THE ITALIAN OPERA.
THE musical public have received a gratification much superior to any thing they generally meet with at the Opera-house, in the performance of Don Giovanni twice during this week. The manager, however, is entitled to no thanks on this score : for the piece was first performed on Monday, an extra night, for the benefit, and at the sole expense and risk, of Madame Puzzt ; and the second time on Thursday, when it was substituted for MERCADANTE'S new opera, I Briganti, intended to have been brought out that evening for TA*BURINI'S benefit. It was most shabbily got up on both occasions. In Madame Puiat's case this was obviously excusable : but nothing can eicase the meanness of the style in which it was brought out on a regular subscription night, when it was the manager's duty to expend upon it the whole resources of his theatre. It was impossible, to be sure, to expect effective cho- ruses and well-sung concerted pieces, because that would have de- manded weeks of assiduous drilling and rehearsal ; but we did expect to see a decent attention paid to the scenic effects which in this drama are indispensable. The masquerade scene which concludes the first act, is, when properly got up, one of the most beautiful entertainments, for the eye as well as the ear, that the opera stage affords. It ought to exhibit, not only the principal characters, carrying on the business of the scene in a musical dialogue, accompanied by the beautiful slow minuet played by the orchestra and danced by the leading group of the corps de ballet, but other groups ought to be seen at a distance, claiming to two separate bands upon the stage, one of which plays a quadrille and a waltz ; all these three movements distinctly reaching the cars of the audience, and yet making perfect harmony among themselves. It was not even attempted to produce this brilliant and most ingenious effect. Part of the composer's design was wholly lost: there was a paltry dance to the music of the orchestra; and the rest of the com- pany, instead of being dispersed in gay and moving groups, were di awn up, King's Theatre fashion, and stood stock-still at the back of the stage. The " last scene of all" was ridiculous; and even Mozawr's music lost its appalling character by its union with such child's play. There was, however, a great dell of fine singing and acting. LA.. BLACHE is an unrivalled Leporello ; and TAMIWRINI, if he does not act the hero better than AMBROGETTI, certainly sings it much better. Garsr, too, acted and sang with energy and passion, and gave us Mo. zAirr's text with commendable purity. As to RITBINI, it is lamentable to see great powers destroyed by a bad school : he never lost tut op- portunity of display,—a thing which no true singer of MozArcr will ever think of ; and rendered the charming air " 11 mio tesoro " an absolute caricature. Mademoiselle ASSANDRI, on Thursday, made a delightful Zerlina, which suffered in the Monday's performance from the incom- petency of Puzzt. Assasantr does not colour the part so highly as an actress of' longer standing would ; but the little flirt had so much simple feeling mingled with her coquetry, that the effect of the whole was bewitching. Her singing was most agreeable ; and she promises to take her place among the first vocalists of the day.
Shall we ever again see this glorious work as in the days of other years ; when, through the exertions of a manager whose taste equalled his spirit, it ran fbr whole seasons ?
Previous page
