The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-10-07

"The P"ritan's Daughter, by the Parcpn-IsOsa
Last evening large audience was attracted to
the Academy of Music to witness the first perform
ance In this city Of Balfe's romantic opera of The
Purftdns Daughter. The libretto is based upon the
lively little drama OF Charles III, which represents
the adventures of the gay monarch and the "Ear of
Rochester" who unwittingly place themselves in
the power OF certain Puritan consprators, who are
plotting for the overthrow OF the monarchy and the
re-establishment OF the commonwea The King
makes his escape, with the assistance OF "Mary
Wolf," the daughter OF the Puritan leader, and he
returns with company OF soldiers just in time to
rescue Rochester" and "Clinord," the lover of
''Mary" upon whom the conspirators are about to
wreak their vengeance. The piece has some good
dramatic situations, and its romantic character well
adapts it for musical treatment.
The PUTitdns Daughter is q more ambitious work
than The Bohemian Girl and the author has evil
IDENTITY elaborated it with great care. As musical
composition it is Of higher grade than The Bohs-
atidn Girl but it will never attain to the popularity
OF that work. although after the public become fami-
liar with its merits 1t will be received with favor as
an occasional performance In The Bohemian Girl
Bafe measured his full capabilities, and it has ac-
cordingy achieved a superior to that of any
other Of his operas 1t is full of pleasing melodies
that enchant the not too critical OF those whe
admire music without knowing or caring great
deal about the special qualities and technical merits
that most delight the OF educated musicians
ana IL Is consequently popular success.
AS musical composition the The bohemian Girl Is
about on par with the works Of OTenbach tits very
good Of its kind, but although pleasing and popular,
its quality is not Of the very highest Unfortunately
the ambition of musicians, well as Of other artists,
is sometimes far ahead OF their abilities, and they
produce works that admirable in many ways,
but through lack OF the subtle inspiration of
genius they fail to make good impression less
pretentious efforts. This is the with the PUri-
tan's Daughter The Instrumentation Is very fne
the airs scattered through it pleasing, and the
concerted passages are full of merit In spite of
these eXceences however, the opera lacks the ami
nation and spirit that have secured applause for
less excellent compositions and there is nothing in
it calculated to excite much enthusiasm.
The performance last evening was up to high
standard OF excellence and the favorable impress
Sion made by the opera was due, in very great
measure, to the able efforts of Madame Rosa and
her talented company Madame Rosa herself sang
the role of 'Mary Wolf the Purtams daughter with
fine expression, and her superb voice was heard to
advantage IN the aras that fell to her share
Mr.. Campbell personated the Puritan "COOnel
Wolf in excellent style, and Mr.. Castle made an
admirable representative of the earl Of RoChcs-
ter" Mr.. Laurence, as 'ClTOrd,' sang with more
animation than he did on Tuesday evening; but his
performance would still have been improved by a
little more animation Miss Stockton also showed an
improvement in the part of "Jesse" over her erJrt
of the previous evening; and although the role is a
small one, she filed it with care AMI good taste. Mr.
Gustavus Hall would have made his personatOn OF
"Charles II" more acceptable by intusing a little
more energy into his style. The gay monarch was
rather rapid youth, and as such Mr. Hall scarcely
represented him. Mr. Howard gave good personatiOn
of seymour a dashing buccanCer of the Spanish
main; and Mr. Segun, who made his first appear
ance this season, made the most of the small comic
part of ''Ralph." The chOruses sung in capital
STYLE and the orchestra, under the leadership of Mr.
Carl Rosa, equally efficient