit of rivalry in the company that
might cause jealousy and damaging criticism.
She can hardly fail to be successful, though
she does not return with the freshness of her
first visit, she comes back surrounded by the
halo of a new triumph at ST. Petersburg,
where she successfully contended with
Madame Patti. Luccas splendid genius, de-
lightful voice and wonderful versatility have
won the hearts of the American people, and
nothing can destroy the effect We shall well
artist, while we deeply regret the departure Of
Pauline Lucca.
The PUBLIC SITUATION IN SPAIN.-The
latest kilograms from Madrid report news
which is Of very interesting and rather ex-
citing import. The Republic has attained
very serious crisis in its governmental history.
The Assembly has been dissolved by a unani-
nous vote of the Legislative body, SO that the
country will have to endure the citizen ordeal
of general election. The motion for dis