New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-02-27
The CoIored American Opera
Company.

Eichburg's very melodious and charming
little opera Of 1.-The Doctor Of Alcantara'
was given at Horticultural Hall last evening
BY the ColorcI American opera Company
The hall contained but few people. the i'm
preston having prevailed, no doubt, that the
representation would be a failure. or at best
Il hwle-Iuc. But, if so, greater mistake
, could not hEye been made, for the opera was
unusually well performed, and The music
lovers present enjoyed a real treat. The
singers all have fine vo,yrs-=lm5 uE them
exceptionally fine ones shawiu.. much cult.
walton, and such superb Jh0u, singing has
not been heard al any opera representations
in Philadelphia for several wears This vii.
readily be credited when ". stale that ti.
hnaie Of the first act wa~ enthusiastically,
enCored.
The chorus was composed OF thirty or fort,
young Colored people with strong. l.lh voices.
and all Of them sang not only ~ time ami
tune, but with real spirit and l.-... The uu-
cleus OF the company is the choir o.. one Of tn
| leading Catholic churches of Wdshinrton, the
organiSt Of which, Professor j. Esputa. act
as musical director. The best singer amou~
/ them is Mrs. J. \. SmJliwoui, Who played
| Donna IuCrstid last night. She possesses u
| splendid soprano voice, strong, resonant.
| sympathetic, and so far cultivated as u d.
under easy control and not 10 offend hy faulty
/ intonatons Her, snginE was decidedly c.-
| feCtive, and her aria in the ~ act had to i..
repeated. She eyinccd quite a talent for the
stage and acted withSousideuhlc sp.g.t ans
| lsithiulneS> to the requirements Of the char
acter. She looked too young Ton .t, however
and should have 50 made up as 90 present a.
older appearance.
! Miss Lena Miller, the representative 90
| Isabella, is a young mss ui apparently olN-
| teen or seventeen YEAR, and is also plea
/ ing, though not 80 effective a singer. Ilrr
voice is sweet aud sympathetic aud with
| further cultivation would develop much pow
CT. Her acting was modest and retiring, hUr
naive and not Inappropriate To- the ra'.. The
other lady, Miss NJ. A.t. toaAicy, rlIyri
| the maid, i7s-, nicely, aud especially. Her
voice seemed To be a mcTEo-sopraup rather
| than a contralto, and has good latent yaVay.-
/ ties, requiring only Cdl!L.e 10 bc rendered
! highly scrviceablc. Mr.. +. 1t. Williams, tn
/ Don Poppsso, was rather the best Of the male
singers. He has ponjr'ou~ bass voice, and
he sang with considerable skill, though M
voice is not cultivated, and manifested a fair
/ knowledge of stage hu-,urss. Mr.. Henry \.
| Grant, the Don CI'5e. may hr aIi u afford
the material for capital tenor. lie has
much to learn IN the management of IN
really excellent voice, bat sang the opening
Serenadc behind the scene, with considerable
effect. Messrs. W. Il. Benjamin and Small
wood, without evincing remarkable lyric tai
ents, realized the character respectively 60!
Doctor Pdracelsus and S7i0r HaF,I<v with
good degree of fidelity Even the two pog-
tiers were exceptionally well pcrsouatei By
Messrs. Jackson and TompEius.
The concerted Music, with the exception OF
two or three numbers, had really capital
rendition, and the audience were frequently
moved to warm applause. The orchestra,
though not large, was composed Of good ma
terial, and acquitted itself with credit. The
same opera will he performed at Horticultural
Hall this afternoon and evening, and or mu-
steal people will deny themselves an unusual
pleasure, as well as withhold encouragement
which is justly deserved, if they remain away.
Such an American opera company is not only
a distinguished honor to the colored race.
which so recently was deemed worthy of no
higher position than slavery, but also de-
cded credit to the country. -WHG8sip tia
Press, 22i February.