The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-02-12
The opera-marriaSe or Figaro.

SnLteTeQ WIN an OVerWnelmlnS auQlence,
composed of the beauty, fashion, and intelli-
gence Of Richmond. Not even the
grand galaxy of fair ladies and gal
liant gentlemen that greeted the re-
| noWned actor Edwin Booth eaualled the
scene last night, and the enchanting strains
of the sparkling opera will long linger 10 the
memory of hundreds who were there to
testify their appreciation Of the wonderful
vocal powers of Miss Kellogg, Madame Van
Zlndt, Mrs. Seguin, Mr.. Peaks, Mr.. Carlton,
and the other stars of this superb company.
The evening was all that could be desired,
and there was nothing to mar the exquisite
pleasure of the occasion.
The opera is without q regular plot, but it
abounds In humorous situations and sparkling
equivnque. The leading characters are the
Count Almaviva and his Countess Figaro,
the Counts valet; Susanna, the Countess's
| waiting woman and page, Cherubino-a
| toerabIy full.grown one for at the opening
Of the opera while the Count is making over
lures 10 Susanna, the page is remarkably
warm in his devotion to the Countess, his
mistress. There are two other charac.
ters of some prominence, Bartolo and Mar
celina, an aged couple, disappointed in
love. the one having been rejected by Su-
sanna. and the other having failed to excite
| the tender passion in Figaro; facts little 10
be wondered at. since it tarns out in the
SEQUEL that they are the parents of Figaro.
The main incidents-or situations, rather
arise out Of the galantries of the Count to-
| wards Susanna and the sham appointments
| she mskes to meet him. On one occasion
she manages to substitute his own wife for
herself and On another Cberubino, the page,
disguised in female apparel. This page the
Count had previously, as he supposed, dis
patched to the seat Of war, from observing
| the familiarity existing between him and the
Countess for although himself inconstant,
he was sensitive enough about his own
honor. This and other contretemps, how
ever, result in the pages recall: in the hearty
reconclenent of the Count and Countess,
and in the nuptials OF i caro- and Susanna.
The Lbretto Of THE Marriage ofEigaro"
| is q version of Beaumarchas's celebrated
comedy, "Le Marriage de Eigura,' and was
| written by talented Jew, who took a fancy
| to pass for Christian priest, and called him.
self the Able da Pouti. M,z,rt is said to
have chosen this subject when ordered by
| the Emperor Joseph to compose an opera for
the stage of Vienna. about four years after
| the appearance of his "Entfuhrung aus dem
Serail.' It's success was most decided, even
at rehearsal. According to the account left
by Michael Kelly, the enthusiasm both of the
singers and of the orchestra rose to pitch
| that must seem cutie incredible to those
accustomed to colder mode of expressing
satisfaction. Nor did the result disappolnt
the expectations of the Viennese artists-so
great was the delight of the audience on its
| first representation that scarcely single
piece of music was allowed to pass without
an enc0re-in consequence Of which the ope.
| "a was SO eXtravaglntly prolonged that the
| Emperor thought himself obliged to interfere,
and commanded that nothing for the future
should be called for second time in the
course of the same evening.
| In the first act we we're introduced, in
chamber in Count AmaViVa's castle, to
Figaro, represented by Mr.. Peskes, and Su-
sanna, sustained by Miss Kellogg, who was
| trimming q hat with flowers. The scene
opens with duet, at the conclusion of
which Figaro sings his song, "Haply, your
ILordship" Mr.. Peakes was in splendid
voice, and acted his part to perfection.
Figaro was just the character that suited him,
and throughout the entire opera, whether
| in duet, solo, or choruses, be acquitted him.
self most ceverly. But Peakes always does
that.
or the great prima donna, Miss Kellogg,
too much cannot be said She was suffering
from severe cold-indeed, her hoarse.
ness was very percep.iblc-but, moth.
| ing daunted, she sang out her
notes with warmth and expression
that thrilled her admir!ng audience. ESpe-
cially was she attractive in the scene in The
, first act where she endeavors to hide Che
rubino by throwing cloak over him as she
| Count enters, and is afterwards herself placed
1 l. ri nrp6icampnt Cy hen Ills.
covered by Basilio, who unexpectedly enters
the chamber in search Of him. Again did
! Miss Kellogg excel herself in Susanna's
| SONG. when she cunnipgly turned
Cherubno into girl by attiring the
little rogue in female costume. The audi
ence was completely carried away with de-
light, and Miss Kellogg herself was COM
| peIled to give vent 10 her amusement and
| pl assure by right hearty laugh. We have
never seen her enter so heartily into the
soirit OF an opera before. In the second act the
| duet with Madame Van Zlndt, the Countess,
received q hearty encore, anQ It was repeat
ed. Quite q happy little incident occurred
at this moment. Some one in the audience
threw bouquet to the stage, and Madame
| Van Ilndt came to the front, picked 1t up,
and returning gracefully landed it to Su.
sanua. Miss Kellogg modcstlY endeayor-
cd to return the pretty Offering to
her competitor, but size would not
receive it. Taking their seats at the
table again, they repeated the duet,
during which Miss Kellogg took the prettiest
flower from the nosegay and ccQuettishly
handed it to Madame Van Zandt, who was
compelled to receive it amid the most deaf
euing applause from the audience. This
little episode and the duet combined made
the gem of the evening.
Susanna's song, in the last act, was also
most char rmingly rendered, and she was
heartily enc0red.
Mrs. Seguu represented Cherubino, the
page-and surely she was the sweetest page
In the world. Her very first song, Where
the Spring Wept on Earth all her Showers
was sung with great skill and effect; but ln
the second act, when she rendered her solo,
l"Thougbt cannot reach thee," she fascinated
every body within sound Of her clear, rich
contralto voice, and an enthusiastic encore
compelled her TO repeat her song. Time
seems rather to improve her than otherwise.
We have never heard her sing as sweetly
before, and her pretty costume, graceful
acting, and the we'll timed accompaniment
Of the orchestra rendered it next to the gem
of the evening. Miss Kellogg has q trea-
sure in Mrs. Seguin, and we hope she may
visit Richmond on many more such memo
rable occasions.
Mr.. Carlton, The Count, had very diff
cult part in the opera, but he showed him.
self to be thorough master of the situation,
and added not little to the enjoyment of the
evening. He acted with astonishing self
possession and ease, and tested bis rich bari.