ITALIAN OPERA.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2794, 31 January 1872, Page 2

ITALIAN OPERA.

It may have been thought that superlative praise was fiestowed in the other colonies, audio the towns in this colony visited by Cagli’s company, on Signor Grandi for his impersonation of “ Pipele, the porter of Paris,”’but those who had the extreme good fortune of witnessing last evening the production of Ferrari’s qpera, wjll cordially agree that nothing has been said or written which in' the slightest degree exaggerates the Signor’s merits as an actor or singer. For our parts we are convinced that nothiug we can write will give an adequate idea of this unique performance —it is essentially one which must be seen to be appreciated. Regarded in any light, it is matchless as it is unique. From first to last on? has constantly before him the porter of Paris; Signor Grandi, for the time, does not exist. fhere is Pipele just as the imagination would picture him —in the earlier scenes almost driven to desperation by the annoyances he experiences at the hands of Cabriore and his rollicking companions—later on, forgetting all his troubles, joining Cabriore ct,n amove in aiding Rigoletta to rescue her lover from the machinations of the rascally Don Jacopo, and lastly, in an ecstatic state of intoxication making furious love to Madelena, unconscious that it is his better half who is before him. In each of these phases of the character, we have its degrees of comparison—good, better, be§t. The opera opens with Cabriore and his friends exposing fo ridicule Pipele and his wife, in the most of which fffe couple make their appearance clothed iu habiliments which showed that their slumbers had been rudely disturbed. Their very appearance could not fail to produce shouts of laughter ; the “make up” of both was irresistably comical. The opening chorus was will given, Signora F. Cortesi creating much amusement excellent bye play. In the, third scene, the voice’ of Rigoleta (Signora Coy) is heard behind the scenes, singing the air “ Desertae solo," which was capitally sung. The Signora's appearance was the signal for hearty and long continued applause, The duet “ Viem a cara e d’un amphlcssa,” between Rigoletta and Carlo (Signor Coy) which follows, was nicely fiven, the Signor being in excellent voice, n the same scene Pipele appears followed by his tormentors; and to Rigoletta be recounts in as collected a manner as his almost choking passion will allow him, the indignities he has suffered at the hands of Cabriore (Signop who, all the time, is poking fun sfe fhp popjr cqbbler. Throughout the whoJe of tiffs garf qf the scene Signor Grandi's acting was splendid. The cTOjlusiolPbf the second act gives the Signor another good opportunity of displaying his powers as buffo. His face was a perfect study ; therein being depicted with fidelity the surprise and agony he is almost overpowered with on hearing that he is confined within a prison. The third act is a ball scene in which all the principal characters figure. First, there is a capital scene between Don Jacopo (Signor Dondi) and Rigolleta, in which the latter finds it convenient to play the coquette, iu order to secure the release of her lover. It was a delicious piece of acting on the part of both—the Signora wheedling into a belief that she loved him in a moat artfijd manner, while Signor Dondi was a perfect representation pf despair and rage when the mask was removed, and the trap ipto wlfipli fie bad fallen’ made manifest. The bolero sang and 4*“ped hy Signora Coy, while Jaqopa attempts jpo catch her, fairly brought down the house, the audience not being satisfied with anything less than a repetition, while bouquets were showered upon the prima donga, In the last act Signor Grandi, excellent as bad been his acting up to that point, transcended all his former efforts. Entering the apartments of his wife iu a sublime state of iutoxication, he performs a series of mirth-provoking acts. He first conceives that bis wife is §ome blooming damsel, and forthwith makes love to her; then the recollection returns of the convivial hours he had spent before coming home, and suddenly he breaks into a bacchanalian song, in which he introduces “ Auld Lang Sync ”; aud lastly, when the general

"'•I reconciliation takes place, in a 6t of supreme happinepa hetopaes his wig into the air, and screecHha in sanitation of the song of the prima donna. .From beginning to end this scene was enacted with a degree of truthfulness raroly'seen ; and, in saying this, we have given signor Grandi the highest meed of praise it is possible to accord to him. The audience was fairly convulsed with laughter before the culminating point of the scene was reached; but when Signor Grandi broke out with “ Auld Lang Syne,” .every one screamed with delight, so comical was his manner of singing it. The curtain fell amid thunders of applause, and a special outburst, followed by another shower of bouquets, heralded Signor Grandi’s appearance at the footlights, accompanied by Signoras Coy and Cortesi. To the last-mentioned lady great praise is due for the excellent manner in which she played and dressed the character of Maddaleua. Everyone must have been delighted with the opera; and we venture to express the opinion that its repetition on Saturday evening will be witnessed by a crowded audience.

To-night the opera of Norma will be reproduced, and to-morrow evening, in compliance with a very general request, it is intended to repeat Lucia di Lammermoor. Of this favorite opera, Signora Coy and her husband seem to have made a special study. If is one of the best performed of the wellplayed operas by this able company, and was received With such favor on the last occasion, is to tend to a wish expressed by a great number of persons that it should be repeated, Signor CagU has cheerfully responded to this desire, aqd we leam that already a number of seass haye been secured. In addition to this it ip announced that between the first and second acts Mr Howard will play Zehqan’s clarpnet solo from **Martha.” It is seldom that such brilliant instrumentation ip to be heard iq Dunedin, and as probably neither the opgra nor the solo may be repeated, there is every probability that, there will be, what there ought to he, a crowded house.