, 1874-03-31

.HWicarti
The principal parts were strongly cast. Ytr-
ginia Whiting being an admirable Vocalist. al
| though very indifferent actress Carl Tormcs
bolng IN hlle voice, aud Zayitowslsy being Skill
fnl panton'iinist and professional ballorina, but
| tho chorus and orchestra wero wretchel, and, as
! the general offoct was weak.
II may be presumed, therefore, that "Afaea.
niolEo" is unfamiliar to tho majority Of onolm-
Eoors and brief sketch Of it will bo OF interest
| 4 fisherman, deeply moved by tho oppression nf
| his paoplo, under tho Spanish rule. connnfroa
with Bomo Of his friends to riso in rebellion
against the Government OF tho Spanish Vico-
| roya. Ilo immediate cause for Revolutionary
| action iB found tn the discovery Of MI outraro
committed by tho Vicoruy's son against Wasa-
9!leIo's sister,. mute girl, nanlod Eenelia, In
the struggle tLat onsuos tic people aro yictors.
and celebrate this result by many deods Of say.
age cruelty, which MasanieAo strives in vain to
| suppress. Not known to Masanieilo, Alfonso.
FeneAa's soducer, being pursued by tue ponulaco'
implorcs 2asaniello to shioll him and hig wifo
Etut,a againat tho fury Of the people. Accord
lng to IN anclont custom among tho tlshormcn,
Ndsanie|zo promises hiH protection mud magua1l-
lmousiy maintains his promise, oyen after roc
ognizing in the stranger tho destroyer Of lis
SISTERS honor. Masanie!lo is subsequently do
| clated Regent, clad in royal tostments md is
triumphantly carried into tho Vicoroy'a palace.
Scarcely installed thoro, however, some Of lie
liscontontod tahormen aud participants in tlo
Nesoiisioh rcbol against 1tn, and give him poi
son, wh!oh prodncos nsauty. Flo subsequently
!cads his people aBalust tho Spaniards and is
Nl,leo, ana fene0d, who haa lost lor brother aud
gu Aopos OF tno lo7o OF AJonS0, throws horsolf
lnto the sea. LUG Tosoutlonary tlmos OF thirty
nI Jury 5eaTa ago. married. ny instructions ut
Iarld, Br'lao1lce, and almost everywhere olHo in
europe, eaFo blrth TO hoth tho subject and form
OF tnla opera, tle dramatic plot and tho music
comDlnln6 TO make 1t an apotheosis of reyolu-
lion. nor thls roason tic Government Of uor-
many, hnssla, and 1taly, for nuulbor of yoars,
prohlb1ted lta production within thoir respective
territories. rM
lie opera was first produced in 1928; 1T tho
Academic Hoyale uo alllsic, at Paris, whero tho
author OF Tho toxt; Eugeno Scribc al we'll III the
composer, lived ut TINT tmo. It may safely be
said that " Masaniello" il tho first historical
opera, anu produced n now orn for tho lyric ago
u tarlg HosainL soon brought out his "Will-
lam Ioil !" Aloyerheor followed with" Robert tho
DoYll." and "Tho uuguenotB;" Verdi gnyo
us "Ballo in Maachera;" IIaloyy producod
LA JuiVo;" and Dellini, II Purtuui."
The overturo-ln ttaolf work of groat
merit, and certainly one Of tho most admirable
parts IN tho opera, contains, Is it were. 1nina-
turo picture OF tho dramatic plot. Tho instru-
montatlon Of both the overture and tho opera is
simply magnificent proving tho mastorly knowl-
odgo Auber Ind of tho extremely yurinb|o power
of oppression lcontainod within tho limits OF
oro4estras music. llia Is especially romarka-
ble IN the accomparsmonts to 1ene!!a's mimic ex-
nrosalons. This oharactcr, tho muto horoino Of
tho opora groMty ntttH to itB dramatic power, aud
mnsicaly it Affords Tho composer OIL opportunity
,m, for some @ yery aMbtlo and beautiful passagos.