Draper Italian and American Opera: Barbiere di Siviglia

     “To analyze the music of Il Barbiere would be pretty much the same as analyzing a sunbeam.  There is something so joyous, arch and exuberant in it that it rarely fails to charm.”

     The second representation of the Barber of Seville at the French Theatre last night attracted a pretty large and fashionable audience. Madame Boschetti was charming as usual, and her Rosina was the beau ideal of a Spanish belle trying to evade the vigilance of her gruff old guardian, and planning surreptitious interviews with her handsome lover. She adhered faithfully to the author, even in those minor points which many artistes overlook, and her voice, although lacking in smoothness and polish, displayed brilliancy, clearness, and decision, which made it attractive in the sparkling music of her role. Signors Orlandini, Barili, and Carl Formes were excellent, both in voice and acting. Signor Tamaro’s tenor is rather hard and cold, and destitute of that passionate fervor and pathos which the music Almaviva demands. He showed, however, considerable dramatic power in his acting, and thereby received merited applause. The chorus was better than on Saturday night, but the orchestra still requires considerable improvement before they can execute the brilliant and graceful instrumentation of Il Barbiere in even a passable manner. The overture was rendered pretty fairly, but with little expression or grace. Signor Rosa had much difficulty in keeping his department even up to time in many parts of the opera, and the wind and string instruments seemed to be on the worst possible terms. Now, those are defects which can and should be at once remedied. The company is an excellent one, the public gracious and good humored, and such an important feature as the orchestra ought not certainly be neglected. If it is not of an equal standard with the vocal artistes, the entire success of any opera is an impossibility. We hope that on Wednesday night, at the third and last representation of this delightful opera, that it will not be spoiled by an inefficient orchestra. A cordial invitation has been extended to President Johnson by the management of the Italian Opera at the French theatre to visit the opera on Wednesday evening.

     “Mr. Draper’s Italian troupe reproduced the ‘Barber’ last evening, at the French Theatre in Fourteenth-street, before a large and well-pleased audience. Madame Boschetti sang well, acted admirably, and received the hearty plaudits of a well-pleased audience. Orlandini as the Barber, Banti [sic] as the Doctor, and Tamaro as the Count, were quite ‘up’ in their rôles, and more than ordinarily excellent in their interpretation. Carl Formes is as good an actor as ever; but his voice is not as it was of yore.  The orchestral force was small, but well balanced.  We would suggest to Mr. Draper the propriety of placing an officer at the balcony side entrance, to control the young gentlemen who talk loud, act foolishly, and deserve kicking.  The opera will be repeated on Wednesday evening. The President and his suite have been invited to attend, and the indications are that the house will be crowded.”