The New York herald., 1876-07-30
MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC NOTES

Kcly & Leon's MnsIrels have an entirely new OH
for the coming week.
Arrangements between G. Hess and Clara Louise KsL
lorg not yet completed.
Musical and dramatic managers not all prepared
with their programmes for the coming season
The Florcnces will give up Wednesday evening al
wallacks benefit OF the Custer monument fund.
Three weeks will plss over before anything will be
known about the coming musical season, soothsayers
TO the contrary
'our Boys" stl holds tho boards at tho Chestnut
Street Theatre, PHILADELPHIA although it is not SO well
played when it first brought out at this theatre
last winter.
Mr.. sohern has just finished his performances at the
Walnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia Had il not been
tor the sudden illness which interrupted Mr. Sotherns,
engagement the first production Of the play writ
ton by H. J. Byrne and himself would have taken
place at the Walnut Street The title OF the piece
is "a Hornets Nest: or Three Buzzes and Sting"
The London Times pays tho following tribute ths
FIRST OF American sngcrs:-' ono performance o,
Hamlet this welcome II only on account
of an Ophea like Mile. Emma AlbnnL When, in 1873
he second year Of her engagement at Covent Garden
the young Canadian hrst attempted character upon
which Christine Nilsson the original in Paris and Lon
don) may bc said have set her SEAL her laudabc
bition justified by the result. Milo Albani's
ouch her warinest admirers
could have wished Tint there were Short
comings--not in her conception OF the parsonage.
which answered every expectation but In occasional
passages-is true; Mile Aban however, to whom ex-
pcricnce Is n teacher never unhecded, because she
to study for Improvement, has conquered
whatever remained to be conquered, and her Ophea
takes rank with any of her most fnishe achieve
mcnts-even Elsa and tn, which have recently
elevated her high, not merely in tho estimation Of
wagners worshppers but OF connoisseurs in general
Her earlier marked especially by the gentle
associate with the ideal daughter
of Polonius; nevertheless, in the soliloquy Ahtl
quando d'amor, when Hamlet, after approaching
Ophela though to speak, shuns her and disappears.
Mile. Alban gave SO much eloquent express
sion to tho feelings Of the disheartcned
madcn that she fairly reused tho audience,
who applauded unanimously and called her
three times forward. Tho last scene, rs aways-the
OF OphelIas madness and suicide-was the
ing point NJ. Ambrose Thomas, the thoughtful com.
poser who has furnished touching and characteristic
music for the situation renders It, and his Ophea,
whoever she may be, must needs go with him. Here
Mile. Alban leaves no opening for criticism Her de-
livery Of tho address to the syren Bella bonda'-
welded to the plaintive Swedish melody which N.
Thomas has poetically interviewer with the con-
text first as solo for Opheia subsequently, in choral
harmony heard behind the scenes while tho half un
conscious maiden floats listlessly down the stream
simple and touching In equal degrees; and the res
into particulars about which not called upon
againto enter, OF the cabrc. Mile. Albani has
many deserved successes, but few genuine this
engaging and charming Ophelia could hardly b(
imagined