New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-04
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.
MUSIC.
ITALIAN OPHRA-FAUST.


Faust" was very well presented last nigh.
at the Academy OF Musc--better q whole than 10
has been for q great many years. The Marghertta OF
Madame Nilsson would alone have. made the perform
memorable. There are two ideals OF this charao-
ter and OF OF them she doubtless the best living
type. 1t is msrvelousy beautiful creation, as pure
and cOOrless moonlight, and almost as cold 1t Ia
never lighted up with spontaneous fire. but 10
Is nodded with exquisite grace, and tinged
with the most fascinating romsnticism. II
differs widely from the simple plebean Gretchen
OF GOethes pOem 1t very near TO the etherealzed
aud somewhat sentimental heroine OF Gouood's opera
a French Gretchen with good deal OF her charming
naturanes5 rubbed off, and some very pretty gaces put
on IN the place Of IT, We not think Madame Nilsson
quite reaches pathos that underles the music but
her Interpretation is nevertheless most wonderfully del
lcate The strong dramatic situations she grasps with
the keennes Of great artistwe had almost said with
the intuition Of genusand In the famous church scene
she produces impression that VIII not
soon be forgotten. This was placed
last night before the soldiers chorus and tho
death OF Valentnean arrangement which docs not cor
respond with the original poem and does not produce
good musical effect, the barng JanfIre maTe break
ing IN npOn the close OF the most tragcal and awfp
number in the opera with violent shock III Involves
also some "businessr which might DO awkward in tho
hands OF an actress less accomplished than NILSSON Tor
uarqhea after her struggle with the tempter In her
vain attempt pray, mnst get of the stage 10 mako
room for the commonplace military march. Mad
aine Nilsson did it with great ingenuity. Tho
action place outside the church Gas 1t always USED
to when tho opera first played in NewYork' ana a.
the end MargheritG staggers towards her house Meet
ing the iend face TO face, she stands Tor momehs
transfxed with horror and then falls back senseless
The women coming Of the church pick her up and
lead her TO her own door she saggers across the
Threshold All this was admirably managed. but 1t was
less effective than the arrangement which Nilsson fol-
lowed two years ago and Lucca last season.
There ia little to be said of Madame WILSON'S singing
night except that her voice was perceptiOy fuller
and richer than it two ago. and that her exe'
cution was much careful than it was on Monday
night Neither ia It necessary 10 say much OF tho Fds
OF NJ Capou or the Sie6el OF Miss Cary with both which
our public is sufficiently familiar. NJ Maurel made bis
debut az Valentine and sang III the second Act the AR
which Gounod arran ged from melody Ia the overture
for the benefit Of Mr. saney when the opera was first
produced in London NJ MaurePs voice Is high bari
tone neither very rich very robust, and married
little by the Ut6rdo which 10 be 0eradcable from
French yoIces but he artist OF high rank, with
thorough control OF his and noble ana grace
ful action He Is by means Santley, out nc IL an
excellent singer sIgnOr NanBetti in the character OF
NeuhistoDheles confirmed the high opinion We formed
ON Monday alike OF the quality OF his voice and his
method; though the voice is perhaps neither deep
enough nor rotund enough for this particular point All
the principal members I'm fact OF Mr. Strakoschs com
many are artists Of uuquestiOnabe emnence and II ~
rarely that VIC hear troupe in which tho average Level
of ability is 40 high. We discern no great improve
en yet the chorus but the orchestra grows octtef
and better all the time.