New-York tribune., 1878-12-18
MUSIC.
THE MAGIC FLUTE.

The representation of MOzart's Magic
,autep last night deserved hearty praise with
ont calling for enthusiasm. This anoma-
lon, opera-strange mixture Of trivisity and
grandeur deformity and beauty-Is extremely dieuit
not only account OF the demaJ 1t makes upon one
or two principal singers but because treaures OF anu
tltude Of subordinate characters who pass across the
scene without miDgng thoroughly In the acon OF the
Drama freshness of voice and skill In yocslsm Which
are not usually found except in artists OF high
rank The role moreover, which custom ana common
necessy have reserved for the prma DONNA is one OF
the brieest and most unsatisfactory In the opera 1t
consists of absolutely nothing except the Two Ia
nous arias with which the high soprano displays
the range OF her voice and the nn'ness OF
her oolorQtay singing; and having delivered these
nieces she disappears from the stage ai an
earlv hour OF the evening 1t is the second
sonrano who does all the work. 1t upon the sscr
artists-Pamina Tdmino the three genl the three Ia
dies etc. etc-that the composer ma iaVlSheu h's
choicest melodies. Take away the music u tuo
priests and the comic numbers OF Pdpd0e"o ap
Papaoena and IL might be thought that mozart hau
written "The Magic Flute " in freak foi the SAKE
Of putnpR everything ont OF place. In New
York the opera has usually been pesentedat least DIV
Italian companies ths Germans have been more con
sclentiOus-meTely as an excuse Tor exhlDluhs
some exceptional vocalist like Carlotta Patu or D
Mursks; and managers have taken the most extraor-
dinary liberties with the score. Scenes which 1t
was not convenient to perform have been
quietly suppressed. Characters have been omitted
entirely. One OF the most admirable numbers
in the entire woik-thc trio between Idolino
and the Two Men In Armor-has generally been ex-
plunged and delicious female terzettes, when not
expunged have met the worse fate Of horrible and
lingering butchery. We do not now recall any repre-
septatop of The Magic Flute" at the NewS Ork Aead-
envy OF Music, except that OF last night which could
even be called respectable
Mr.. Mapleson and Sig. Arditi have set the work on
a.
chorus and cast at eastfa III all respects
and withal they have refraned from random hacking
at the score. The PGpGgenO OF SIG. Del Puente was
entirely satisfactory, and he found pleasant and lively
little mate IN Nine 6inico. NJ. Tlierry made merry
with the role Of the blackamOOr. Sig. Foil
was Sarastro and Sig. Frapol, who seems TO be still
somewhat out Of health, was the Tan'ino do
ing some parts Of the opera very well Mile.
Parodi certainly cannot be called good
Panina but she will pass. The smaller parts
of which there are fewer than eleven-were most
satisfactorily ed and all the concerted music seemed
10 have been thoroughly rehearsed.
The ASrafGpdne Of Nine. Gerster was fine enough TO
have justified performance far inferior 70 this We have
no hesitation prOnOuneng 1t the best we hav SEEN
Other singers have executed the two aras with equal
art traced the hOrd embellishments with equal ease,
and touched the high with equal accuracy; but no
other performed these amazing fe It's with such sim
pety grace and other has produced the extreme
high notes with such delicious pure even and strictly
musical tone Better still, Nine Gerster exces
her predecessors in the fact that she seems not
TO singing the aria for the sake Of tue vocal exercises
but to take the phenomenal passages naturally
and easily as q part Of the song: and not
even in the midst Of these difficulties does
che forget for a moment her beautiful phrasng Thus
she preserves all through the mon payeutar" the ex
Quste flavor OF Mozarts melody and she expresses fully
in the Gil angui d. inferno" the passion which most
vocalsts entirely overlook because they thinking
too much of their scales.
The public which is eager for the perform
ance Academy, will be glad to know that several
extra representations will be given next week