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Sorry, indeed, are all London lovers of music at the sudden departure
from our midst and mist of _Cavalleria Rusticana_, the Rustic
Cavalier. It is no comfort to us to be told that the Rustic Cavalier
will go into the provinces and appeal to the country. His province at
present should have been to remain in London, where, with nothing to
speak of in the way of _mise-en-scène_, he--that is, his composer,
PIETRO MASCAGNI--has made a decided hit. Wise was our Signor LAGO "_al
factotum_" in producing this, and knowing, too, must he be in his
use of Windsor soap to have so speedily "taken the cake." Nay more,
did not HER GRACIOUS MAJESTY absolutely retain a Royal Box at the
Shaftesbury up to the last night of the run of this one-Act Opera?
"_Ah, bravo, Figaro, bravissimo! Fortunatissimo_!" What a treat,
too, to hear again the "_Che faro_." which brought down the Curtain,
and brought down the House, on this termination to GLUCK's _Orfeo_.
Strong, indeed, must be the _Cavalleria_ to be successful after the
_Che taro_: but it was.
The Overture, the solo sung, by way of novelty, behind the Curtain, by
TURIDDU,--(what a name! like the commencement of a comic nonsensical
chorus! TURIDDU ought to have been in love with Tulla Lieti and have
behaved badly to Tralala. "But this is another story.")--the choruses,
and most of the concerted pieces are charming; and, above all, the
_intermezzo_, which, were the piece in two Acts, would he the overture
to the Second Act is simply so fascinating, that without a dissentient
voice from a full house it was warmly and heartily encored, and would
have been called for a third time had the judicious Signor ARDITI
shown the slightest sign of conceding a supply to a fresh demand. None
of the solos, except the one sung behind the Curtain, are particularly
catching, or dramatically effective. Mlle. ELANDI, as _Santuzza_, acts
and sings well; and Signor BERTINI, with a good voice, is about as
stiff in action as a rustic Cavalier would naturally be; while Signor
BROMBARA's _Alfio_ the Mule-driver is histrionically just about
perfect. Of course it will not he long ere we hear it again, and under
vastly improved conditions.
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