The fact that Ponchinelli's "La Gioconda" is not so well known to the public as most of the operas probably accounted for a slight decrease in the attendance at the Victoria Theatre last Friday, but the audience was still large, and what is more highly appreciative. The picoo abounds in fine arias and duets, and the music throughout is very charming. It was in all respects finely presented, the principal being in fine voice, and well supported by chorus and orchestra.
Scamuzzi (baritone) was most successful as Barnaba, M. Dagradi (tenor) was also excellent as Enzo, Grimaldo, a Genoese noble, and M. Mauceri (bass), in the character of Alvise, an inquisitor, won further appreciation. Mile. Turpallomeni took the title role of Gioconda, the ballad singer, and sang with fine effect, while Mile. Vizone, as Laura, gave delightful renderings of the music of the part, being particularly good in the ' duet with M. Dagradi. The dramatic interest of the story with the company,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.