The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-01-04
MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.

t'U TrovRtOroo Mt the Academy Of nIHsc-Tho
First Appearance In This City of Sisnor Le-
franc.
Verdis opera OF II Trordtors was first produced at
Rome In the year 1852 Although not the best OF his
compositions, 1t has become universal favortte,
and In accordance with the public taste it has, for
years past been almost invariably selected by
managers for the opening night OF season. This
traditional custom was followed at our Academy Of
Music last evening, at the Inauguration OF the rst
instament OF Italian opera that We have had this
winter and the house was fairly filled on the occa-
sion The cast was, TO Philadelphia, almost entirely
q new one, as ollows:-'tManrico," Sgnor @. Le-
franc; 'Teonora" Madame Carolina Briol; "Azu-
cena," Madame Eliza Lumley; the "Count di Luna"
Signor Reyna; and "Ferrando" Signor BarilL or
this list the last-named alone has been familiar to
in the past, and his role last evening was COM
paratively unimp0rtant. The occasion was there
fore one OF novelty as far the singers were con-
cerned, IL not with respect to the opera
Signor Iefranc made his first appearance before
an American audience at New York early In No
Vember last and at once achieved q reputation OF
the very highest characterize high in fact, that he
came to be talked about the greatest tenor that
has appeared on the American stage The audience,
therefore, prepared last evening for an unusual
display OF vocal power, and as the opera progressed
was destined not to suffer disappointment. In the
Lfamous serenade OF the first act before the audience
/ has been favored with glance at the hero, he
created favorable impression, but still, in mea
sure, fell short OF the expectations which had been
formed OF him. In this aria Brgnoli has been re-
marksbly successful, giving full expression to the
j marvellous clearness and purity OF his tones, and
SignOr Lefranc's performance not, in these re-
specs at least equal to that OF the former. But 1t
4 displayed a voice OF the robustD order, rare In
I strength, compass, and sweetness, and by his
earnest and precise execution he at once made his
way to the hearts Of his audience. When In re-
{sponse to generous applause, he presented himself
before the house, Re showed good presence and
5,many bearing, which, added to the high degree OF
dramatic power displayed throughout the evening,
ftended greatly TO increase the measure OF his sue
cess. Prom the starting point to the close of the
second act Sgnor Lefranc fairly maintained his hold
I4upon the audience; bat the scene with "Leonora"
In the third act showed in the early part, falling
|fon In strength and freshness This was, however,
{but preparation for the finale and when he touched
1the first note OF the aria Di quela ptra there
manifested power and earnestness which had not
|1been exhibited before The entire morceau was
Bexecuted In admirable style, and terminated with
Heat In vocal gymnastics which has perhaps never
before been equaed, certainly never surpassed,
in this city. At the words o tecO alnlenO.
{Ihe substituted for the G sharp OF the composers
Bcore the high chest c. gliding down from this
|giddy height to the following A, without faw or
sbreak. AS his voice was poised for moment upon
this high note, 1t had almost unearthly sound.
|fThe effect upon the audience was miraculous, magl
cal. A Wild, derious shout greeted the achieve
}ment, and the tempest of applause continued
Null effect of the feat were absolutely marred. When
The curtain fell Signor Lefranc was called to the
front, and in response to the enthusiastic ovation
which he received he motioned the curtain up
again. The wonderful performance was then re-
ypeated, with fully much and grace as in the
frst instance; but again the impatient eagerness OF
he audience to testify their unbounded approval led
ID O repetition OF the storm of applause, which
marred the effect in a greater degree even than
before.
The daring achievement by which Signor Lefranc
thus carried his hearers by storm is one which but
few ten0rs have been able to attempt, and the
hssory OF the art contains no record OF COM
pete and satisfactory success. But few OF his pre-
decessors have been endowed with q vocal organ
81 (which permitted them to make the attempt, and
several who have been reckless enough to venture
tt have encountered failure measured only by their
Audacity. In Irouatore, the chest c, as every one
familiar with the opera well knows, is merely an in
terp0lation brought In by Signor Lefranc for the
purpose OF displaying the rare compass Of his voice.
For this reason, there may ne some hypercritical
persons who will accuse him Of vocal trickery but the
accusation does not detract IN the slightest degree
rom the fact that he Is endowed with a quality OF
0ice as wonderful as is OF rare occurrence, and
here few who witnessed Its display last evening
Fho would willingly have robbed themselves OF the
Electrical effect which it produced. On Wednesday
evening, when Rossini's William Tell will be given,
With Signor Lefranc as "Arnoldo" he will have
legitimate opportunity to play upon this note. This
opera s one OF the very few in which composers
Have ventured upon Its introduction, and Slgnor
Lefranc last evening demonstrated his entire ability
70 cope with 1t and all Its requirements.
In the fourth act Signor Lefranc gave fresh and
sven execution, but did not achieve in the famous
tower song, All, che Ia norts, a success that was
unprecedented, although it perhaps q more
artistic performance than his chest G, and he con-
tinued to display resources OF voice and manner
which are at the command OF but few OF his rivals
Madame Carolina Briol, who made her first appear
lance before Philadelphia audience last evening in
the somewhat exacting part OF "Leonora," achieved
q credtable success. Her voice takes high range
and s marked by much evenness and careful
cutvation; but 1t lacks, In measure, the very de-
sirable quality OF genuine sympathy. Madame Eliza
Lumley, who essayed the role OF "AZucena," gave
satisfact0ry performance OF part which is capa-
ble, however, OF much greater degree OF elabora-
tion both in singing and acting, than she can COM
pass. Signor Reynas "Count d Luna" was de-
cidedly poor. His voice is baritone OF considerable
power but his execution last evening was sadly
marred by his carelessness, the II balen, espe-
cially being very indiferently sung. The chorus
and the orchestra were both satisfactory, and the
performance, as a whole, smooth and even one
Rendered noteworthy, principally, by the wonderful
Zachievement OF Sgnor Lefranc with his chest G.
''Champagne' at the Chestnut.
The new play by Miss Laura Keene and Miss Ma
tilda Heron, entitled Champagne; or, Step by STEP
was produced at the Chestnut Street Theatre last
night to full bouse. 1t is one OF the later school of
violent improbabillty than some others OF the same
II Rla with hla Qnfif nf