Don Giovanni has been produced at the Drury Lane Italian
Opera with deserved success. The great difficulty,—to find a representative of the principal character—has been got over better than might have been expected. The veteran Badiali did not seem a very promising choice : but he is a true artist, and he showed how much art and genius can do in surmounting physical defects. Admirably attired, with a light step, a vivacious air and the bearing of a polished gentleman, he looked the high-born hidalgo very fairly ; and his reading of the character— the reckless gaiety and ease, with traces of the lurking devil seen through the smooth outside—showed the skill of an accomplished actor. The part makes small demands upon the performer's vocal powers, and Ba- diali has more than the remains of a great Binger. In short, he seemed to us the best Don Giovanni since Tamburini. Mademoiselle Titiens last season showed herself to be a superb Donna Anna. She is now still better; for, to her noble aspect, grand and passionate action and power- ful expressive singing, she adds a much greater degree of Italian grace and smoothness than she formerly possessed. Giuglini's Ottavio is a splendid vocal display ; but no lover of Mozart can approve of the man- ner in which this (in many respects) great singer tampers with the com- poser's text. The beautiful air "Ii mio tesoro " is spoiled by tasteless and inappropriate ornaments, utterly at variance with the style of Mo- zart. Victoire Balfe is as pretty a Zerlina as can be imagined, and sings the sweet music delightfully. Her only fault is that she is too refined and delicate, and softens down too much the coarse traits of the impudent little jilt. Last year Piceolomini went into the opposite ex- treme, and her Zerlina, if leas graceful than Miss Balfe's, and inferior in vocal finish, was a more lively and amusing performance. The Drury Lane Donna Elvira, Mademoiselle Venal, is much above the usual quality of performers to whom this part (really a fine one) is assigned. She is an excellent singer and a good actress. Marini, as Leporello, shows no clear, defined conception of the character; but ha bustles through the part not unpleasantly, and his singing is very good. With such a cast the opera could not fail to please ; and its effect is heighten- ed by the excellence of the orchestra and chorus, and the completeness of the raise en scene. The admirers of Mozart will find this produc- tion of the great master's chef d'ceuvre well worth their attention.
We observe that Don Giovanni is to be produced at Covent Garden next week, and that Tamberlik is to make his entrée for the season in the character of Don Ottavio.
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