THE ITALIAN OPERA.
112ILLYNI'5 Beatrice di Tenda was brought out on Tuesday. It has been very little heard of on the Continent ; having, we believe, had very indifferent success even in Italy, and never having been attempted in France. No wonder that its existence should be an obscure one, for It is certainly the feeblest production of its feeble author. Why, then, has such A piece been produced here ? Simply because it is something : for the English public will Hock to see or hear any sort of trash that has novelty to recommend it, rather than the most beautiful and classical works which they have seen or heard before.
The story of Beatrice di Tenda is tolerably well told by the meta ; but, unluckily, it is just a repetition of the story of Henry the Eighth and Anne Boleyn, dramatized in a manner very similar to the opera of Anna Baena. All the difference is, that the English tyrant is converted into a Dukeof Milan, and Anna Bolena into Beatrice di Tenda. The music is wholly unworthy of any detailed criticism. Indeed we could not so criticize it if we would ; for we retain the impression of nothing but the noise of voices on the stage, screaming and bawling to make themselves heard through the clashing, thumping, and blowing of the orchestra. There is not an original idea in the opera; the whole is a string of the commonest commonplaces.
We are sorry for Madame Cota.soNI- Coon ; for, were her voice of better quality, she would be a good singer, at least according to the present Italian standard. She is certainly a woman of talent, with con- siderable dramatic powers ; and, in some tragic situations, her energy and sensibility produced a strong effect on the audience. CARTAGE- NOVA was the Duke of Milan ; and acted the part well. He seems destined to supply the place of TAMBURINI ; for we observe that this performer is not announced to appear after Easter, along with Geist, Roam, and LABLACHE, though the opera is La Gazza Ladra, which contains one of TA1MBORINI'S best parts. In order to fill his place in a manner at all satisfactory, CARTAGENOVA (VII0 is a clever man) must endeavour to gain more finish and smoothness than he at present pos- sesses.
The audience was crowded ; and its brilliancy was increased by Royal party, consisting of the Queen arid several illustrious foreign visitants of this country.
Previous page
