The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-10-06

TIE OrERA-TuE GRAND DUcuEsS.-The
Theatre was thrown open agan last evening,
and for the first time in the history Of Rich
mond the opera Of the Grand Duchess was
presented with cast Which was comprised
Of children only between the ages OF SIX aud
nine years. 1t would require more space
than could well be afforded this morning to
give Just and correct idea of the marvellous
performances and excellent singing OF
Zrmmerman's wonderful little troupe but
such an entertainment as was enJoyeu by
that vast and brilliant audience deserves
much more than q passing notice at our
hands.
Our theatre. .goers had not the faintest con-
ception of what was in store for them, and
when the curtain fell at the close OF the last
act the building fairly shook with tre-
mepdous applause, which told so truly the
pleasure that quaint, dainty, and unique per.
formance had given. No one expected to
hear the rich and powerful voices, or to see
the acting of well-traned profession
ais: but even the great prlma Cara
Louise Kellogg is not entitled to more
commeudatiop, all things considered, than
Carmen u: y Moron, the petite prlma
donua Of eight summers, whose bright lace
and manner, brimful Of fun. makes her
picture that is irresistbiy droll and attrac-
tive. We do not claim for her slnglnS more
than that Of Il. child. II would be tolly TO
do so but her acting really surpasses that
of many mltured professionals. One natu-
rally cXclaims when the curtain rises and
the audience looks upOr the charming Little
Spanish girls, eff they ere so attractive
what must the grown-up girls be-! No
doubt every one who can do so will take ad'
vantage of this rare opportunity of enjoy
ment, ard spend an evening with these dear
little folks.
The plot OF the opera Of the Grand Duca.
ess of Gerolstein is very familiar, and need
not be here alluded to. We my therefore
say that Carmen (thc Grand Duchess last
night sang her part with an earnestneSs ana
spirit which won every heart before her.
There arc many amusing lutte episodes IN
the opera, but none more pleasing than the
scene which ensues after Fritz returns
to the Grand Duchess, but Is interrupted
during a Kte G.tete with General Fritz by
Nepomuc G'ranc'Sco Martinez, who acted ad'
mipbly), who brings in dispatch. frlt2
(Estevan Moron) displayed deal of ability,
and was time aud again rewarded oy MS ad,
miring audience. Wanda Guadalupe Moron.
| fascinated everybody, especially in the nrs'
act. Her singing, too, was very cleultuplo'
General Boum Gabriel Moron) possesses
what will, no doubt, in time be an eXcelen'
basso. Already bis voice is rich ana SHOWS
cultivation. He is about nine years old.
Baron Puck (Rosaro SaudeyaD, rrnce
Paul IT de Jesus Casstell@n), ana baron
Grog G. urelio RodrigueZl. were also capltai.
The audience seemed particularly amused al
the performances of Gennaro Loboto, oeai
little imp who played the part of Page 10 the
Grand Duchess, and cut all sorts OF anllcs'
and seemed to kaow just what TO do TO ere
ate laugh, which, by the way, greeted DILL
at every turn.
One Ct the most enjoyable features o. ire
evening was the superb rendition, during lne
interval between the second and third acts, o.
the "Carnival of Venice" by Scnorif;
Soledad UrdI y Moron, who Is quite
pretty, by the way, with the delicious ye'
dftieult variation composed for Madame
Sontag. Her trillng surpassed any
thing that we have heard in thl:
city for many day, and she was not only
encored and compelled to repeat the last
verse of her song, but IS the curtain Tell anc
she gracefully bowed herself from the stas'
the audience gave her shower OF applause
There was full orchestra and chorus,
which added not a little to the very enJoya
BILE evening.
Tonight, Robinson Crusoe.