, 1873-02-04
THE OPERA.

Italian opera once more reaunaep itB Sway In
burned-out Chicago, and the Leonoras and Far
1a,dos and Alphonsos trend tho boards again.
Bome four or five years sooner than the most en-
thuBiastic operatio habituo supposed thoy would.
Concerning the manner in which italian opera
has mounted tho throne again and taken tho
scoptre, which Engligh oporn has welded so
long, Pauline Lucca mny we'll congratulate Aor-
self. In an unsettled city, in unsettled financial
times, with prices at the very maximum, In
weather distressingly bad, slippery, sloppy, dis
NAL, and dumpish, with an opera which has mover
beon favorto here, notwithstanding Its nan,e,
and which hos mover before drawn d paying
house, Luccn has come, seen and con-
quored. There arc plenty Of mana
gers who will remember the OK
poriences of "Fayorita" in this city with no
particular pleasure or kind}inosa. It has been
given seven times bore, less than any other OPP
era Of the standard works, and each timo to q
bcggarly account Of empty benches. Parodi,
Amalia Patti strakosch, Gnzzaniga, and unfor-
tunate Moronsi have nll givon lyrical expression
to tho unadulterated and high-aown aorrowB Of
Leonora without making any impression. Mover
before has the Kings mistross succeeded In got
ting any sympathy with her oft-reiteratod o
Cioll" and Gran Dio u; novor before has man
zek, auccecled in inducing people to
my out their greenbacks for the
pleasure OF sseing Leonora shuttle
of her mortal coil among ghostly monks and
grim gravostones, or Of hearing Fernando make
tho touching announcement that he ahal require
the services Of the convent undertaken and Bal
ttazars funeral singers the next day although 1t
is over flfteen years ago that, Parodi commenced
dying on tho RA1tlo spot whore Luccn died last
night. Lucca therefore, or Luccas reputation,
manager. Maretzok and Jarrett may, there
foro, Congratulate Themselves over their nlacca-
roni today, that, although they played the weak
est trump ID the pack, it has takon Il trick.
Tho audience In attendance was one Of the
most brilliant that ayor assembled in Chicago,
| and, before the evening was oyor, was Que OF
| the most enthusiastic No oporatio artist in our
remembrance ever before awakened 80 much ell
and oheers as were ahowered upon Lucca at tho
she si' Received M w cordial bat not
greoting. 1n the frat act she s is upon tho stage
| auch decided Impression upon the aud1enoe
that she received al enthusiastic call before tho
curtain. From this onward sho constantly
gained in fsvoE and ga gt5duay TroHghti ogtgsi,a the
which Inns novor been equallea1 hero be-
fore, BAo was called out at the end
| OF each act, aud when tho curtain fell for tue
| last time slie reoeivod n double call amid tho
WluGht G1cbTb A1lA hPn1ounos !" 'AAHoto A*EAA1ANe
| unprecedented. :,
ovation abe rcceivod, and it was all the more
notable because it was achieved with an opera
which has hitherto boon yory. unpopular, and
which Is at nll timoB ungrateful for any nrtieto,
ns tho most OF tho music aud action aro crowded
| into the last act. In person Lucca has overy
advantage. She is solid little lady with yory
wlnyon,e, attractive faco nnd indehnablo Rugges"
tion OF Piccolomint about her in her stage pres.
opco, Aftor Beoing her even In tho stiltod
horoca Of Fayorite," it is not difficult to con-
colyo why tho Borliaera should claim her as
"Unsose kleine paulina." Her voice Is O pure
,nozzo-soprano, without All unpleasant tone III
it. Through Its wllolo compass It In rich, round,
and full, warm in tono, and very Ao1iblo, as waa
shown ii tho tril in 30 Milo Fernando y which
| WAS perfectly made. The domandB OF tho opera
wero neyor TOO aoyera for hor; indeed bto filled
moro than hor part. for silo had to make anensa
for worry woak-yoieed teuor, and !a'riy 10 taKe
upuu horaelf tho whole burden Of tho oonouls1a
eiroota. 10 d. tLEs s4q ahowoa horself
thoroughly capable. Ilor singing al oI5o ::sasroa
oontidellco her voice being delivered with perfect
easa As dramatic Singer, BAe stands far IN
advance Of anyone who has oyor been here. bhe
Is q conBumrnato actresH. No artist who has m
been here bofore has succeeded in making tue
first threo acts Of " EAvnrita F" intaraatin9 but