THE ITALIAN OPERA.
THE past week, at the Opera-house, has been remarkable for two things—the reappearance of RUBINI, previously to his final retirement
from the stage ; and the performance of Don Giovanni with some no- velties in the cast of the characters. Maws, it is said, has accepted this English engagement in preference to various offers which have been pressed on him by the Emperor of Austria and other foreign po- tentates, and which he has declined from gratitude towards a country where he has been for so many years received with boundless and uninter- rupted favour. This is honourable to the feelings of an artist who, during his long residence among us, has scarcely been more distin- guished for his talents than his unassuming deportment, respect for the public, and undeviating correctness in the discharge of his duties. His appearance in La Sonnambula, on Tuesday, drew an overflow- ing house, comprising every thing distinguished, from Royalty down- wards, in the world of fashion and music; and his reception was en- thusiastic in a degree which we have rarely seen equalled. The ge- nuine English demonstrations of cheers, shouts, and clapping of hands, were bestowed with great energy and perseverance—not to mention a profusion of the foreign trumpery of wreaths and bouquets, showered upon the stage in such profusion as to give full employment to PER- SIAN; who ran about the stage gathering them up and presenting them to the object of the ovation with an appearance of hearty enjoyment, which was pleasing as giving some semblance of reality to a piece of arrant mummery.
On Thursday, when Rusin appeared as Don Ottavio in Don Gio- vanni, his reception was equally cordial. His performance on both nights was, as heretofore, that of a great and in some respects an un- rivalled artist: his manner was as earnest and impassioned, and his ex- ecution as finished and delicate as ever. But the resistless inroads of time on the qualities of his voice are more and more apparent ; and it is plain that the period of his retirement has been wisely chosen. He retires with a fame equal to that of the FARINELLIS and Pacciashaorris of other days ; and we may well say that, " take him for all in all, we shall not look upon his like again." In the representation of Don Giovanni on Thursday, the most remark- able feature was the appearance of Madame FREZZOLINI in Donna Anna. It was a great performance ; still more remarkable for dramatic than for vocal power. In the latter respect she has been surpassed by several of her precursors in the part, especially by SONTAG and Galas; in the former, she remains unequalled by any of them. The only actress of whom she reminds us, in this character, is Madame CAMPORESE, who may be said to have been its original representative in this country, when the splendid production of Don Giovanni by Mr. AZRTON formed an sera in dramatic music in England. FREZZOLINI has the same air distingue, and lady-like refinement of manner, with a degree of tragic genius of which CAMPORESE could not boast. She sang the music very finely, giving full effect to the impassioned duet with Ottavio in the first scene ; but, unaccountably, omitted " Non mi dir "—an air which should have more charms for an Italian singer than any other in the opera. RONCONI was good in the part of Dun Gio- vanni, but not so good as TAMBURINI either in his singing or in his personation of the lordly libertine. PERSIANIS Zerlina is indescribably charming. Her singing in " Bald, batti," is the very perfection of the art ; and you feel that, though the little flirt has been very naughty, yet her swain would be worse than a brute not to forgive her. LABLACHE'S Leporello was full of animal spirits ; which betrayed him into a few lazzi that might be dispensed with—especially the absurdity of provoking a foolish laugh by introducing English phrases. The Conunendatore was feeble—his voice was quite lost iu the storm of or- chestral sound in the last terrible scene : and the company, we think, might have afforded a better Mamie°.
The piece was got np with a splendour not usual at this theatre: and it was received with a degree of hearty and genuine applause much surpassing what has been bestowed on any previous performance during the season.
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