The New York herald., 1879-11-27
ADJUSTMENTS.
ACADEMY OF Musrc-scAnMEN."

ACADEMY OF -'cARMEN."
Nine Ambre appeared Carmen last evening at
the Academy of Music. supported by Signor Runcio
Don Jose. the rest of the cast being identi-
cal with that which heard on the late
appearance of Nine. Doaro in the part.
Tho undertaking was particularly venturesome.
as it invited double criticism-or Mme Ambre.
who failed to make pleasant impression in "Trav-
ata." but who scored fair success in "Aida." and
of Sgnor Runco. whose debut in the former opera
resulted in unequivocal and disastrous failure.
1t would have been a much better plan to have
given each of these artists the advantage of the
strongest possible support, and not have obliged
them both to redeem the past in single venture.
Mme Ambre's is negative Carmen; 1t is
neither good nor bad; it is neither vulgar nor
fined; it is neither inartistic finished. 1t pre-
medium between what it might be in
either direction. but the medium Is not
happy one. it is not marked positively
with signs Of excellence. The effort cannot
be said to have been thing like failure. and yet
it was not palpabe success. Nine. Andres Car
men develops only the harsher, rougher the purely
animal instincts Of the character. not touch of wom-
anly nature appearing i'll it. Taking this as the
basis of her conception of the part. she
carries it out very well except IN one direction. Tho
characterization lacks briancy and DASH which. III
the absence OF all gentler causes should be the
handspring OF her power OF fascination over the
gypsy, cotere, OF which she is the centre.
In act first Nine. Ambrc makes little dramatic head
way; with her later work she improves until
the finale, when again she fails to meet
the demands of the dramatic action of
the opera. the closing duo between Carmen
and Don Jose falling far short of what it should be
the climax of the story. Muscally. Nine Ambre
failed to make any special mark. simply because her
voice is not suited to the part. Carmen is not
suited to her vocal ability. 1t requires
round, resonant. medium notes, which she lacks.
and though she understands how it should be
sung. she has not the voice Always to execute her
intentions. Triplets and arabesques in the me-
dium register make constant demands on her weaker
notes. taking from the good effect she produces
when her high notes have been called into play.
She dresses the part better than did Nine. Dolaro.
but SO we'll did Miss Hauk, and II her Carmen
were less mature in its mannerisms. moro girish
and less matronly it would be quite acceptable II
no. strong. AS has been said, the Carmen OF last
night was q medium between good aud an fndif-
ferent performance.
Signor Runcio did well when two things have been
consdercd-his own poor performance in "Travi-
alta" and Signor Campanini's great success Don
Jose. If he did not come anywhere near equaling
Signor Campanini. he greatly improved on his own
former work in. "Traviata" and. though he was
occasionally fiat of the pitch, and often made use Of
the hoQuet drdmaQue, he much more OF an rtist
than his debut. His Don Jose lacked manli-
and q vim it should have had, but his singing
was at times of q sweet quality.
The of the cast have been heard before, and 1t
only need be said that they repeated their previous
good work in the opora.