The Knickerbocker, Vol. 10, No. 6, December 1837Various
History
The Knickerbocker, Vol. 10, No. 6, December 1837
Various
Periodicals
MADAME CARADORI ALLAN.--A new star in _our_ musical world has shone
upon us during the past month; not the less dazzlingly, perhaps,
from its foreign lustre. Mde. ALLAN possesses a _soprano_ voice, of
a light quality. She sings with great apparent ease, and there is a
finish to every note, worthy of the highest praise. Her execution is
graceful in the extreme. The most rapid notes glide as distinctly
through her voice as the most slow and measured. There is neither
hesitation in the one, nor hurry in the other. All are in exact time,
and evince in their execution a degree of study seldom effected, and
a taste fully competent to seize upon and display the most exquisite
beauties of the art. Her manner is evidently that of one unaccustomed
to the stage; that of a sensitive and delicate gentlewoman, suddenly
placed in a situation new to her, but embarrassing only from its
novelty. If, as has been asserted, Mde. Allan's first appearance here
was really her _début_ in an opera made up of English words, she
certainly has great reason to congratulate herself on the success
which attended even her acting of the part of 'Rosina.' The execution
of the opening song, the 'Unâ Voce,' first in English, and then,
in obedience to an _encore_, in Italian, was truly as beautiful as
we can fancy it in the power of her peculiar voice to make it. It
was certainly sufficient to merit one of the most rapturous bursts
of applause that was ever listened to. The other music of her part
was equally well executed, if we except those pieces where low
contralto notes were to be sounded. Here, of course, the artiste
could do nothing; and she showed her good sense by attempting
nothing. We particularly noticed this peculiarity in the concerted
piece at the close of the first act. Having no contralto notes in
her voice, it was impossible for her to express the music belonging
to this scene. A repetition of 'The Barber,' on the next night,
gave us an opportunity of witnessing the same beauties, and the
same slight defects. There was, as might have been expected, less
embarrassment than on the previous evening; while the acting, and
the stage-business altogether, was more easy and natural. 'Love in a
Village' displayed the high faculties of Mde. Allan to still greater
advantage, and certainly, with one glorious exception, we never heard
the melodies which belong to 'Rosetta' more exquisitely given. There
were two simple ballads introduced, which, in her way of expressing
them, made perfect gems of the hacknied 'Coming through the Rye,' and
'I'm Over Young to Marry.' It is the peculiar province of genius to
hallow all it breathes upon; and surely, in a musical way, this truth
was never more clearly exemplified. We are sorry to say, however,
that with the exception of Mr. PLACIDE, Mde. Allan has been most
wretchedly supported. Mr. JONES sang worse than ever, and acted no
better. Mr. RICHINGS is not equal to the parts which we honestly
believe he is _obliged_ to sustain in opera.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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