The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-01
MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.
The Grand opera.


season of grand opera. The audience assembled
at the Academy OF Music last evening was large
and, we may id, in the highest degree respect
able. In fact, the respec ability OF the audience
Is something IA her TO tie insisted upon, espe.
cially as We are koIns out by facts, for were
under some appTe uension, after all that had
been said on he subject. although we tried to
hide our uneastness unGer a cheerful counte-
nance, that perhaps The public taste would be
vitiated by the Often rachan musical frivolities,
so that high arr w. uld no longer be appre.
ciated. Our doubts are OF rest however, now
We saw the tame ptOp filing the Academy
last evening that we did n fsw eeks ago, when
BdfIe BleUc LI Bette Helene, and La
Grdndc DuchcSe held the sage. But
then IL may be that u TroUdtore Is not good
test OF the good Taste Of tine public. for we have
heard critics who take OF their hats in revs
rental awe when the names of Beethoven and
Mozart are mentioned speak in q sneerng
way about the moi eS of Verdi. IL will not be
without some anxiety that we will walt the
developments Of this evening, when RidcLio
will give the Philsdelpha opera goers an op.
portunity to show whether they stIll know the
difference between music that is music and
the Verdi8B din aud Often nbachian howls To
night we shall see what we shall see, but for
the present We are cabdid enough To rate tina
we heartily ei JOY ed the perform anoe OF IL Tro
U0to,e last evening in company with large
number of other very reSpec abe people who
applauded Irma, AuiAc Tdstee, and Leduc
week or two ago, aud Briguolrs delicious
voice beguied us into imagining, for
the time being at least. that
Verdis din actually was music Briguon ap
peared al "Manrico." of course, and If he ever
sang his way through the rOt with better effect
than last night we scarcely remember the time.
And to do him all credit, Brignuli really tried
to act; Of course 1t was not acting hut he moved
around with some attem pts at sprightliness, for
which he Is entitled 10 commentator. Madame
Agatha States, who made her debut here last
winter as "Elvira' In ErnInt was the "Leono.
ra" OF the evening, aud sac confirmed the good
opinion that was then formed with regard to
her. Her voice Is u soprano OF excellent
quality; and while there is still room for
improvement, she sang and acted with
fine express sion. Madame Ce,lnl sustained the
part of "Azuceua" admirably, and Slguor Or.
landini, a genuine artist, whom we ike better
the more we sec OF him, was an excellent repre-
sentative OF the Count di Luna" and obtained
well-deserved encore IN The aria III baLen del
Suo SOrTiSo." Signor Bsragli personated Fer.
nando" in an acceptable manner, and the per-
formance passed off to the market satisfaction
of the audience, albeit the chorus is susceptible
of some improvement But what chiefly graft
fies us is that the grand opera Is still appre-
cist ed, in spite of that naughty man Offenbach;
and we compliment Mr. Maretzek on hi f,
courage In commencing his season so soon after
the opera bouffe has lett US and when the good
taste of CUR music loving public was under such
a serious cloud of suspicion.
The Circus at the Chesnut.
If large audience, among whom were
number OF our most esteemed citizens who by
liberal applause testified their appreciation a.
all that was said and done is any
evidence OF excellence, then the circus can
be set down as a success. Tue character of the
entertainments, the lyle in which they were
done, and the abilities of the artists, made a
most favorable imp ession. Therefore the
good reports" which Will be circulated In
regard TO the latest of Mr.. Sims enterprises
Will tend 10 make the "ChesnuL" place Of
popular resort
Making all due allowance for the "feeling OF
stI apgeness which all artists ex perience in ap
pearing before unfamiliar iaces and the dif1-
culties invariably met with in getting horses to
"un" proper when first put upon ''stage
lirg," the performances passed off most happily
and satisfactorily.
That very important parsonage in circus
The ''clown" who is Mr. Mcguire, made quite
bit and II he continues to retain the plan OF
'chastt ness" whioh he observed last night, he
will become 1avorite. He Is young, very
active, and the pOssessor OF q full pleasing
voice. He employs good language, has dis
tinct pronunciation, tells short and pithy
stories, avoids personalities, and does not In
ouge in long speeches. He does not attempt to
display erudition, but "plays the merry fool,
just as we think clown should.
The riding of Mr. James Madigan was clever
and that of the little girl ize rem ka ble for
child. The Levantine Brothers gave some ex.
raordnary exhibitions of physical power and
agility. Mime Tournsire furnished q most
acceptable ucte de nrdne0e, while little Clarence
on bis miniature pony. drew out the most rap.
turous applause. MIR. Wambold's dogs were
funny enough, only he kept them too long In
the ring, evidently TO the disgust of one of the
gods" up stairs who suggested the proprlety.
of calling off your dog"
The sensation of the night was RSbinson's
riding. IL surpassed the expectation OF those
who had heard the most about him. We do
not wonder at the favor he has met with
throughout the continent of Europe, aud we
can easily account for The popularity he enjoys
in New York. His abilities have not been
oveIrsted. He appears to us as though he were
regardless of all laws of equilibrium, He en-.
plOys but little physical effort apparently; all
he executes is done gracefully, with a Vinn and
abandon we have never before seen evinced
Well may he be styled tue champion rider OF
the world" We have never seen an equestrian
who could compare with him, and we think
that all those who were present last night
acquiece in our opinion. His riding alone is
sufficient to draw crowds TO the Circus.
From the expressiy ms we heard last night we
judge that the people were pleased with the
entertainment; therefore we oplne that Mr..
| SIM will not regret the transition from the