The Portland daily press., 1875-03-08
Art, Music aud the Drama.

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in 1888 In 1s43, with the entire family,
| consisting OF father, mother and two younger
brothers, she came to this country, and On Sep
tember 25th, of the same year. made her debut
at the Boston Museum (the old building where
the Horticultural Hall now stands) as Little
Pinkee" in "The Spot Child" and subse-
qnently appeared in "The Four Mowbrays,''
"Bny-a-Broona," "Bombastes Furioso," aud
other pieces of nature suited to her capacities
She was known on the play bills as THE Child
Of Avon" She showed remarkable versatility,
and in addition to her histrionic talents, was,
even at that early sge, good vocalist and ac-
complished dan,euse. Some years subsequent
to this, and while playing one Of the leading
characters in the old spectacle of "Cherry and
Fair Star" or, as 1t was then known, ''rhe
Children OF Cyprus" her remarkable voice at
tracted the notice of Jenny Lind, who was
mainly instrumental In contributing the
amount of funds necessary Miss Lnds sub
scripton was $1,000 10 send her abroad to COM
plete her musical education, and fit her for q
position on the lyric stage. She went to Paris
and studied under Garcia. Returning to this
country, she made her first appearance In ope-
ra at the Academy of Music, New York, under
the management of Max Maretzek, on the 17th
of March, 1856, as "Azucena" In II Trovatore."
Since then her career is familiar TO all.
''The Good Samaritan" IS the title Of a new
comedy by Mr.. James Albery, the author Of
1.-TWO Roses" Mr. Albery Is now dubbed
"One-play Albery." 1t remains to be seen
whether or not the new comedy will make the
title inappropriate.
Ristori is to act the sleep-walking scene from
Macbeth" in English, and it will be interest
ing to read how she does 1t. "She enters"
says the London Post with the chamber lamp
in her hand, dressed in garb in which there
ls no thought of the public eys-a plain long
nightdress, and linen round the head, just ss
such = sorely ailing invalid might be wrapped
up in for the night. There is even q tempts-
tion among the irreverent 10 smile at the
ghastly figure. Everything is forgotten, how
ever-or rather, everything is seen to contrib
ute % the tragedy Of the situation-when Lady
Macbeth begins washing her hands eonvul-
sively and commences, the few unforgetable
words Of which this som nanbulistic soliloquy
consists. The key to her reading appears to
be, while fully achieving the desperate empha-
sis proper to the language, to throw over every
perceptible veil of languor and halfcon-
seriousness which belongs to sleep-waiking as
seen by others. Between every word there Is
deep, long breath as audible as the word
the breath of troubled sleep-every action Is
slow and tentative. Even the smelling Of the
blood, though infinitely expressive, has some
thing Of vagueness In the action, and at the
sigh the sleep-walker throws back her head
and stands unmoved almost as II she were
lying on her back and settling eff to sleep after
long bout of half unconscious pain. As the
scene advances, and the murder is re enacted
in the queens dream-especially when ths
knocking is heard at the gate, and it is nae
es,ary to get Macbeth 70 bed-tbe intensity of
the dream banishes almost entirely this shade
of somnolence, and there is little except the
absence Of the real Macbeth to distinguish the
scene in its conclusion from that which is sup
posed to have been really enacted in the
earlier part of the play.
Balfe, the composer Of "The Bohemian Girl,
"The Rose of CASTLE, "''Ths Talsman," etc,
In 1884 appeared in italian opera in this coun-
try. He was baritone singer Of merit.
Verdi is at work on new opera, the subject
from Shakspeares "Kipg Lear"
Offenbach has written an opera that Is not
at all bouffe, but charming comic work, on
the story of Wilmington and his Cat. A Brit
ish critic wonders il the change in the COM
posers modus opersndi is due to Ihis havin z
married an English woman.
Mr.. Charles Barnard, author of @Csmills,"
''The Soprano" etc., ia engaged upon new
musical story that is said to be of great inter-
est, and devoted to tbe pianoforte and its mu-
sic. It Is entitled CLARA Concerto in Six
Movements.
Two young men In Providence, r. l., have
composed comic operetts, entitled "a Game
of Chess" and it is now UNDERGOING active re-
hearsal preparatory to public performance.
The name of the operetta is significant Of its
character. Each Of the players represents
chessman, either red or white, the principal
singers having the parts of kings. queens
bishops land the, like, and the chorus represent
ing pawns. ..=...-.
Clara Louise Kellogg has the distinction OF
producing Balfs's opera Of "The Talisman"
for the first time with the Euglish words Is
originally written by Arthur Matthison. The
only way its acceptance was secured in London
was by translating the libretto into Italian,
and 'Il Taism4no" had fine success at Drury
Lane under the conduct of Sir Michael Costa,
who completed the score left by his friend the
composer. Miss Kellogg has produced the
work in New York and in Boston, and with
much success, taking herself the part OF
Edith" with Annie Beaumont, an English
mezzo- soprano, who is singing Mrs. Seguin's
roles, as the "Berengaris, and Mr. Mas as
Sir Kenneth" This is the only really English
opera this professedly English opera company
has produced in either city, wo believe; 1t has,
however, added 70 its adaptations from the
Italian that most impossible thing, "Ernani,'
sung for the first time from An Enxlish librstto.
The performance In Boston is called an unu-
sualy fine one, better than is usually given BY
Italian companies. Miss Kellogg has brought
out three debutants in opera, this season; Miss
Beaumont Miss Randall. "a Brooklyn girl and
Miss Marie Cresswold, who sang as the gypsy
queen in the Bohemian Girl In Boston.
The orchestra selected by Wagner for the
representation of his great Nibeungen drama
will consist of $50 Of the best players OF Ger
many, selected from the principal theatres OF
Brunswick, Dessau, Coburg, Meiningen, Wei
mar. Berlin, and Hanover. There will be 10
first yolins, 16 second violins, 10 violas, II
'csll, II double bssses, hsrps, flutes, haut-
boys, 8 elarinets, English horns, bass clari-
nets, 16 horns, 8 trumpets, trombones, and
pairs of tympani.
Dr. o. Bach, of Salzburg has composed sh
opera on the same subject as Rats celebrated
symphony "Lenore"-Burger's ballad Of that
name.
News and Other Items.
There is little girl i'll Yamhill county, Ore
gon, who is perfectly formed except as to her
knees, which are reversed. She is, Of course,
debarred from walking.
"Flora Temple, the famous horse, is 80 years
old, and her kind-hearted owned is doing all
that he can to smooth her pathway to the glue