King's Theatre.
The Times, 1824-03-01T00:00:00

Ala audience airnost unprecedoently numerous and bril- I liant, flUed this splendidl theatre on Satirday evening, in honour of the return of :Uatlame Catalani, after atl absence Of ten years. Such an event excited a strong sensation in the fasiionable wvorld ; but, in the wvorld of music, it cre- IW an interest which bordered on enthusiasm. Those wvho have the management of this theatre, feeling that nmiscihief l"Ould probably ensuc if the doors were opened at thc or- dlnary time, viselv threw open the portals before six o'clock. TIhose wbo attentled early took their seats without diffi- tlalty ; but very many who attempted to procure places t the pit at half-past six, were wlholly disappointed; every t of'that spaciolts area being excessively crowded. In- ! ed, curiosity, or a better sentiment than rhat mere ab- stract feelinag seenmed to have the mastery of politeness oil this occasioni t'or many very elegant wvomen wvere compelled to stand in thie narrowv space generallv denominated " Fop's- w0lr," which -urroundls the pit, so pertinaciously did the tentlernen act upon the homely, and, in this instance, un- k'ind prnciple, of " first comnc, first served." Mayer's Opera buffa, i 11 Fuantico pt r la Jiusica," was selected for Performance on this occacion-ihe part of the rotmartic Donna 4ristea by Madame CaEalani. The greater part of tbe opera is amusirg. We laugh at the eccentricities of fein Febeo, who admires or dislikes every person in propor- tiOn to his knowledge, or aff'ecte( knowledge, of mnusic; those eccentricirics bl ing clothed by Meer in harmonies of a very appropriate and expretsivc character. 'I'he latter scenes ef the opera are undramatic. They partake nmove of 'he quietness of a concert, than of the life and vivacity uhich ought to characterize an "opera bfgsz." 'I'lic part of AriStea was We!1 chosen t'or the displav of Maadame Ca- talani's extraordinarv varied( powers. Within its rangc are included harnmonlies otfalinmstecer( deseription,from th( sober Solemnity of the, -anu to the (laz7zlitg brilliancyofa brattsr. Some slight cl.arge has taken place in the personal appear- ance of \lalame Caralani her tioure is not so ligit, so s'lp; h-like, as %ye recollect it to have been ; but her genius and her voice, althouah the latter has lost same of its com- ,eass, are tinimi-pairedl-thev are as noblo and as cominiaiizi- inc as thev have cver ben' 'rle two first scenes of the opiera pa.zed *ti silen tlv: the minids of all wvere intent on th, f4irUi. At length it arrived, and brought MAlatname Ca- taiani one nmore to the presence ot'her friends and a(lmirers. 'lThe silence which previously reigned now gave way to a turmultilouls movciller:t in whichl ev:r) part of the house joilnd. The applause was fervent, andl lasted for soine minutes. Maladane Catalatmi dlid not szen 7 he, but was. greatly ath'ctcd. fler eves, which wvere -6fire'l wvitli tears, poke h.r feelings more eloqulendlv than word,, however eleatntr. could dio. When silence was ob- t:riueml, she amimirenc,'d the gratnd air ` A-' ! no ! peqne p;i, -ra.-" She was much agitated.; and1, wvhile the Orchestra were playing the syiniptonv to the second rnovemeilt, u'e observed her turn asidle, and dlash a tear from her cleek. In a few secontids Madame Ciatalarii re- c..veretd her l-X-possession, and! enrapturctd the audietnce bs her wondlrevis science, her extraordiniary judginent. 5ot!d her IrllcacV of taste. It is a mixed air-partly ex- prcss ,e ef time eneigv of love. atid indicatinug in part the Zent!o t0n'herne;s (if that amiable passion. Madame :Ca- a!'.ni gave to eacti portion its appropriate expres.ion. WVlhen u he lang2uilred, her v-oiCe fell sot'ltV on the ear, like th. .onlill of ist nt vatcrs: whell she spoke of the fer, 'xn ot her pa-ssom, she threwv forth a volumic or' sotind, wh:ch harl all the sireng;h of the trumpct, divested of :s harshiness. ln the D)o, rc, ,mi, f;z, duo with Ve Ihe*ms, *rho perforined the character of Dun Felhc,, h. r execunton, particulqr:v the arjiergnio. or hart) mrneiaient. was ranscindlen;thv gran. i Through the *mholt of this dt,o her voice reminddu us of a wo,t perfect iostrUtnent tuc;1ched bv a Ilost sklilful master. Every diffi- .im:v vanislitd b.f,'re the powers of this great artist. 'T'hc aIr ,' a j C /r.]' wiclh breathes all tIhe softness of dc- vo!tel ari.c:o: was civ(ti in a sty of unLsophiisticated ten- d,roc(;s that came itohie t) cverv heart. There was no elaborr?tion of o.-nalnelt-it wvas a wltre at)d gentle appeal to our h.e t:eearz- : it was intlicative of that passion, XUc> ;. ir. th^ dawn of zime, ir.fonsetl th. heart - t' 'rocenrtc trod uinsusprct:ng truth." T'he trio (c;,a, au) J' emo /i," between Mfadamc Ca- ta'..ni. ( rrioti. and tit- B -nis, was excullr-utly an ug. 'I'hc arma, i: Mailame (Catalatiii 1 ,d,hb c,.nzto'' vwhicli imme- ,!iatc- f !oew..vwasan cttbrt )fsurpassinrzt_ra uleur. !Madamne (ata,a'ntuspet nhance altogret'er. was a hii,hly inteilectual treat. TI craettwnoc.m rncstluatiiies hichoniewouldthinkiir- t7Con:wlrable It islivey. Vyt d:ttihjiem; energetic, yet grace- tu. I IT voice rctaint ail ts tine propertic s, its mielodr, zs t', x-,ni:t , its force. There was but onc en'torc rdurinut .h'. :: ,t :at Wa s 0r tho air, " S a i o fidr;r,i,"' the i.tt: 11,rz .,f ts hich Madlame Catalaii r.pea.ted. TI'e ci m't. ? of thc adtliculce prevCleted ti)ele from bestow- i z on he r that most painfuil mark ofaplrobation, a con- arit ten,s:A "or a repetitioni of her scwgs. W e hiad altr.ost -oott:. to notice tata the: tiemiloirs tllation of the utrder 1 wbhinii. whcn Aladlame Catalani executed running or s;ak n!m p sazces was akways observable, is considerablv ln- crr at l. A: hc conclusiont of te onpera, .Mladaine C,rtalani .rtredl amn'.ds. :he it-ost irxely expres:.ion of applause. She wa; cn'le i on to appiear: antd after some tiine Curioni led '. hIefre the curtain. wvhen she exipressedl hcr thaniks to thc ait, rt.ce by a nu_todst curtsey. De l3egnis played the r:' sir-mad B; ri?{ with cltsiklerable humlouir. The dlirec- 0r 5n to the !.m-J,-,&. prior to t'le performancs' of' the .-'-,', ntw..v r-randiv, were iven Nvith rea,t comini f.,rce. It, ; an inr uqlueld piece, but is verv worthv of thlt Us: a n in w.hich it Wasplaced. ( urioni has 'tcry Ilttle to(do CsD r, (:r.s'i!t. Lut hat little he perforinel pleasingly. vig- ..a t aradori sang xvith unafiWctedl simplicity. In the last :-cOtr sit waq ratlt,r unpleasantly situated. She hath to '4d ,ooI 'I (.4r;f')" imniletliatelv after Madlaine ( atali; i s rann! efort It was a fearful drawback on hier .\eritions but the sweetnes, and delicacy of h.r exectnion - ce.i t-,'. :l%.r just r: ew-ar(d in a ilutl exprcssion of applause. K.TNG'S THEATRE.