The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-04-06

"Faust'' mt the Academy of Music,

NNudtC,
Last evening Miss Kellogg was greeted at the
Academy OF Music by an audience which certainly
could not have been less enthusiastic than any before
which " was her good fortune to appear abroad,
Whle It's numbers limited solely by the capacity
OF the building. The great favor with which the
American prma donna was received in Europe has,
as matter of course, added strength to her old
popularity at home, and then, it should be remem-
bered "Margucrite' was the role in which she made
her memorable and successful debut at Her Majcsty's
Theatre In London Every frequenter of the opera
has seen Faust, and nearly all have witnessed Miss
Keioggs marguerite" before the days Of her Euro
pean fame. In London according to all the reports
which reached us, her success in this role was un-
qualified. In fact she appears to have taken the
British public by storm, especially the so
called critical portion OF It, Therefore, while
large proportion of her audience last evening
prepared, from experience, to witness O master
piece of lyric and dramatic art, all these in common
with those who had never before heard her sing in
this character, had been moved, by rumors from be-
yond the sea- to anticipate something little more
artistic than that excellence which satisfies every
reasonable demand of art. In other words, the
Academy Of Music was literally packed last evening
by audience the great majority Of whom expected
to witness extraordinary and superlatvely grand
impersonation Of role which, perhaps, admits of
OF such rendition in great degree any other
In the whole range Of lyric art Nothing short OF
such extravagant expectations could have led an
one to regard Miss Kellogg's performance failure
and such it s safe to say was the impression left
upon many Of her auditors. Doubtless she has
never sung better or acted better
In this city in the past, but she certainly did not
excel her previous Efforts By dnt OF hard study and
unceasing practice she has achieved correct con
ception of the character Of 'Marguerite" has been
enabled to throw into it that thoroughly sympathet
vein which it imperatvely demands; and althoug
there may be some justice In the common criticism
that she ts still unable TO consummate her art by its
concealment to cast aside entirely all traces OF
afectation straining, she has succeeded in pro-
ducing careful finished and artistic portraiture Of
one Of the most difficult Of lyric roles achieving
success which has never been equalled in this coun-
try, and we are quite willing to believe has never
been surpassed abroad Yet all this was possible,
while the audience had still room for disappoint-
ment.
With regard to the remainder OF the performance,
we must say that no in the cast 80 success
fu TO detract from the ustre Of the central figure
Madame Cellini, who appeared as "Siebel," is an
artist of pretensions but her rendition
not compare fayorably with that of Madame Nata-
Testa, nor even with that Of Mrs Seguin in English
Hermanns has so thoroughly monopolHed "Mephls-
tophees," has framed upon the role such mastery
character both vocally and dramatically, that SignOr
Ant0nucc, who Is unriyalled in almost
everything he attempts, always appears
TO poor advantage as the tempter Of "Dr. Faustus"
Sgnor Oriandini rendered the part Of "yalentin"
creditaby, but he appeared to regard it somewhat
below his standard and failed through carelessness
to do himself full Justice The chorus was strong,
and sufficiently effective in most of the situations,
but not altogether in harmony at times, defect
which marred the opening scene of the second act
more especially.