New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-01-10
MUSIC.
PENING OF Pixies OPERA HOUSE.

all OF us at tunes nave uredulcu WHICH nODOuy
has beheld In the flesh. than anything else in this
country Wide entries admit you to magnificent
yestibule as big in itself as many respectable play
house around which run stately flights If stairs and
gallery at midnight, such as one sees in the pic
lures of old baronal halls. Thence there Il admis
sion by many doors TO the gorgeous auditorium
where at least five hundred more people than the
house could seat assembled to witness the naugura-
ton The soft yet brilliant light, streaming down
from the dome, and scattered from hundreds
of globes the magnificent cOlors Of the decorations
white and gold, and warmest tnts OF crimson, ana
delicate dove color picked out with soft blue tho
rich satin hangings the glowing frescoes; the tapestry
carpets sprnging under the foot the graceful lines
of the architecture--all these combined VITA
every conceivable magnihcence OF ,1eihaie
dress the glitter of a thousand jewels, the
simmer of golden curs and glossy silks,
the smiles of pleased and pretty faces, tho waving
of fans the luter of laces the soft motion Of deli
cate glOved hands. TO make picture such as IL did
ones heart good to look upon. Then the scenery
was splendid the dresses were fresh and handsome;
| the stage appointments complete; there was
no mark of haste or nexperience in any OF the im-
portant aduncts TO the representation. Everything
| passed off in order; everybody seemed deilghtea;
and the vestibue during the intermission was NOISY
| with the congratulations of Pike and Strakoseh
|
performance, quito apart from the ceremony OF the
oneninp of n new house for we were called together
| to welcome the return of singers who had long ago
won firm place in our affections. Most Of our mu-
steal readers will remember brilliant evening at
| NiblO's Theatcr nearly 10 years siDce, wncn an
audience Of some 1900 persons OF quality, ar
fists. critics amateurs, the leaders Of the world
of literature and art, and fashion were admitted 10
rehearsal of Rossinis Barber of Seville" III which
| the new prima donna, Madame Anna do Lagrange.
was shortly to make her first appearance before an
| American public. The next day the whole town was
| ringing with her praises-her pure voice.
her superb artistic culture, her chasse and
| pleasing style the refinement OF her grace
| full presence were themes of enthusiastic
| comment That was on Friday, the Attn Of May, 1885,
and the opera TO open at Nblos, under the man
agement of Ullman and Jacobsohn, on the following
| Monday committee of the stockholders of the
Academy of Music were then giving successful sea-
son at the FOurteenth-st. establishment with Stef
| fanone Brignoli then new TO our public.
yestvali. and the rotund Amodic and Maret
eek for conductor. They had brought ont "Iroya-
tore for the first time only two days
before The new opera and the new baritone
(Amodo made his debut az Count di Lima on the "a
of May promised to prove mines of wealth. rival
company would spoil all. agreement was effected
| by which the two were combined, and Lagrange
made her first public appearance at the Academy on
the Sth instead of at Nblo's, with MoreD. LorlnI.
Marini, and Revere. But two opera companies sing
ing at peace under tho same roof would be
| phenomenon unparalleled in history. There was
n fierce quarrel next day. The principal
members Of the Ullman troupe suddenly fell "inds-
posed' Warfare ragged in the newspapers for two
weeks Then Steffanone went to Boston, ana La
grange made her second appearance as Lncis' on
AZ. A.,
goers relate bow in the enthusiasm OF that evening
the audience rose to receive her standing when she
was called before the curtain. From that
time her long career in the United States
was one of unvarying success, and before
she left us to return to Europe number Of admirers
presented her publicly with golden crown. How
many years ago that was We do not at this time re-
member. Many sweet voices have charmed ms in the
mean time but there has been nobody except Patti.
and lattcrly Miss Kellogg, who have held
the same place as Lagrange in popular
regard. 1t an anxious question, however.
with her many old friends, how the Leono,a
of Pixies Opera House would compare with the well
remembered leoRora of the Academy. Let us not DO
thought ungaant we cannot forget that years
biographies called her 80 years Of age. All WELL
cannot be young forever, and Time though he touch
us gently, must rub the freshness OF all OF
us sooner or later Ills touch of Madame Lagrange
at any rate has been no rude one. Her voice Las lost
nothing apparently in compass. and very little in
sweetness. 1t is thinner, without ever being harsh.
She takes the high notes often with the came ease
and always with the same accuracy as Of old. She
pours out volumes of voice in the lower register.
not so rich and mellow in the days Of her prime,
but sonorous still. Her reception when she first
appeared on the scene was cordial but hardly
enthusiastic Her opening cavatina, Taoea Ia
| on.
distinctly than anything else during the even
ing; but as she went on and her incompara-
BILE artistic finish was more and displayed the
| audience grew warmer, and when Mt the end she
| sprinked over the melody those rayiShng lit
tie brdlike high notes for which she Is
so well remembered, enthusiasm burst FORTH and the
rest OF the performance triumph. The fact is,
rare excellence of cultivation enables her to conceal
the ineipient ravages of years and voice which to
an ordinary artist would be of little worth is capable.
as she uses it, of surprising effects. In the whole Of
the last act she was especially good. We all remem-
Der how she used TO give the tower scene. and she
gives it still superby.
Miss Adelaide Phillips whom some Of us can re-
collect as little Boston girl playing juvenile char
acters at the Chatham Theater some 20 years ago.
came back TO last night in the character in
which she made her debut on the operate stage in
1886 She. too has always been fayorite, aud
| always deserved to be. With good. honest, we'll
rounded. sympathetic organ a correct and careful
| method and fine musical Intelligence, she is singer
| of whom we ought to feel particularly proud.
Her beautiful voice is unmpared, her style careful
and agreeable as ever aud her dramatic powers are
admirable as they always %e eF te anu
| memories that haunt those remote Gays wneh the
| Troubadour was young and fresh. Many have sung
| IL since then but none have sung 1t 30 well IL
| to- 10 uqW