The New York herald., 1869-09-13
UsE II e N T 8.

THEATRE FRANCAIs-THB PURrrAN's DAUdRrTB.-
The Parepa-Rosa English opera season had an susp-
cious commencement st this favorite establishment
on Saturday night, far the attendance con-
cerned. more fashionable and brilliant audiences
has rarely greeted an artist In opera The boxes
and dress circle were abaze with beauty and bttou
terte and we recognized many well known lyric and
dramatic artists present. among them, conspicu-
ously. Nile. Patti The initial opera was the "Puri-
rans Daughter" one OF Balfe's latest works, In
which Roundheads and cavaliers are brought TO-
Rether In an old feudal hail. TO sha imminent
danger OF the cavaliers, who consist only OF the
merry monarch and his dissoute conS,ere ROches-
ter, and o rare specimen OF uprightness and honor
named Clifford. Tho traditional barmaid and land
lord; Q foolish. lOvestrcken rustic; q rather
"mtxed" buccaneer and fearfully stern old Round
head, bearing tho appropriate title OF Wolf are the
other characters In the opera. They all combine 70
illustrate . very Interesting story of conspiracy,
love- loyalty, peril, confusion. prayers drunkenness
aud other ingredients which generally 70 to make
up the nbretto OF an opera. The opening piece.
'Heres to wlne." was spendidly rendered by well
balanced and highly effective chorus It is the most
sparkling number In tho work. The succeeding
dialogue between the bold buccaneer and his mate
might be prontsby out out; for the buccaneer does
not speak plain and his mate deals too much In
'asdes." Ralph. the rustic (Ar. e. seguin, true
conscientious artst). and Jessie. the barmaid (Mrs
Smith. nee Miss Stockton, next sing rather unat-
tractve duet which Is I'm tho scOre) followed by .
with ns 6s S"n Of
tones, 3. @. Campbell In the next scene (the
Ruined Chapel the Puritans sing couple OF stir
ring ana inspiring chOruses. which relieve the mono
tony Of the rectatve. The next scene is pleasingy
opened BY = quaint pretty little song. Pretty
with inimitable efieot. The frst act ends with a
GOOD. well harmonized chorus, which was arranged
BY Mme Rosa to relieve the barrenness Of the nnae
served encore, King Charel and Rochester iMessrs.
and joliity In shs act. Mr.. Castle VIII
o. %;m IsIi Ia ou: ;,S ont ,s sas scene scene between
which occurs hero Nine. Rosa sang q brilliant,
taking waltz Of the Arditi school with her well
known dash and effect. In this act the new BARI
tone, Mr.. Albert Lawren0o. made his American
debut. He has Q nne, clear. well trained voice Of
considerable power. but lacking somewhat in sym
has made Campbell the 1rst Of American bartones.
Perhaps nis voice has not got over the sea voyage.
sckas IN Castle %sde S decided hit IN
drinking song. which In voice and action was
simply inlmita6le He was superb also in the
The orchestra, under the able direction OF
Carl Rosa, was everything that could be desired.
very fine music, some Of Balfes best . good deal OF
dreary recitative and much unnecessary dialogue.
With ludioi0us pruning it Is bound to be favorite
the opera went on very smoothly and Nine. Parepa-
Rosa has reason TO congratulate herself on the ex-
celent company she has cOngregated around her for
the season. The opera was very well placed
on the stage, all the accessories being iault-
less The three barit0nes, Lawrence Campbell
and Hall; the tenOrs. Castle and De S0lla, and
last, though by no means least the peer
Of musical talent to which our lyric stage has
been long stranger. In addition TO the cuts men,
toned above We would also recommend the pruning
OF the first duet between Ralph and Jessie and the
recave IN the chapel scene the substitution OF the
oboe and bassOOn for the clarionet obiRat0 In the
song "Pretty Flower" the erasure OF the dialogue
between King Charles and Rochester in the begin
ming Of the second act and the entire Of Seym0urs
music In the last act. The opera u principally de0
cent IN concerted pieces like those which give such
q charm to " Wallace Benedict and the other works
Of Bafe, and what has been introduced BY Carl
Rosa and Mme. Parepa-kosa 10 very eheotlve. 1t
Will be given for the second time tonight ana viii
probably DO reduced to tho proper ltmlt-say two
hours and half.
THR FRANKS FAMILY, consisting Of three girls.
aged respectively nine. twelve and fourteen years.
and or two boys, aged seven and ten-who are
among the musical prod,gies Of the world-will
give grand concert at steinwsy Hall on next 2 ri
day evening. Each OF the children plays on the
violin and piano, and that tOo with moro than
mechanical skill. They natives and to the manner
born. but have never before appeared before New
York audience, having been absent In Germany for
. number Of years, where they performed with much
success. A good programme Is offered and hearty
welcome will doubtless be accorded the youngsters
by our music loving citizens.