4tatrro utth
The Royal Italian Opera has now begun to put forth its strength. The advent of Lablache and Mario furnished the means, on Tuesday, of giving the most complete and admirable representation of the Barbiere di Siviglia that we have ever witnessed. With Bosio, Mario, Lablache, Itonconi, and Tagliafico, there was not a single weak point in the performance of this gayest of all comic operas. A peculiar interest was imparted to the first appearance of Lablache on these boards, by old re- membrances : the most crowded audience of the season seemed to feel that they could not applaud him enough. He manifested vigorous health and buoyant spirits. Mario, always a favourite, also received a hearty welcome ; acted with his usual gentlemanlike ease, and sang as sweetly as ever. Don Giovanni was given on Thursday, for the first time this season. On that night too there was a crowded house. The perform- ance, on the whole, went off well ; though Ronconi showed himself—not for the first time—quite unfit for the principal character : it is a pity that tide admirable artist should persist in appearing in a part for which Na- tore has denied him the most essential requisites, face, person, and mien. Crnvelli's Donna Anna was an unequal performance, showing strong flashes of passion mixed up with a good deal of the forced and artificial. In her singing, she took liberties with the music in the way of transposi- fian and so-called embellishment, which no lover of Mozart approves. Bosio was a charming Zerlina, both dramatically and vocally.
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