New-York tribune., 1883-12-18
MUSIC-THE DRAMA.
noxC1,IFIJrS LA GIOCONDA.

~ ,vill mark the elimination of our opera season
IA unouestonaby bring great deal of credit to MT
,hhev and (which is more TO the purpose) handsome
ann into his exchequer As our operatc affairs lave
beep managed OF late years, the bringing out OF new
work has always caused sensation; it is rare event
SEASONS have come and gone with variation to the
grdy repertory and opera lovers have seen their
fayorite entertainment fall into decay which is surely
mortal and have been pOweress to arrest it. sumuans
have been sought in the excited cultivation OF the s
SYSTEM and few have been CLOSED over with
ahectc ush that to looks like new e but 10 the
knowing, is only sign OF Fastening dissolution
That the best remedy land the only one tnaV
will prOtract the existence OF ltahan opoia
lies IN the infusion Of blood into the reperoy no
managers have refused to see. At the opening oi '
season Mr.. Mapeson made several brave speeone "pOl
the public's WEAKNESS Of the wcllhrummed'
und wbisted list He put his professions into prao
tice by reyying "La Gazza Ladra" and IL bnsr
d. Amore" two operas that might have oeeh iei. W ~
bumbers without loss to the world "ht Is soou III '
Is preserved IN the concertroom MT. ADpey n"S o"n
himself scrupuously precise in redeemng MS PROMISES
Tn t ,snnontments of his season have been such as
were inevitable considering the magnitude OF the task OF
giving opera a grand scale III ne" mouse, WHICH
after three months occupation is not yet nnshed MS
list OF old operas good one, and OF the tWentyrour
works which 1t contained he has performed thirteen with
uniformly splendid scenery and stage appointments lie
has shown q proper appreciation too, OF the element
which contains most vitality by laying the greatest
strass upon the most dramatic works" LOhengrin,'
"Meastofele" and " Don Giovanni" The exposition
which his artists gave these three operas will not be soon
forgotten.
AS we recall the list and 1t does not strain the mem
ory the operas but that have been brought out
as novelties by Italian companies within twelve or hfeen
wears have remained warm in popularity. Marchetus
Rny Bias" was a failure, but "Lohengrin" " Aida,"
1Carmen and "MefstOfele" have been the managers
most loadstenes the they have graced
The hint contained the fact ought long ago TO have been
taken; and 1t would have been probably had not the
runous star system stood IN the In bringing out
Gioconda" Mr. Abbey is certainly doing all that coud
be expected of him. for 1t must not be forgotten that al
the Metropolitan Opera House the e1ternas OF the Oldest
operas have been new.
As yet POncheln is only name in this country Ia
poiliar 20 few besides students OF contemporaneous
musical history. In England Carl Rosa had an English
version Of u Promess sposi" (POnchies best opera
prevous 10 LA Goconda underlined for the season OF
1ss0s and the ballet music OF the later opera sew
era times the programmes OF the Crystal Palace con-
cets before the opera given by Mr. Gye last sprng
in this country few airs from Sc Promess Sposl ii
Fgiuo PrOdigo" and La GocOnda have been sung In
small concerts and this the limit OF our acquaintance
with POnchie's music. We will therefore be able 70
Judge the composer freshly as he reveals himself IN his
masterpiece. Until the opera has been performed 1t
would be foolish TO attempt an estimate OF the work
panoforte give only cooress outline Of the
music and as signor Ponchiel belongs 10 the younger
school of Italian composers, who are following
In the footsteps Of the matured Verdi
we must observe the union OF spectacle
action before prOnouncing upon the merit OF
"La Gioconda" Our chief concern now is with the IL
bretto which the interesting since under the pen
name "TObia GorIiO" which stands upon the title page
it is easy hidden the real name of no less poet
and musician than Argo Boto the author and composer
Of "MehstOfee." We pause only TO In
troduce the composer. His is Amilcare
PonchieDi and he is in his fftieth year,
having been born. August 81, 1884, at Paderno
Fasolaro, called Paderno Cremonese. He was the
only son Of Organst when eleven old sent
to the conservatory at Milan which school he quilted
nine years later with the diploma of Maestro COmpos-
itore" In 1855 he composed Il Promess spos" which
gained him friend signor BarolO Piat who under
took the management Of his business affairs
allowed him 1000 francs year for three years
and looked for remuneration to commission OF per
cent on the sale OF the young musicians compositions
He worked other operas, wrote mass In 1864 which
made an impression and in the distinc-
ton with music composed for the celebration OF
the sixth centenary Of Dantes birth. In 1872 Pro-
mess sposi" remodelled, performed at Milan, with
Teresna Brambla Lucia and two years later be mar
red the singer. In 1874 81 Ltuani" was successfully
brought out at Scala The next he brought out
a cantata in honor of Donizetti and composed La
Gioconda," which produced at La Scala In April
1876 The opera brought him much praise, but IOr
three years he continued to work it over, aud In Decen-
ber 1879 IL was performed In It's form inspired by
the suecess of Aida" at Genoa The rewritten opera
WAS hailed by the critics great improvement
upon the first form In 1881 "H Figluol
Prodigo" (The Prodigal Som was given at La
Scala and by that time the composers fame had reached
England and Germany. "He has also IN his portfolio
two other operas olga and L Mon d Yalenza,' "
saws Mr. Henry Hersee his preface TO the English edl
ton of La GocOnda" "for which we have stiu to watt
"La Goconda" believe, is now being studied at the
Imperial Opera Of Vienna.
The Mot OF ala Gioconda" was drawn from the
Of classic subjects
has provided the majority Of operate frameworks-the
French drama. The opera is founded on Angelo Ty
rane de Padoue." Of Victor Hugos Tragedies with
which however Sig Boito made free for his operate
purposes removing the scene from Padua TO venice
changing wealthy actress 10 poor street singer ana
making the blind mother who barely mentioned IN
thetragedy prominent character The names haVea also
been changed The story Of the opera runs about as
follows: spy OF the mqustOn Barnd6a, Is In
love with La Giooonda, a ballad singer. The girl
appears at making OF the Venetian people In the
courtyard of the Duca Palace with which the opera opens
leading her blind mother, La Ciecd, by the hand The
villain for the purpose Of furhering his wicked ends
charges helpless old woman with being sorceress and
succeeds In arousng the fury Of the popuace against her
La Coa Is rescued from physical harm by the timely ar
ya OF the hero "a of cOurse) EazO who inteposes
himself between the rabble and their victim Ea1O IL
enoese noble who, having been banished from Venice
took the disguise Danaan skipper and had venture
.omey returned 10 his love, Laura, who though
tetrothed to him. had been compelled 70 marry AitiSe
Bro the president of the Council of Ten. La GiOooda
becomes deeply enanored Of Eso who treats her many
fattering speeches. Before the tumut has subSded
Laura masked, approaches with her husband and
intercedes for La Cfeca. The blind is
set at iberty-and 70 express her gratitude
ryes all she has rosary, TO her bcncfactress. Both
Laura and qradJa have recognized En-O. Tho lovers
meet but under eye Of the spy, who offers to bring
Laura on board OF Ens0's brigantine He then warns
Arse OF the planned eopement La Gioeondd overhears
the letter OF warning which the spy dictates to puDhc
writer and determines TO avenge herself upon Emo for
4. M 1t - ..r.la In.. nLLh