THE OPERA.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1839, 15 January 1880, Page 3

THE OPERA.

"II Troyatore" was given last night to a moderate house, but from the manner in which it -was put on the stage, it may be said that a great treat was missed by many. The most popular, though one of the weakest of Verdi's operaß, it yet contains many gems of melody, which but for the way in which they have been hackneyed by amateurs, would still be worthy the attention of those who are no admirers of that particular school "Familiarity breeds contempt," and consequently this familiarity detracts so much from the enjoyment of them that they fail in creating any great interest. SignoraOoy as Leonora increased the already high estimation she has attained in the public mind by her admirable rendering of the part allotted to her. In the air in the first act, "Di tale amor," and in the duet "Viora contende" in the fourth act, she sang in a manner deserving of the highest praise; but in the " Miserere" scene her voice appeared to have lost the freshness with which she commenced the opera. Signora Venosta's Azuoena was a grand display of dramatic power, and she quite carried away her audience in her dolivery of the recit and air " Oondotta ell'era," and her singing in the third act. Signor Coy agreeably surprised the audience as Manrico, for it had been supposed that this was not one of his best impersonations. He was particularly successful in "Ah si ben mio " and in the concerted pieces, especially in the scene with Azucena in the last act. Signor Vurdi, although displaying some excellent qualities as the Count, was decidedly out of tune until he came to the air "II baleu," which seemed to Buit his register, but tho air "Pur me ora fatale" was his best effort, and was rewarded with liberal applause. The concerted music "Un istante," " Ardir Audiam," and and " II cielo in cui " wore splendidly given ; but the chorus behind the scenes in the " Misorere " was) Bpoiled by rough singing, and was by no meanß the piece of the evening, although redemanded and repeated. This scene as a matter of course secures an encore, do matter how it is rendered.

The orchestra was heavy beyond endurance in many places, and was the means of smothering seme of the beßt of the vocalisation, and. it is impossible to conceive why the anvils should have been hammered to such an extent, against a chorus purticularly weak at this point. To-night Donizetti's*"Lucia" is advertised, and it is to be hoped that it will be rewarded with a better house than was present last night.