The Portland daily press., 1866-03-16
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"Don Bobo."

To the Editor or the Press : f.,.-T .-t
FIVE years ago the Mendelsohnn Quintette
OiuD OF Boston-the most perfect musical Or
ganizauon in New England-gaye concert in
TINS city to "a beggariy account ofempty boxes"
In april 1865, the same Club repeated the ex-
perimentat City Hail and were greeted with a
tuii, fashionable, land what is better than Ell
ther,--an appreciatiye audience. And what is
this sudden change to be attributed to To
the impetus that has been given to commerce,
TO manufactures, and to improvements gener-
orally, within that time, in Portland. The war
has helped rather than retarded the growth of
this musical taste. People, while they really
had less by the imitation of the currency felt
that they had more money and INDUCED in
many luxuries that in former times they would
have considered extravagant. Thus by living
after the manner Of people of means they ac-
quired the tastes of the same GLASS, and conse-
quently, where formerly you would have found
one person at an operatcconcer three are now
In attendance. Many of our young mer, too,
who had been accustomed to hard work with
moderate pay and little time for amusement,
by the fortunes of war found themselves ele-
waited to positions of rank and responsibility
with ample means at their command, and with
associates whose position in life had been far
superior to their own, SO that when the young
officer returned to his home at the close of the
war, his habits, his tastes, his conversation had
Undergone such change his former friends
would hardly have recognised him as the same
man. 9das cd 70 sgesy ifufar sff
On Tuesday evening, March 9th, comic op-
eretta in four acts was produced for the first
time at Deering Hall before the most attentive
audience We ever saw gathered together in
Portland. The most attentive we say because
one of their fellow citizens was subjecting to
their criticism his virgin work-and let me saw
here that it is much more difficult undertake
ing to try and suit your friends than strangers,
or as the old adage has il, "a prophet is without
honor in his own country, ,"-and the stiffness
was broken only by applause, or by the falling
OF the curtain. The universal opinion at the
close of the opera was one of satisfaction and
ieeling of pride in the fact that the composer
was a atownsman. s9 10 ssgsl rI e.ts
As the editor Of this paper has stated before,
it would be out of place to attempt to ,criticise
this little nest-egg, may We hope, of future and
more Important musical triumphs ON the part
of Mr.. Marston. But there are few sugges-
ing and whichif adopted we think would en-
hance the interest Of the opera In the first
place 1t seems to us that the opera should be
condensed into two acts, or else additions should
be made to each act to relieve them of the
fragmentary character they now possess. The
tIird act, for instance, as it now stands, oc-
cupies only ten minutes in its representa-
tion Upon the departure of the wedding
party for the church wedding chorus Of the
villagers could be introduced with great effect.
The solo of Elvira n the second act with the
chorus in the convent, could be made q grand
concerted piece between Elvira, Isabella and
the chorus which would relieve the seeming
pause upon the stage when Elvira having fin
ished the first part in her solo waits for the
chorus in the convent The 6sindisi between
Don Bobo and Don Pedro seems wanting in
spirit,wh was attributedby us to the desire of
the composer to give the impression that the
singers are old men; but on our opinion being
asked we should prefer music of the character
of the old mems chorus in Faust or the favo-
rite song of Simon, the Cellarer,"', In word
we think number of solos, duets and concer-
ted pieces could be added to the work which
would not only enhance its value as a musical
composition, but also give greater pleasure and
interest to the general public.
The serenade by Mr.. Morgan and the Duets
between Mr.. Morgan and Mr.. Burnham in the
first act were charmingly rendered, the sere-
made in particular, forcibly recalling TO our
mind the silver-tongued Brignolicin the Mise
rers of "Trovatore." The acting of Miss Ware
and Mr.. Fernald was especially commendable,
and the rendering of the Overture by the Poly
phonic Club, whom We hope to hear more of at
future time, was marked by great attention
to time and delcacy of delivery. ~,
In conclusion we think a great deal of praise
is due to Mr.. Marston for the composition of a
| work of so much promise, and to the ladies' and
gentleman on whom its success SO much depen-
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