The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-06-08
Philadelphia.
From an occasional Correspondent


PHILADELPHIA June 7th, l845.
Grand Opera by Fiyand Brother-Ercienent among
the Quakers- Great rush to the Theatre" Lcono.
ra," plot scenery and incidents-Ihe commencement
of the ne,c musical revol,aion-Amfia commotion
among the flats and sharps-1ne great speech Of the
great F,y-Ieride time among the professors, &C.,
&c.
5DEAR BENNETr-The long agony is over-the child |
is chrisened, and "Aleghana" has at last an opera
of its own-nusical taste is on the ascendant, and
native Mozarts yet unborn shall lisp with gratitude
in after ages, the mighty sname of Fry The event
has taken place; opera has been produced, and
Quakerdom breathes freely once again. AT an early
hour Wednesday, the signing ofbelles, the yawn-
ing OF beauxs, and the restless Impotence of the
lower ten Million showed evidently that the next
greatest in these diggings since the late race
ESQ caled) between Peytona and Fashion, was about
to come off. Before the doors of old Drury. were
opened to the anxious public, groups ofexcited ind-
vlduals thronged the pavement In front OF the thea
tre and lounged in graceful nonchalance against the
ratings OF Parkers oyster celler. AT the opening
one rush, and the enthusiastic Fiytes in the pit,
whilst hopping their ''broiling' faces, candidly
owned that they were in a ..sew."
The orchestra, SO effective under the grace
ful Chubb was now under the control of the scen-
tiic Meignen, who, with his baton before him, APP
peared in good condition for his airy race, in which
ne expected to ''beat time The space for the or
chesra was considerably enlarged by an outrageous
invasion upon the rights of the pit and the extra room
taken up byawhoe army of tiddlers,a squadronof vo-
hncelos, and atroop bass vios which operated
upon by score of broad backed professors, who felt
it TO be their bounden duty make their shoulders
stuck up above the railing as much as possible, much
to the discomfort OF the pittes behind Them who
not beng able to see through the brawny backs of
base Uie proceeding The appearance of the boxes
was brilliant and fashionable, the most distinguish
ed persons who adorned them being the Hon. Geo
N Dallas, our worthy Vice., and Monsieur the
"the demniton folne" man mllliner. The distin-
gulshcd Fanny Kemble Butler graced the stage box
hiding her face as much possible behind
a huge fan, over which she occasionally peeped at
her quondam lord, "Plerce Butler" who, having
saved hlswind IN his late awful encounterwithSchotf
volunteered to do the flute solos in the orchestra.
AT the given signal from the leader, the orchestra
commenced the overture with tremendous series
OF crashes, which came over the audience like a
concentrated chain OF thunder claps as soon as the
ear had recovered from the shock the usual CONGO
infants OF grand overture. were noted the fddes
would now rumble away In the lowest notes of a
tom cats grumble, and then whiz up with awful
shieklngs TO the alto of steam whistle-the trum-
pets and comets prayed most meodiously-the
oboes, clarlonets, and flutes would alternately soar
up above all OF them, if trying who should 90
ahead-when crash-rumble would roar out the big
beled vloloncello, if highly indignant at any
such endeavors-and then the whole orchestra,
drums, hddes, and trlangles, would Join in and de-
velope the harmony, by trying which could make the
most noise. After the last grand crash, the conduc
tor laid down his baton, and the audience applaud
ed most vigorously in appreciation of its having fl
nIshed, and several elegant young men, with 6 mus
keetets on their upper lips, and fling downs their
chns" cried 81 bravo" very vociferously Here the
curtain rose to lively music and discovered the
chorus OF cavaliers" which was composed of sun
dry young men with good voices and bad legs, many
OF them gentlemen amateurs, who had on this spe-
cla occasion volunteered to strain their throats and
show their shanks In honor OF native genius. The
n in fhnIr hnrr tfradn
OF temperance In the house, by shouting fill up, fill
up the vne-wreathed cupand drain its golden well,'
request which was shortly attended to, for the cups
well drained; then Montavo (Segun)
and Alferez (Brunton), entered and held lively
sing song dialogue about Lconora, which finally
ended in Montslvos expressing his decided convic-
uon that King Death was rare old fellow"-to
which the chorus responded |" hurra' most empha-
tlcally. Next, Valdor (Richings), the father of
Leonora, made his appearance, when the chorus i'm
mediatey went of into ecstacies, with Oh Leon
ora r IN style which forcibly reminded us of the
unfortunate Miss Bailey; then, in the next scene,
Julio (razer), Is discovered lamenting his poverty,
and evidently proving that chill penury restrained
his noble rage"-and finally determining to suffer
lsa" sacked lover" entering, offers him gold and
all that sort OF thing, go oand court this Leonora
as disguised prince, and which Julio finally accedes
10; Matters s, e. on as nsual-Juo pops the question
place-Monfaivo rubs his hands with glee-I4eonora
finds too late that her husbands only castle is cha
teau d'Espagne, faints; her father comes in, blows
up the peasant husband, the usual songs, scenas,
Duets, and chorusses take place, secu,,dem a,ten,,
and Julio goes off and enlists as a soldier, a la
Claude Menotte, with this difference that this
transplres in Spain; so that the only real variance is
that Bulwer's hero takes "French leave" whilst
Frys pet walks Spanish" In the astact he comes
back, as we overheard pit wit observe, as one of
the hidagos what wears the sombreros." Mon
father, succeeds in making him believe that
Juno is dead, and wishes to force Mrs. Julio
INTO marrying him, when Julio comes in
at the nick OF time, and forbids the banns
AS ne IS now /" general" and has plenty Of cash.
of course cid Valdor reents general reconciliation
takes place, and the curtain falls amid songs of hap
pIness and transport.
When it was all over, every body applauded most
vigorously, as there evident appearance that
there would be chance OF most people actually get
ting home by two, the opera having lasted five NOR
tai hours "by Shrewsbury clock" All were delight
edwth the music, IL was so much like old acquain-
lance IN new coat; indeed ,some of sthe corni-
cent? said that il was warm hash of Bellin with
cold shoulder of "Rossn," and handful of ''Au-
ber salt-whilst others congratulated Mr.. Fry upon
his opera being so much like Norma, evident proof
mat the same grand idea may consecutively strike
TWO great minds. The instrumental music was
rled and pleaslng-sprightly solos were breat!ied
upon the 1ute by the fascinating Butler-doube duty
was performed by the martial trumpet-an appro-
pirate voluntary on the organ by the great Fry him
SELL IN tne marriage scene, was rapturousy applaud
ed, whilst an accompaniment OF the castenets during
song OF Mrs. Segun brought to the minds of the
common vulgar, pleasing "reminiscences olas.fantasia
on the bones"
The dresses were elegant--the chorusses strong.
IN lungs and numbers-the orchestra assiduous and
perfect, and the audience, except those who went to
sleep during the elongated first act, in perfect rap
lures As soon as the curtain fell, every man in the
house, with one accord, vocferated Fry" which,
as most OF them had been previously roasted, was
entirely needless-but which call was understood by
the Knowing ones a request for the appearance Of
one OF the brothers Fry, who had been engaged in
getting up this magnificent production. Scarcely