The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-02-02
AN ~ Sc ME N rs.


The curtain did not rise until nearly nine O'Clock,
owing to the sudden indispositlon Of Mme Rose
Bell (how Is 1t that those French prime donne are so
liable to be suddenly indisposedY) and the fact
that Mile. Descauzas, who took her place at a few
hours notice. could not have her costume ready at
the regular opening hour. But long as the delay
was the audience were amply compensated In the
opera, both as regards the manner In which 1t was
placed on the stage, and the music IN the choruses
and the orchestration We can safely state that no
opera has been produced In this city for many years
in such complete manner In the way OF mise en-
scene and costumes as Fleur de The" The three
acts OF the opera present models OF scenic art,
pecally the last magnificent Chinese kiosk, which
is q spectacle in ITSELF As we said before In our
musical review, "Fleur de The" stands musi-
cally the first Of all the works In OpreG
dOu6e as produced In this city. The music
is infinitely better than anything ever writ
ten by Offenbach, and there is more character in
1t than the music OF Herve Yet nothing can be SIM
pier or more unpretendlng than the number OF this
opera. There is not the slightest attempt at COM
pick or elaborate orchestratlOn, but the music
sparkles from first to last. The finale Of the second
act Is charming chorus, something In the style Of
old Moorish dance. II Is minor theme and contrasts
peasingly with the dashlng ''R0nde du Clquot"
which closes the opera. Botn OF those chbruses will
become the most popular OF anything SO far heard
in opera boate in New York. The Chinese march
Also in the first act which sav0rs of Meyerbeer in
carcature 1orm and The ensemble winch follows the
discovery OF Fleur de The in the chamber OF che
French COOK, a "reminiscences OF "Ernani,n are also
striking choral features In this work. Regarding
the leading roles much praise Is due to Messrs.
beckers and Petit FOR their irresistible drollery
the Captain OF the Tigers Their ''make up'' was
udcrous in the extreme, and the Tiger captain looked
the mildest hammered villain that eer cut throatn
They MADE decided hit IN both Celestial f0ies.
Mile. Desclauzas sang and acted charmingy,. and In
the WANDERERS song and the romance in The second
ri al Vfle
voice Is rather thin and weak, and there was
want Of esprit ana rife, lie about her rem.
placed that character undeservedly In the
background. Carrier appeared to better advantage
10 the chrracter Of Pinsonne han any we have seen
much OF his usual suggishness He sang the
coupIets, 'Jai couru grossir Ia foulen presto
the beautiful romance. "Cesarine q mes veux
dociie," by his unfortunate habit OF hurryIng
over every measure without any thought OF ex-
voice, with spontaneity OF tone In 1t which always
commends 1t, but he must try and get rid OF
nasal information and nervous haste in his singing.
For first performance the entire opera went OF
remarkably well. A long, tedious ballet was intro
duced In the second act which needs curtailment,
especially the limbs Of one Of the pyeTateres, which
rival those of Nelse Seymour. The sailors ballet In
the first act Is well enough but the other is de trop
We would also hint To the management to put stop
TO the disagreeabe system smoking In that portion
OF the establishment Immediately adjoining the en-.
trance TO the parquet. Each time the doors are
Judging from the success OF last nights perform
ance "Fieur de The'' Is booked for d long and sue
cessful run, and Mr. Grau may congratulate himself
on having discovered fitting successor to Scene.
we've"
wALLAcK's THEArRE-SHAKsPERIAN FESTIVAL
Sigh more ladies' sigh
Men were deceivers ever;
To one thing constant never.
How beautiful that was but we shall come to 1t
presently. The town Is not absolutely given up to
model artists female acrobats Niger mnstrelsy done
in French andunderground railroads. Shakespeare is
looking up again. That sparkling diamond Of
COMEDY, "Much Ado About Nothing,r at
wallack's last night was "a palpabe hit.n Twenty
dollars for instance for two seats In the rear OF the
parquet, offered and declined, viii serve as sign.
But the gathering OF the mountaineers was such as
to show that .fhe hard-hsted democracy have a
taste for something with O more delicate bouquet
than London gin or Jersey lightning. Their enthu.
siasm over this Shaksperian festival was positively
refreshing. The treat was to them new sensation,
and they enjoyed 1t keenly.
Never, we dare say, even In London, was this play
so magnihcently put upon the stage II in this
house last night. The costumes were truly elegant;
those OF Beatrice and Hero were Of queenly magnin.
cence dazzling and superb-the special admiration Of
every lady in the house. Benedict too was gotten up
g the Prince Royal OF Bachelors, with the wealth OF
lie Indies to back him. But the scenery was the
crowning excellence OF this beautiful reproduc.
from S@ T 70 Of se ae opening ew
OF the bay and city OF Messina is charming picture
The ballroom In the palace Is fne; but the palace
roses It's marble ornaments, with It's vines rich
IN their clusters OF real Isabella grapes, aud Its
FLASHING fountain OF living water. was perfect
party In gentle music recting those pretty words-
sigh 10 s,5f, iadSs! ak 10 more,
the Illusion was complete. We were in the midst OF
q sentimental group under the summer skies Of
Sicily. NeN the street IN Messina, under the rising
moon, with Dogberry, verges and their watchmen
with their formidable weapons, furnishes good
study for the Academy OF Design. The Illuminated
chapel Of the sixteenth century, with its
MEDIEVAL decorations, is evidently the result
OF study skill and experience In such things.
~ w.t. everv scene AMI thay are al s Sc
the opening 10 the end, drew from the house spon-
taneous outDurst OF applause, including general
musical murmur OF appreciation from the ladies. To
see Is 70 believe that the equipment OF this play has
involved expenditure equal TO the cost or an up
town brown stone house wIsp all the modern ill-
The audience seemed to be 40 preoccupied with
the rich dresses and splendid pictures and group
=, eI hi secondary consdara,,on s
necessary here to go into details. He must indeed
be fastdous upon non-essentials who is not salts
pinay upon The fohGHe'i ana plays II gracefully.
Miss Rose Eytlnge's Beatrice was something better
than the uniamed female horse marine she Is too
frequently reprcsened--a Beatrice whose BAN
tering aud badnage are but the transparent veil OF
the loving and charming woman. She was rewarded
for this rendering by the most emphatic judgment OF
the house. In which the generous enthusiasm OF the
mountain was fully evoked. The hero OF Miss
Jennings was the sweet and modest heroine
OF the great MASTER as we have learned
him. Mr.. Gilbert IN every thing satisfactory, VIII
perhaps have TO come dpwn peg or two TO reach
The model OF Dogbcrry; but the verges OF stoddart
il 10 very good that 1t Is pity there Il so little OF
him. TO conclude the first night Of this play was q
genuine Shakspearean festival, and TO see II Is to
lie Convinced that walack In this reproduction has
achieved an attractive BILL and Ia every essential
beautiful success.
NrBLo's GARpES.--Fun and frolic ranked with
beauty have set their throne the stage at Nlblos
and last night held their FIRST reception The bevy
OF goden.naired burlesquers who have been charm
ing the town as woods Museum since September
last were the happy parties engaged in "strik-
ing oil In Family Jars" and the testimony
OF crowded crammed and delighted house was
unanimous that they have struck oil OF the best and
most pleasing kind. Anticipating some such result