The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-01-10

The PAREPA-PH1LLIPs CoNcERr.-The Ar
my and Navy Union paid very handsome
compliment to the musical taste of Portland
when they conceived the idea of placing in con-
junction upon the platform two artists who
have achieved such wide fame, and drawn
around them so large numbers of admirers,
each in consequence of their peculiar profess
ional merits. And Portland appreciated the
favor by filling City Hall last night; packing
it, rather, for every foot of room upon the floor
was occupied, and the galleries, though fur
nished with extra seats, ran over upon the
stage. There were at least 2600 people present,
and a more good-natured audience never assem-
bled; they patiently awaited the advent of the
singers, though the hour was made later than
usual in order to give the large audience an OPP
portunity to gettheir places ;and the flow of good
spirits burst out early, and established proper
bond of sympathy between performers and lis
teners. The programme was of the usual
length-on the cards-but it was heightened by
the demand for repetitions. The opening piece
was the Roma" duet, by Compana, by Messrs.
Packard and Rudolphsen; not remarkably
brilliant selection, but it gave opportunity to
judge of the merits of the singers. MI. Pack
ard has pleasant voice, with well-rounded
tones, and very sweet and clear in the upper
register Rudolphsen did not appear to SO good
advantage as he did laterin the evening. They
were followed by Miss Phillips in the Aira
''Nobile Signor," by Meyerbeer, an exceedingly
ford composition, requiring great power. We
thought Miss Phillips voice had lost some of its
freshness and ring, though she retained all of
her fine execution 'The Storm by Hullah,
sung by Mime. Parepa, was very pleasing, for
it displayed the wonderful compass and sweet
ness of her voice, and showed the perfect COM
mand she has over the most difficult chromatc
changes. IN response to an encore, she gave
that charming little ballad, which no one has
ever approached her in rendering-Five o'clock
in the morning. Unfortunately, the trio from
the Barber of Seville was omitted, to the great
regret of the audience; and Mr. Packard in its
stead, transferred from the second to the first
part, Balfe's familiar song, "Come into the
Garden Maud" The Laughing Song in the
second part, by Miss Phillips, was exceedingly
well given. The magnetism of the singer af
fected her hearers, and the chorus of laughter
from the floor joined well with the mock hilari-
W VI tHe performer, anu IL eltner party snau
been Indifferent to each other, it would have re-
stored good feeling. Mr.. Rudolphsen showed
fine acting in the buffo songs, o'sPiff, Paff,
Pouf' and the 'GLittle Fat Man, which fol-
lowed Mr.. Pa skard's 'Let me like soldier
fall, and ''Good by, sweetheart, good by
two popular selections, well sung. The gem of
the evening however, was Nine. Parepa's rem
derIng of La Mondolinita, great favorite with
the musical public The lady responded to the
rapturous encore by singing humorous Irish
ballad. The audience very considerably de-
clined to take advantage of the customary
give minutes allowed for the benefit of those
who wish to leave the halr' before the closing
piece, and if the programme had contained
half-a-dozen more pieces, they would then have
left their seats with the reluctance they exhibit
ted when the closing quartette was finished
The concert was splendid termination to an
unusually fine series of popular Entertainments;
and we feel assured that the Army and Navy
Union have been heartily thanked for their La
bors.