The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-06-06
First Night OF the New Grand Opera I'm PHI
l0dclphln.

even yet entirely rellnqulsned. BACHELOR
First Night OF the New Grand Opera In PHI |
lndclphia.
PHILADELPHIA, June 8, 1915.
The musical part of the Philadephians have for |
weeks past been kept in state of expectation
and hope for the production of an original American
Opera, the ibretto and music of which are both by
"natives to the manner born" The Messrs. Fry, |
the gentlemen who jointly undertook the task,
and the result of their joint abors has been the opera
of Leonora, which was produced last Wednesday
night, at the Chestnut street theatre, to one Of the
most fashionable, Brilliant and crowded audiences
that have assembled within its walls for some time
past Among the numerous influential and weghty
persons that were present, noticed Vice Presi-
dent Geo. M. Dallas and family Commodore Elliott,
and in fact the dress circle and second tier of boxes
were filled with the first families of Philadelphia,
and so great had been the rush for seats for some
days past that the managers found it necessary to
reserve part Of sixteen Of the boxes, on the first
and second tiers inlet, till the time of opening the
doors on the evening of the first performance, in
order to afford some chance of admission to the
numerous strangers who had come to Philadelphia
expressly to this opera, and who consequently.
had not opportunity of pre-engaging their seats
Before seven o'clock there was numerous assem-
bage in front of the theatre waiting patiently for the
opening of the doors, and in few minutes after
thastook place. every ticket sold and the house
crammed There were at least eighteen hundred
present
The Opera itself is founded on the same story as
Bulwer's Lady of Lyons, and is composed of the
same incidents, the only alteration being that the
characters OF Col Danias, Madame Deschapeles
and CLAWS, are omitted, and instead of mother
Claude has sister. The scene also is laid in SPAIN
IN the sixteenth century, instead of in Lyons The
following is the cast OF characters =
Leonora Corresponding to Pauline) Mrs; seguin
Montalvo " Beauseant) Mr. seguin
vaIdor NJ Deschapee ,)Mr Ritchings
Mariana, Julio's sister :" w. Melnote,) Miss lnce.
Il is divided INTO three acts in all comprising seven
scenes The orchestra consisted of fifty performers
under the direction of Messrs. Megnen and Chubb
ana the chorus numbered seventy of both sexes, and
among them were several amateurs of Philadelphia.
new ane got up expressly for this occaason the stage
management was under the direction of Mr. Richngs;
and IN fact no pains or expense has been spared in
getting up with the utmost attention TO detail and
scenic effect. The music of the piece was received
very favorably, indeed. II is rather noisy OCCASION
ally, and many of the chorusses, and some of the
concerted pieces, Will bear pruning very advan-
ageously, as was near o'clock before the per-
Torrance was concluded. All the business of the
opera rests the three characters supported by the
Segulns and Frazer; and in their hands, as everv
one Will suppose, the utmost made of their parts
There are one or two beautiful airs and Duets IN the
course OF the piece, which, whatever may be the
opinion that the public may finally form of the whole
opera, VIII be certain to become favorites. The
groupings and ableaux were of the most beuti-
fully perfect that we have ever seen on the stage
and added much to the eclat with which the whole
affair went Off In fact the complete mise en- scene
was perfect. The want OF hbrettos among the
audience was much felt but we understand that
they will be issued in day or two, when the opera
shall have been condensed to proper length
At.the falling OF the curtain, Mr.. Fry was loudly
called for, and, after some little delay, appeared and
said, "that he must apologize for the ncoherent re-
marks that he was about to make, by pleading the
absolute prostitution ne at that moment abored UNDER
consequent on the intense and unremitng labor that
had been demanded Of him in the getting up of this
opera. He individually thanked them for the int.
rest they had displayed and the applause they had
bestowed on his work 7; but for the music itself. he
left II entirely in their hands, to approve of il or not
as they judged il worthy. He would state one thinr
that II was entirely American. As long back as the
year iooL ne nad been struck with the fact that this
country had neglected to keep up with the rest of
the world, as regards music, and he had then la
mented that such was the case. He AT that time
commenced the regular study of music under the d.
rection OF ms friend Mr.Megnen who was graduate
OF the Conservatory OF Paris the first musical school
IN the world; and, with his assistance he had con.
iinued his researches into the science of music
(Applause) He would now distinctly saw that he
wished this production to stand or fall by its own
merits Cireat appause.) But not to him belonged
all the credit Of the labor in this undertaking.: The
autnor OF the I,oreto was entitled to much. Il had
bcen niooed point as to whether the English Ian
guage was at all capable of being fitted for the ac-
companylng musical sounds and, in order TO test
that, the author in this instance had gone through
course OF study to endeavor to mould the English
language INTO The proper shape for music How far
he had succeeded, they must be the Judges of reat
appause) Il had been stated in some Of the naners
that this was the first American opera ever written
such was not the case. Since the year 1881. he had
written not only one, but several grand operas hnt
from various none OF them had ever been pro.
duced but still this, instead of being the first
The last. IL had been written since the month Of
FEBRUARY last, IN his spare moments, land had been got
upon the stage in three weeks. He would here tender
his sincere thanks to Mrs. Seguin, the Prma Donna
OF the evening, the music Of her part had been
written with especial reference to her voice. and
how she had executed it, the audience had heard:
now they were satisfied, he could not know Tim,
mcnse appause) but he knew that as far as he was
Concerned, ne was satisfied. lie also thanked Mr.
piece, and Mr.. Chubb for his Leadn1 ~ ,hs
orchestra; he also thanked the remainder Of the
performers in BODY also the cbor;stars -. ~.