MILAN.
At the Teatro alla Scala, a new opera by Mercadante, called Ismalia Ossia Morte ed Amore, the Libretto by Romanelli, made a fiasco; nothing in the whole opera, save the choruses, gave satisfaction; his Donna Caritea, however, was well received, and Mlle. Vial, from Munich, who sustained the principal character, was much applauded. The principal singers here are, prime donne, Antonia Vial, Teresa Melas, Isabella Fabrica (contralto in male characters); tenore, Giuseppe Binaghi; bassi, Gio. Giordani and Filippo Spada. All of them good singers, say the Milanese, with the addition, ‘di secondo ordine.’ Thus it is when people are accustomed to hear always such singers as Pasta, Rubini, Donzelli, Lablache, Tamburini, &c.
At the Cannobiano, Generali’s somewhat old but still beautiful operetta, Adelina, has been reproduced, with Emma Albertazzi, an English lady, as Adelina; her voice is agreeable, and her style of singing not bad; her pronunciation and acting, however, are but indifferent.
The company which is to perform at La Scala during the carnival, includes the names of Tosi and Pallazesi, principal soprani; Terese Cecconi, first contralto; Reina and Pedrazzi, principal tenors; and Zuchelli and Giordani, first basses. The season will open with Donizetti’s Fausta, which has hitherto been heard only at the St. Carlo, Naples; to that will succeed a new opera, written expressly for the carnival by the young Maestro, Ricci, and called Fernando Cortez; the third is to be Caterina di Guisa, which Coccia is now employed in composing; and Mercadante is engaged to bring out a fourth, of which the name is not yet known.
Amongst the company at the Carcano are Balfe[19] and his wife, Mad. Albertini, Madlle. Michel; the tenor, Bonfigli, and the buffo, Cambiagio. This theatre will open on the 26th of December, with the Capuletti e Montecchi of Bellini.