The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-25
MUSICAL.
The New Season OF Italian Opera.

The Academy Of Music was made bright
last evening by the return OF Col Mapleson' $
Italian Opera Company. Since II left us
with the close OF tho year the company
has been heard in Boston. Chicago. ST..
Louis. Cincinnati. Philadelphia and Baltimore.
and everywhere It's performances. by all re-
ports. have been attended with the most pro-
nounccd success. As for the Chicago people.
there seems TO have been no bounds 10 their
enthusiasm. On the nights when Nine. Ger
ster sang. they filed the very asles Of the
opera house and every possible standing
place and yet multitudes were turned from
the doors. and similar reception has appRr-
emily attended the company wherever II has APP
peared. As for the press. the raptures OF our
Western friends have carried them to the ex-
treme limits OF even Western exaggeration. and
the vocabulary Of praise seems fairly to have
been exhausted Of its adioctives.
Tho audience that assembled last evening mt
the Academy was large and brilliant. but. as our
metropolitan audiences nra very apt TO be it
was extremely cold aud unsympatheiir. This.
however, WIS no fault Of the singers. for
Lucia was given with tho same tue cast
hy which IL was rendered ast season. including
Nine Grrst"r. Chinpanini. GnlnEsi, aud Foil.
! and WAS suprrhlv sung Indeed II h. not too
much 20 say that ut no opera house in the world
/ could IL. ia all probability. have at this moment
| been rendered with more completeness and
This comes primarily OF course. from the
talent OF the solo artists. but also IN great meas
ura from the thorough rehearsal that the opera
/ has receved from this company during tn.
| months TINT Il ms heen performed again and
/ again IN the different cities where il has been
given. This has resulted in complete under
| standing and harmony between chorus urches-
/ ira mud principal singers, and now II Is per-
As Tor Mmc. Grrster. i would be dlficult 70
name any rival Tor her In this role. The pre-
! else qualities that nre nesded for tho expires
81 . fA hat and dali
/ Of that rich embroidery 81 1gritiTe that COM
pl"tcly envelops ne music q The mira act are
exactly those qualities that Nine. GeTster pos
sesses IN tue highest degree. , =,
A. an actress she constantly improves. No
/ other prima donna 50 completely Identifies
or reflects the emotion with such signil'
canoe OF gesture. sultlnG the action always
Ia the word. Without any sacrifice o
/ that ingrnuousnrss which is one Of hei
/ chief and most pleasing Characteristics, and
which gives simplicity and dlrectness 70 WIN,
sne does. Nine. G-rster relies also on that arl
/ viii ~ guides and corrects the untrnined i'm
pulses and forms the most potent ally ~ natur"
! Perhaps WHEN this Indy has left rs md hat
/ achieved fully that reputation, the foundations
! NJ which are aIreaiy laid, and which surely
| awaits her IN Europe. il will be recognized thai
/ there has come ana gone from our stage INT
I foremost living representative Of those charac
. trrs winch lie within the domain OF her art mol
. Of the Lt0'szids or Se1aWGinidl but ~ thos'
in which intensity OF emotion. pathos, sensi
1 biliiy. and suffering are portrayed in music o.
poetic character 1t Is not necessary mat thrr'
/ should be- passages OF norld Vocalizatlon L
. enable her 10 affect her audience, ~ Will doum
loss be demonstrated when Nine. Gcrste
. SIMS IN Lohrngrin " to- morrow evening. lO
+ in that opern there is not single phrase to
mere purposes 81 vocal display. but tie musi
isisimp.y romantic poetic. aud passionate.
Ii Will b. gratifying 10 hear Campanin agar
ia a role in which he has done himself. botl
here and in England. such signal honor il
I times past His voice has not Al all suil"reI
from the great demands made upon II dur
ing the past winter, but Ia strong. bright. AN
fresh rs ut the egnnlng Of the season
The LohenGrin" east will also include tina
admirable artist Signor GalasSl. and also Sguo
Foil and Nine. LAblurhe the latter Of whom
takes the part OF Olb1h. As she has brei
wanting in nothing that she hns 80 far under
taken. we look 10 lind this filcult characte
/ also safely cOnQled to her hands,