Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-01-23
Rey8. dAmour--Aubsr's Lost Opera

The gossiPy Paris correspondent OF
the New York Horld says of the last
composition Of the aged and venerable
Auber (now in his S7th year,, that it
was successful. That is, he says, it
was not Kissed, but applauded amid
suppressed yawus. He continues:
The book, it must be confessed, is
not a GOOD one. MeSsrs. Dennefy and
CormOn excuse themselves FORTS de-
iiciencies by alleging NJ. Auber's age
ObliUed them to retain the Old form of
hook; he is too Old to change the
whole arrangement of his operas, to
unit his Old, and learn "a new method.
There is some palliatlOn IN tins eX-
cusc. but it does not explain the OBJ
security of the plot, which has unques-
tiOnably some share lnthe want OF Ia
vor with which the opera was received.
As we'll as l can make 1t out the plot
seems to be as follows: a young farm
er Of ante-revOlutiOuary France, who
seems to be completely dependent on
an old uncle, also "A farmer, fails over
mead and ears in love with a mar
chioness and, as he is conscious of the
impossible social abyss which separ-
ates them, he grieves almost TO death.
While he mas no eyes except for b
warehouses, under the same roof
with him a pretty cousin pines OF love
for him, and, departing to Wed his
only love, he consents, IN Obedience
to his uncle, to marry TINS cousin.
But when the time comes for aim to
lead her to the altar, he breaks oil the
marriage and enlists in the army. Just
as ne is about t0leave, the marchiOness
proves to be no marChiOness at all
She is the daughter OF his old uncle;
but to assure the happiness Of this I'M
cle's niece (WhO is SO deeply IN love
with the hero of the piece she pre-
tends to be the latter's sister Il mean
the herO's sister, which, OF course,
makes their marriage impossible, and
he marries the first niece. NJ. CapOui
is the hero, Mile. PriOla is the mar
| chioness. Mile. Nau is the niece. Des-
| pjte the Alterations of NJ. CapOul you
| know he is a spoilt child Of Paris, his
voices sweetness gives great pleasure.
| Nile. PriOla is a refugee from the The
alter Lvrique,a where she made her
first appearance in RieHzi and won
favor by her rich, silver-tOned meZzO-
soprano voice. Mile. Nau Ca daughter
| OF Mile. Nau who sang IN New York
some years ago. did not makes pleas
ing an impression; for her voice Is
thin and sharp.
Some imprudent fellow said TO NJ.
/ Auber, as he came out Ofthe theater the
night Of this operas first appearance:
HEhi ell. NJ. Auber, are you carry
ing home your vest" This is the ac-
tors slang expression for a failure. NJ.
Auber replied; mol no! my good
fellow, it is my sGlas en- 60yqpe. l am
/ fast leaving the shore. You have
heard the swans last song"
The audience at the dress rehearsal
of this opera was almost the same as
Mt the first performance. Among them
was Cora Pearl. I need not tell you
who she is. u other day "a gentleman
began his lecture on MOliere: (which
is Ka DlIs belle cOnRdiSsG9ce q nan can
have?'' A bIackgUard boy in the last
tier shouted, at the top Of his voice:
"COra Pearl.D At the dress rehearsal
she was accompanied by a very
wealtby colonel of the Russian army.
Between one Of the acts she went on
the stage leaning on hisaTm, and going
to NJ. CapOul, said: my poor CapOul,
how execTably you are dressedl A
man attired in soldiers clothes should
have more dash, and be more at ease.
Come, Colonel (she turned to her es-
cort as she spOke), give Capoui a les
SON." The colonel not only gave Ca
pOul a lesson, but put on the costume
10 show him how to wear it. Every
body but this trio on the stage smiled
Is it not strange a man should make.
such a fool of himself? He must have
as little brains as an oyster,