THE THEATRES.
Lucia diLammermoor was resumed at the Italian Opera on Saturday; when Madame Castellon had 'a brilliant reception, on her first appearance upon our Opera stage, ih the character of Lucia. This singer, it is well known, was the ornament of our concert-rooms during the last season; and she unites with a voice of extraordinary power and quality an uncommonly pleasing face and person. The rare combination of attractions possessed by her seemed from the first to point her out an acquisition for any musical manager; and we are glad that she has fallen to the lot of Mr. Lumley, to whom she will be equally valuable either as prima donna or in combina- tion with the practised and brilliant vocalists who are shortly to be ex- pected.
As an opera-singer, Madame Castellan's voice strikes less by its quality and force than in the concert-room. Her middle notes are beautiful, and possess the youthful freshness which- charms the ear. She is also secure in taking great distances, and very bold in the display of her powers in this respect. In volubility, however, she has progress to make ; the rou- lades, trills, and feats of agility to which habit has accustomed us in a dra- matic soprano of the first class, are not yet fully developed in her by practice. Meanwhile, we have the music of an undoubtedly sensitive and gifted artist, sufficiently practised in the conventions of dramatic repre- sentation to do herself justice as a singer. For the rest, there is leisure to wait. Moriani sustained his reputation in his favourite character; and For- nasari was energetic, as usual, though forgetful at times to include the music in his representation. His voice shakes occasionally, till it becomes .quite false. The general getting-up of the work is excellent, and will in- sure its attraction for many nights.
Previous page
