The sun., 1879-03-20
IMTSENEN1N.
italian opern-Mo1ar, and Msrehe,,,.

There is no opera that shows so well how
completely organized an opera company Col.
Maplcson has under his direction rs " The
Magic Flute" II is far beyond tho reach OF
most opcratic troupes. There are at least six
teen parts that have to he led not by mere
makeshits. or by chorus singers promoted for
the occasion hut by trained artists.
II is absolutely necessary. for example. that
the parts OF the three attendants Of the Queen
of NigM and Of the three Genii should be well
sung. for though the parts nre subordinate. the
music is difncult. and one Of the threo in either
group being bad tho effect would he disastrous
As Tor the principal parts. there are ilvc that
rnqutrn singers of rare excellence. The Queen
81 N.gh has hut two arms hut they are of that
difficulty that very few artists on tho operate
stage can render thcm cff 'ctiNrly. Of whom one
and perhaps the foremost is Nine Gerstcr.
Pdnind i the real prima donna part of the
op"ra, nnd Nine. Rozc sings y inthe true Mozart
spirit. with smOothnrss. which is n quality
Mozart always requ res of his interpreters and
with accuracy and Intelligence.
But the Magic Flute " is not only n severe
test Of the quality and completeness ot m
opera company. 1t a test also oi the music.
Of Of ihs Kind ARE resulahGd 6y an, ain, uq;;
is n part of the nntionnl habit oi mind to roy.
srenee Ha9dsl az and Me@.rrt .r 99nd when The
Imperative to like Mozr,s operas.
ana II lNTIe AUDIENCES NttHnl tfm II
is from genuine liking for Mpzarts =
music. struggling rs IL does for apprecation
through the mass of incowprehensihle literary
nuns"nso and rubbish which forms the lihr-ito
ot the Xuuh'rnOte. No genius but that Of Mo-
l1rt could have held It back so long from oblv-
ion.
As II was performed on TUESDAY evening It
WIS heard at j. best and II % IL true. as many
h"lirve. that Mozart's day is passing. II IS new
ertlrless certain TINT soma NJ the most thor
oulsh and admirable representatives, Of his
works are those that attend their "Atinetion.
As between Tuesday evenings performance
of the Magic Fuie' md last evening second
rendering Of Euy Bias there WINS this dis.
tlnction. tuat on the one occasion We had
divine music welded tn "a silly plot.
and In the other rath"r weak music set to
strong situatioiS. The work 'srenls To
have attracted uuhlic 'avor IL WAS listen
ed to with evident interest and pleasure
10y II very large audience. that was often
very d'monstratiye.. II i had not i'm
as Magner's Lohengrin' itwould have gained
even moro attention by reason of lis fine stage
effects. But NaEner's fullness of orchestra
tion throws such work rs this into the shadow
Tor Mnrrh"ttt clings tpthc traditions Ot Eelliul :
day and apparently has not been In the l'asl NJ
fectcd hy the impetus OF the more recent Ger
man school.
As We have said. in referring 10 the nrst per
formnnce. the east is one that could scarcely ha
hettered. including Ms II docs Mesdamee Roze
Lahluchr and Sinico and Sicnor CampRninl
and Galassi. Cumpanin nearly had nm awkward
accident. As he entered in the second net. com
ing down the steps ~ the buck of the stage he
clamation Of alarm from the audience; but hc
quickly regained himself. and throughout the
opera acted and sang with splendid effect as
did also Nine. Koze and Signor Galassi.