Verdi's opera, I Due Foscari, which was produced at Her
Majesty's Theatre in the beginning of the season, has this week been brought out at Covent Garden. We have already had occasion to express our opinion of the musical merits or demerits of this opera; which owes such success as it has met with to the interest of the subject, the skilful construction of the drama, and the scope it gives for the display of power and passion on the part of the principal actors. In the representation at Covent Garden, Grisi, as Lucrezia the wife of the younger Foscari, exhibited her highest qualities as a tragedian, and threw her own fire and feeling into the feeble conceptions of the composer. Ronconi was vigorous and impassioned; but his picture of the aged Doge wanted the soft and pathetic touches given to it by Coletti. Mario, as Jacopo Foscari' outdid himself as an actor: he looked the young patrician well; showed considerable tenderness • and, as the best melodies occur in his part, he enhanced their effect by the charms of his beautiful voice. The performance has been well received; but a piece so musically weak cannot stand many repetitions.
We are still promised the Nozze di Figaro, which is said to be in prepa- ration; but, on the other hand, we are threatened with Verdi's Ernani. This maestro being now in London, and employed by both the theatres, we are likely to have a surfeit of•him before the end of the season.
Previous page
