New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-12-22
ITALIAN OPERATES HUGUENoTs.

After performance like that Of last night at
the Academy of Music Mr.. MaplesOu's patrons have
reason 10 deplore that the engagement Of
Mile. Rossin and the production Of 4" Les
lIuguenots" were postponed till 80
late in the season. All things considered. the
representation she best that the company has
this year placed to its credit. This ought to be
high praise, and it would be if there
had not until recently been so deplora-
BILE weakness in Mr.. MaplesOn's principal
singers this fact cOmpes, in order that
Justice be done, that we should say a sO that the
performance was one that can be accounted brill
liant in most of its features Excepting Madame
Hauk the best members of the troupe were in
the cast, Mile. Rossini rs Valentino, Nile. Lauri
as Urban, Mile, Juch as Marguerite de Valos SignOr
Campanini Raoul, Signor Galassi as Saint Bris
Signor del Puente as Nerrs and Signor Novara as
Marcel Orchestra and chorus and all these princ-
pals were alive 10 the Importance Of the
occasion, and there in no respect
the sloyen and perfunctory style of work
which has often detracted from representation
that ought to have been wholly satisfactory. The
public showed its appreciation of the change from
the stereotyped repertOry by sending an audience
that filed all the chairs and left several hundred
men to stand. 1t was warm and impossible
audience moreover, and several times il threatened
an explosion of enthusiasm in the midst of the ex-
citing ging and acting.
Meyerbeors opera was given without the last act,
the outcome of all the plotting aud contemplating
being left to the imagination of the audi-
ence. The effect might not have been so
unsatisfactory had not Nile X, ssn land Signor Cam
panini given the closing part of the third act
with a passionate fire that started blaze in the
audience and sent 1t home with a consuming de-
sire to witness the termination of the tragedy.
OF all daring liberties taken with operate texts and
music, this the most daring: to let witness
the plottings of the st. Bartholomew consprators,
hear the passionate confessions of love from Valen-
tho and RGoul, followed by his struggle between
love and duty, and then see him leap out of the
window into the midst of the massacre. and be
left to burst in ignorance as to how
it all ended fill ont the story from memory. But
economy of time and possibly desire to spare tho
people the spectacle once wittily described as
shooting of each other by Catholics
and ProteStants TO the accompaniment of a
Jews music led to this last night
Nile. Rossinis success was genuine surprise, for
which even her good work in Aida left us I'M
preprepared Like Signor Campanini she began
tho opera tamey, preserving voice and energy
against the great scenes of the second
and third acts. Then she threw all her soul into
the work her voice grew strong; her defamation
instinct with life and passionate feeling her ges-
lures, daring and expressive. dramatic feryor
seized her. and soon she was all aglOw with an ex.
citement which seemed to be almost uncontrollable
The result was electrifying aud here
after Mile RossnPs Valentino will be
the standard from which her other
approximations will be judged. instead of her Aida
as heretofore Mile. JuCh sang with pretty art
though without sufficient animation. SignOr Cam
panini has been in better voice than he was last
night but it is question whether he ever
succeeded better i'll developing dra-
matte climax by union of his
admirable qualities as an actor and singer than
he did i'll the closing scene last night. He sent
many people home with the blood flushing their
cheeks or tingling III their iingeT-tips.