New-York tribune., 1878-12-17
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.
THE OPERA SEASON.

Mr.. Maplesons first subscription season Will
close at Of the present week. the few nights ihat
remain being set apart for tue repetition OF
Robert" and Carmen" aud tue revival OF
Mozart's Magic Flute" In pccuuiary sense u has
probably been the most successful opera season ever
gwen III tho Academy Of Music; the house has been gen.
orally sold out and many occasions the demand for
seats has brought enormous profits 10 the spectators
Uuon the whole the prosperity Of the manager has
been well canned. His company does not con-
tain such brilliant assembiage OF stars IA
that which Mr. sIrakosch presented one Win.
ter, when Nilsson, Cary, CampaDini. Capom.
Maurcl Del Puente and Nannet all here together
but tue average excellence OF the representations has
been much higher than that OF Mr. strdkoSch'S best
season, higher perhaps than that OF any series o IL h
representations which tins generation OF NeW-N0rSer'
can remember How much depends upon thorough
ensemble conscientious rehearsnG, care IN little things
a nice balance Of parts, chorus that can rlns an
orchestra that will be at some pains with It's pay!ng
and above all, n quick and accomplished conductor
who has pride IN doing his well most oi us hardly
realized until We found Sgnor Arditl putting new hIe
into operas hat thought were worn out ami MAKING
US enjoy old things which used to call bore
OF the prma donnas Miss HauI bore the burden Of le
first part Of alone and during that time she
proved herself variety Of eKactng roles singer OF
considerable versatility and substantial enduring merit
The remarkable she has ieved la the cbafae
er1art Of Carmen has perhaps led the public 10 forget
for a whe how excellent she is IN many other tnngj
but tue more they OF her The higher will they appe
ciate tns safe singer VINO never makes failure aud
never disappoints reasonable expectation.
Her voice is pure, even and graceilI
| throughout its range; she is Lively, intelF
geut and careful and her gifts as an
actress are enough to win distinction for her even she
were not a singer.
Madame Gerster came late upon the scenc but she mas
won in a few weeks a popularity whicn promises 70
IA H.. .tHrl1ln
out tho particulars which she falls shorjus as MSS
Hauk doesOf the highest excellence; but when al h"s
been said, It still remains uudsnaole that the ~or"
recognizes her OF the brightest ornaments oi no
lyric stage What Is the subtle charm with "hch sue
captivates us ALI 1t is not merely the "ohuor'
| ful yocalism, or the clear and telling VOICE.
| or the simple and pretty acting. or tho "ihh'S
oud expressive face. Something majestic there u no
doubt IN her personality, quite distinct from dramatic
nover or from any sympathetic quality Of voice-sohe
thing impossible 60 auayhe ana luPosSlp'o I" 'es'S
gnt whatever it may be- she has pn iorth power VI
fascination over NowYork which We nave se'''eb e'on
n,raleled and as the time goes on she seems 10 rise
higher and higher not only in the favor OF the audi
enees but n the esteem Of the critics
slgnor Clmpanmi has been strong attraction Hom
the very opening OF the season He has deYel'
oped remarkably since his first visit TO America
Hts voice has gained In volume and in hrm'
ness. l. Ia much less easily affected than It
used 10 De Dy luc ChahS's VI '"'
climate II has not lost Its old sottnoss ana hexlohH
and yet Il has gained enormously In the robusto quality
while the artist himself has ripened into a adFpm"uo
singer of the very first rank In every ne" part ssnor
| Cappanni gives us fresh 10 admire him. he
pneoua of course as almost all artists OF MS e"sS
must bc but there are hardly any roles In which he does
mot sustain himself at very high average level ahd
often rise 10 brilancy while In the Srande. scenes ~
| feryor is almost invariably electric
| Ia question one OF Tue jest
o nav, had I'm New.York for many years and our only
complaint respecting him is that We do not hear hm
oten enough His noble style is inexpressiby refresh
ing 20 ears that have long been yexed with cruH'h'
De, Puene less than Galassi but he mas a'no
some admirable things this season. and other meln0e
OF the compapy-Frapolh, Mme. snieo, Nine LAOseAe'
| etc. have contributed largely 10 'tHs 'u'''"