Of all Italian actors, Gustavo Modena was the most renowned. He is to
the stage of his native land what Garrick was to that of England, and
his conception of the various parts in classic drama, his "points,"
and even his dress, have become traditional, and are almost invariably
retained by his followers. I never saw him act, but I once heard him
recite in a private _salon_ his famous _role_ of Saul in Alfieri's
tragedy of that name. In person he was tall and largely built, His
countenance was not prepossessing, and, like Michael Angelo, he had a
broken nose. His eye could assume a terrific aspect, and his voice
was rich, powerful and varied in its tone. At times it rolled like
thunder, while at other moments it was as soft and tender as the
sweetest notes of a flute. Signor Modena died some years ago. He was
the master of Salvini, and to him that illustrious actor does not
hesitate to attribute much of his fame.
Rossi, the only living rival of Salvini, is still a young man, and
doubtless has great talents. I think him even more impetuous and
ardent than Salvini, but he is less intellectual, and his elocution is
decidedly inferior.
Majeroni is an actor of the same school, but he is becoming old, and
has a tendency to rant.
Tommaso Salvini, our late visitor, is of Milanese parentage, and was
born in the Lombard capital on January 1, 1830. His father, as I have
already said, was an able actor, and his mother a popular actress
named Guglielmina Zocchi.
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