The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-06-06
Am Us EN- EkTS.
An Operate Venture BY some New singers.

An interesting and somewhat remark
able performance took place last evening At the
Academy OF Music. A company of singers,
quite unknown TO fame, and most Of them so
unused to the stage that they may very properly
be classed a. amateurs, made bold, and as the
event proved, a quite successful attempt at
Italian opera in an English dress.
The opera chosen for the occasion was Belini's
"Norma." aud this was doubtless selected as
the one best calculated to display the qualities
OF Miss Gertrude Corbett, the prima donna, both
actress aud singer. The principal char
acters were distributed as follows: Norma. Miss
Gertrude Corbett; Addlgisd, Miss Alice Hosmer (;
Polio, Mr.. Christian Fritsch; Ororeso, Mr.. A.
Blum.
Miss Corbett and Miss Hosmer aud Mr.. Fritsch
have sung In choirs In this city, the latter gentle
man has often been heard In concert, and Mr..
Blum made favorable Impression as the Herald
In Waener's Lohengrin" when that work was
last prod uoed here.
young lady from one of the Western States
who has received her musical education In this
country, and who was heard some time since
with Ole Bull In one OF his concert tours.
The selection Of the character OF Norma with
which to begin her operate career, was an am
bilious one, but the lady did not overrate her
talents In making that choice. She has COM
handing figure, handsome and strong face,
mark cd dramatic talent, and great force as well
"a grace OF gesture, and a large and nne voice.
All OF these possessions are Of prime i'm portanoe
In tho representative Of the Druid Queen.
As for her singing IL was for the most part
able aud excellent The Cdstd DiuI, that crucial
test Of singers, and stumbling Llock TO all except
the greatest artists, served to Snow, as 1t never
fails to do, all the strong well as all the weak
points Of the singer. The preceding recitaive was
OF style, the cavatina itself, though on the
whole well sung. was broughtsdown to the level
Of the method Of the singer instead OF the singer
Raising herself to the level OF the cavatina. Had
IL never been better sung than on this occasion
IL certainly would never have attained its
present reputation. 1t requires that every note
of the yocalists voice should be perfect In
purity OF tone, and every phase delivered In a
broad. simple. NOBLE, and elevated style In
fact, after the grand manner OF which ritens
was the last representative that we have had.
In all the subsequent parts of the opera,
especially In the more dramatic portions, Miss
Coroetts efforts were most praisewortby, and II
WAS notably the case that where the action be-
came the most Intense she was at her best, and
where she was simply vocalist she appeared to
least advantage, since her powers as an actress
were apparently superior to tnose a. a singer.
We venture to say that few debutaDtes have
ever given so fervent and Impressive a nrst
representation OF this character as did Miss Cor
Miss Hosmer's efforts were well directed. Her
voice cert inly IL too nasal and harsh In quality
to oe p,s;asin No.. out shs sang and acted with
Polio also acquitted himself well-giving an
earnest representation OF the character OF the
unpleasant Potho-that bugbear OF all tenor
singers, but which by bis manly style Mr.. Fritsch
redeemed from It's usual feeoleness.
As to the other details OF the representation
We have only words OF praise to speak. Tho
conductor was MIR. Caryl florio, gentleman of
rare musical iutuitIous, and born artist. No
performance that came from under "A baton held
| by him could possibly be slovenly or M done,
and It was no surprise, therefore, to md both
| the orchestral and chorus parts given with a
carefulness. accuracy. and nnish far In advance
OF what We are accustomed To at the Academy.
The enterprise was one that, by the obscurity
OF the names OF those who took part IN II, did
not seem specially to address itself te public
favor: IT was ali the more surprise, therefore,
to mud the house entirely Gled.
Many pretentious company with a cast OF
veterans has failed to do as well as this little
band of aspirants for academic honors.
The season Is to be a short one. aud Norma"
Is to be repeated on Wednesday and Friday
evenings and at the saturday matinee.