THE OPERA.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1858, 6 February 1880, Page 3

THE OPERA.

“II Trovatore ” was given last night, for the second time since the commencement of the season, with every success. The house on this occasion was better than it has been lately, and was most enthusiastic in its applause throughout the evening, to a performance that deserved all that was bestowed upon it. The scene between Azucena (Signora Yenosta) and Manrico (Signor Ooy) in the second act was excellently given and was a fine display of the dramatic ability of the former. The quartette with chorus in the second act, and the trio in the third act were given in the very best style. Signora Ooy as Leonora in the Miserere scene with Manrico brought down the house with a determined appeal for a repetition, which was responded to. In the last act the duett in the scene between Azucena and Manrico was rendered in a manner that entitled it to the strong mark of recognition it received, and is one of the best things in the opera. In this scene and in the finale Signora Coy was at her beat, and Signor Yerdi here also displayed his best efforts, with perhaps the exception of “II balen” in the second aot, which he had to repeat. To-night is produced what is considered by many to be Verdi’s best of his earlier works, the action of which is as follows:—Rigoletto, the Duke of Mantua’s jester, derides the Count Monterone, who comes to seek his daughter from the Duke. He curses Rigoletto, who is stricken with terror, Rigoletto has a daughter who is kept in strict seclusion, but the Duke has seen and fallen in love with her. Count Oeprano, a gentleman of the Court, lays a plan for carrying off the girl to spite Rigoletto, who is much hated, and so manages to make Rigoletto believe that he is helping to steal away Ceprano’s wife. When he finds that it is his own daughter he becomes almost mad, and forms a determination to murder the Duke, and enters into an arrangement with Sparafueile, a bravo. This man’s sister entices the Duke to a lonely inn, and, becoming fascinated with him, begs her brother to spare his life. This he consents to do if he meets before a certain time some one whom he can kill and pass off as the Duke. Rigoletto brings his daughter, whom he has recovered to witness the Duke’s inconstancy, desires her to disgui-e herself and escape to Verona ; but she returns to the inn, overhears the plot to murder her lover, knocks for admittance, and is stabbed. Rigoletto comes at the appointed time for the body, which Sparafucile brings out in a sack. Rigoletto is .about to throw it into the water when he is horrified at finding it is his daughter.