, 1875-01-20
ADJUSTMENTS.
THE OPERA.

Notwithstanding tho colG weather, tho second
potformance Of tho scason drew a worry largo
house last evening, aud, what is still better, not
withatanding tile cold, nil tho artists are in good
trim, the weather as yet having affected mono oi
tho yoices. Tile opera WIS "Luciat" nud the
stnr WAS Albani. OF tho former nothing necd
bo said. It is ono Of tic standard worla which
Las been presented in every season we have had.
and. notwithstanding tho lachrymoso and dolctu
pature of tho story, its brilliant musical setting
will always preserve its popularity. before al
ludlng to the details of tho representation, we
may aay III general that VIC hnve never had
stronger, perhaps npynr 10 Btrons, cast
III "Lucia" before, and. most certainly, nev-
or moro effective or flushed performance.
There was but ono blemiHh In tho performs
ancc, and that was occasioned by tho desperate
effort Of Ariuro {Barbenes) to sing tho fow
measures allotted to him. The lucklcss second
tenor who deserved to have been slaughtered Oh
the spot by Elgardo, not only wandered through
ali tho 1no4ulations known to Wagner, but sang
80 tltBtresninely out of tune that lie thrsw tile
whole cf.orua OF, and rendered it impossible for
them to got in again, until the se1tetto Was
reached. With this exception, tho general per-
fornanec was Of that standard OF e1cellence we
used to have in tho phimy iays OF tie Crosby
Opera-Ilouse, Wien opera Was opora. Tbs threo
leadfng puts hAse never been more strongly
cast, mover beon represented with strong
power. Mile. Alban waa Of coNrse the centre Of
attraction aud tho welcome sho received WAS q
most hearty one which. beforo tho eveuing was
over, waB atnphaHized again and again In tho
most enthusiastic inaHlIer. Tho fl1ne which
proceeded her has not exaggerated her qualities
NJ Il great lyric artist. Qn tho other hand, 1t
had hardly lel Iii to beeyo that she iH really QUO
Of the Tow great Ringers OF tLs world, and worthy
a.. II.
Lucca and Do aiurska. Her voice Is literally
without flaw and tllo most asslauons searchcr
after defects would fail tu find them IN her bent.
tifu1 yocaiization. 1t is rict, broad. powerful
soprano ,ndor perfect control, tllo must wontor-
fni icature Of which perhaapa, In the ,grest
strength aud beauty Of the high tones. Every
tono Is round, and pure, and ,forcible.
through tile entire range, and the delivery, OF
them as tho perfection Ut elegance. In addition
to all theHo ilual!tios her volee has great tioxi
biiity, aud slia sings the most involved passages
With perfect oaHa. showing control OF her pow
ess which only thoroughly-trained and vol.
schoolol artist can exercise. The character Of
Lucia is not one to call out tho highest form Of
dramatic ability, or stand aa test Ut AL artists
Powers. It IL pathetic enoug}i, but ls heartily
dismal and bordering on tue verge Of the maud
lin, and even mechanical actor might act 1t
we'll by ,cultivating iugnhrlouH e1presao,l Of
face And s01rowtul nso OF o pocAot-handGer-
chief. But even With such character
NJ this, Atlantis nrt waH manifest III in-
tulligenee aud original conception OF tho role,
and grace md beauty in ita performance, Anl in
one phase ut least {the Bcen8 OF tho rehunea-
ton by Edqarto) III illost intenso aud passionate
forvor. Whero d representation IL 80 even in
excellence mud 80 thoroughly artistic through
ont it il almost impossible to singie out parts
tive nutuba1a woro the Rsyaara net .SilrMzio
which Was not outy remarkable for the brilliant
yocalsm with which sLe HanH 1t. and tho elegant
Embellishments she gave to it, but for tho fairly
startling force Or ts dramatic declamatiou !; the
duo with Ashton, 80 t'adirnt tu porttai, which
uas grcptsI with recall III the midst OF tie act
"a spontaneous n1ll most UNUSUAL compliment
for ul,y altist; mud hcr rart in tue boxtette,
which waa takan with wonderful foryor, powos.
a1.d beauty Of yocnliHtn, bi.s wns also called ha-
foro tho cultaln Ut tho eutl Of oacll net, rccoy-
inR mt the conventional applause which Ill
audience no oftetl uscB to exprets Its satlsfac
tiuE, hut spontaneous outbHrst OF enthusiasm
which MAS Of . uost coidial aud friendly claruc
ter.
6lguor Carpi also made his debut, aud crcateA
for hna0tf h very favorable impression al ono Of
tho best robust tenors We haSa had hero for q
long time, ln the tirBt act he was somewhat
cold, but fn The bextotte he warmed up, and
gave splendid dolinuation OF l.s character both
YocallY aud dramatically, especially III tha
ma1ediction. 1iia voice IL very even aud OF good
quality, aud his work is dono with ea1hestl,esH
and trlltil aud the conscientious endeRY0r Of
true artist. Tagliapietya moro thAn confirmed
the good impression Ls nade in e fraviata."
aud saug magllitcently. liu is the best Ashton
wLo has ever appeared OH our boards, and will
make tor himself in Chicago solnett!i,g more
than n Temporary reputation. We have now
had tue light Au the heavy voices Of tho troupe,
and We tiilnk 1t will bo sho unanimous yordlct OF
opora-GoerH that It IL one Of tile strongest orgaa-
lzations lit. Btrakosci, Ilas ever Drought il0re.
At least that IN the Indication from "trFavata
and +" Lucia This eyeuiuY "FaIst will te
given with the following cast:
Marguerite. Me. AcbFon
6lepel as9 tAFf
EAAhk nAs ptn1EA1e'A
ta!eAHus. 1a&a9iae!F4
ACADEMY OF MUSIC.
Up aceount OF the pressure upon our columns
this morning, wo arc again obliged to defer IN