The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-11-21
AlfUSEuENTS.


In Vcrdis mind there Is n peculiar love OF
the horrible. lie is not content with a simple
tragedy with death In any Of It's ordinary
forms. but chooscs to add a ghastliness to that
occasion, and to set 1t of with hidcous decora-
ton. NJ certain mortuary chapcs are sought to
bc made impressive by being fcstooned with the
skulls and bones otdepartcd saints
In the "Trovatorc" tho pleasing device Ia to
have the count dl Luna burn alive his own son.
In Aida" the hero and heroine arc lowered.
alive into tomb and there walled up together
TO perish Mt leisure. In Rigolctto" the father
hires an assassin to kill his enemy. but the
assassin kills instead. Rgoietto's own daugh
ter. and delivers her in n sack to the poor
Jester, and we have the singular spectacle OF n
iather dragging his beloved daughters body
This was Victor Hugo's lurid conception. and
When his tragedy was produced at tho Theatre
Francois the French people refused TO listen to
u after the FIRST representation. But many
things-in plain speech northumberland toll
Grated when seen through the softening veil Of
music.
OF course tho situations In this opera are
strong. but Verdi has mainly evaded them. His
music seldom rises 20 the full height Of tho
dramatic situation. The famous quartet in
the third act TO be sure, not only Is about tho
best piece Of work that Verdi over did but prob
ably has mainly earned the opera the success il
has held these thirty years The title role
and prominent character Is given TO baritone
and demands from the performer an eNcep-
tiOnal sum Of artistic merits. Baned rage
simulated humility. ihatrpd and dos pair in the
midst OF seeming Joy and paternnl pride and
afle tion-ql lthese character falls to the
lot OF RigoletiO to have to express.
Naturally. the artist who If 10 do II Justice
must be- a consummate actor as well ~ good
vocalist. and the technical accomplishments
EE seb would vSarry s ing safely through
short OF the pathos Of Pieta Signori." II u.s.
perhaps. fortunate for artists that Verd's mu-
sic is not measured ON the scale OF the dramatic
effects OF the work.
The character Of the music allotted to Gilda
ne prima donna, IL not on so intense key.
are surging about her other than that OF n pa
thetc. gentle loving. and self sacrificing spirit
feelings her performances in Ap,ind and Lucia
had given good ground to conjecture, and II
was no matter Of surprise to Mud the role. with
It's original sweetness and simplicity OF feeling
and its pure and calm. yet delicate aud some
times nord music. especially fitted to her
The number In which she excited the most
stormy enthusiasm was undoubtedly the IA
nous garden scena., with the beautiful aria
Caro- nome" crowded IA IL Is with the most
intricate technical difficulties, eliminating in a
eadcnza in which every detail OF musica fori-
iiTa. staccnto, swell, trill and run was laid un-
der contribution to set in the clearest light the
artists dazzling powers OF execution.
such displays OF executive skin. as they ap-
peal most readily 10 tho popular appreciation.
naturally rouse the warmest popular approval
and on this OCCASION as 50 often before. the APP
shook the house But il would be wrong 10 In
fer. because Nine. Gerster was brilliantly effec-
tive in technicality that she left anything to be
desired in the more purely sentimental and
passionate music OF the part. which was sung
Throughout with exquisite grace and tenderness.
o. siRnor Galassi II may be said that we have
not had so strong n rendering OF RigOletiO In
many years. Method. feeling and appropriate
action all combined with his magnificent
voice to make his impetsonation an artistic
triumph. His beautifully correct phrasinR. the
steadincs with which his sustained notes are
held. the admirable justice done to each note Of
the score without haste, slurTing. or uneven
ness. are prime grac's Of his execution. 1t is
popularity Of Sig. Galassi's voice that each
note is as pure in texture. ~ rich and smooth
in quality as the others, whereas in most
singers we find noticeable Inequalities in this
regard.
Too much praise cannot be given 10 the fine
pathoa dignity aud feeling OF his expression,
both dramatic aud purely musical. To take one
instance the fine scena OF the pieta was SUI
perhly rendered. as was also the succeeding
scene with Giidd.
Sig. Frapolii, spite Of an occasional appear
ance Of effort sung the Duke brilliantly and
we'll. and Nine lablache and Sig Foil contrib
uted essentially 10 the artistic ensemble So emf
nently necessary in this eXacting opera.