The Portland daily press., 1867-12-10

The OPERA.-The largest audience ever
called together by any operate performance
in this city greeted last night, the first appear
ance of the La Grange Brignoii troupe. City
Hall was filled almost to the limit of its ca
pacity, and the repeated and hearty applause
with which the audience expressed their salts
faction testified to their ability to appreciate
the superior merit of the performance. Ma
dame La Grange sang with wonderful power
and expression Her voice seems to have lost
nothing of the purity, richness and strength
which belonged 10 it when we last had the
privilege of hearing her, and her power Of dra-
matte expression is of the highest order. As
an artistic we have always held her to be un-
surpassed by any singer who has appeared in
this country. Her singing in the duets with
Manrico and with the Connt was superb; her
utterance of the passionate cry "Di tie, di te
scordarmi," was like burst from breaking
heart; her sudden outbreak of hysterical joy
when she is told that Manrico shall live, and
her voice and acting in the death scene were
magnificent. Miss Phillips, in the difficult
part of Azuccna, was admirable In the
scene where she recouats the murder Of the
child she sang with great expression, and in
the duet with Maniico in the prison her part
was given with exquisite tenderness. Si2nor
Brignoli fully sustained his high reputation,
and the part of the Count was admirably rem
dered by Signor Orlandini I'll balen,' as
sung by the latter, drew forth warm applause.
At the late hour at which we write it is inn
possible to speak of the performance in detail.
As a whole it was by far the most satisfactory
operatic representation ever given ia this city.
The orchestral accompaniment was good the
choruses almost without an exception, well
sung, while all that was necessarily made
quate in the stage arrangements and other ac-
cessories, was fully compensated by the truly
artistic skill and power of the performers.
Tonight Flotow's pretty and sparkling
comic opera of Martha will be given. The
music of this opera is all grace and lightness;
the story is briefly as follows Lady Henri
eta Durham and her companion Nancy, find
ing themselves dying Of eana in fashionable
life. try to amuse themselves by going to the
Richmond fair where the peasant girls OF the
village present themselves for yearly hire.
They compel Sir Tristan, lover OF Lady
Henrietta. to attend them thither, and then
carry the Joke so far as to offer themselves TO |
two young farmers, Lionel and Plunkett, and
receive the service money The tables are
turned when they find that the youhg men
have binding claim upon them, and they are
carried off to their new sphere. A lively |
scene is made Of their awkward attempts at |
labor, but finally they escape, leaving their |
hearts behind In the end Lionel sends a |
ring to the Queen which proves him to be the |
son of nobleman unjustly banished, and be- |
ing thus lifted to equality with Lady Henri |
eta, he marries her, and his foster-brother, |
Plunkett, espouses Nancy. .
There will doubtless be a rush for the choice |
of seats this morning, and all wishing to OBJ
tain eligible places should secure them early. :