, 1877-12-11
THE ENGLISH OPERA,

"Thc Chimes Of Normandy {" Les C1Aches de
Corneyille VI, by Robert Planqucttc, one Of tic
youngest OF tho French composers, WHO has al.
ready won nane and favor seldom accorded to
a composer after the production Of his first
opera. From tho initial performance Of the
work, last May, at Les Folles Drama.iqaes.
Paris, It's popularity was assured. and It Is
atated that It will monopollze the stage Of that
ont satGs s e. 1f o se Sr ,'t bss eG"pF En-
work Of Mr.. Myron l.. Cooncy, formerly music
al editor Of the New York Nera,d-at the Fifth
Avenue Theatre, New York, Oct. u, and met
with unqualified success.
The stury Ut tic opera Is substantially a.
follows: Tho 4NayYuis Of pKlesui {Cast1c(, who
hal been III cxilu stnco childhood, returns to
bis native vllaEe during the progress OF q fair.
The tlrst scene h!sc1uses number OF village
'1oa:!ss lA1Iss Mclvtllc|, who arrives In time TO
vlnlicatc herself anl turn the tables On flsr
traducers: It .appears that oaspard tslorton)
lntcnds giving his Niece, trnaatnd Mrs. sceuto),
however, objects to this arrangement, siIcc, II
shu ,narrlca ut all, sl,o claims TINT ste Is bound
to No6h. Afore rrurner) for saying her life. To
the Servants ot liz III a ara, md ora ionnS
by -4NyHontlte This second act is occupied
With tho disclosure pf the old mtser, ('al,nrti,
playing the part Of ghost in the haunted castlc
of VtllcFo and who becomes crazy with the fear
Of losing hla treasures Concealed In tho caatle
In tho thlFd aet tho c!latcau Is restored to Its
original spiendor, md tho Narquis takes pos
session as u,astcr. Tho villagers arc Invited to
granl fctc, and 0dsrard is Sill crazy. Migaon.
factotulu. After loVe'accnc between tho Mar.
qnts and Gertnafe 1t turns out that tho latter IL
thg ghttul I'elFcss and tbe true claimant Of the
cedcd to lly,.onttif. Tho opera closes with the
reconciliation OF all parties.
The principal uuuiters-tl,oso which hare be-
comv popular-ar0 ~ follows: Act 1.-iiondu
ca5:Doy r :' f" Turnerj: daes fs segu'a
"Tho Legsul u liz Chiincs," tiie i 8om s Of s2s
opera (slrs. scgalu),, rcpcated IN the second and
iAltss Melville md el,orus). Act Ii.-Chorus,
"kntghts Of Oll;'' Qulntcttc, J" Robins Lost u
(Atiss Melville, Mrs. Scgun, Custlu, Turner, md
scaul.); song, "Yes Or No" (sirs. seguin):
il !liguu.st:s Is Ny Name " and s:Cidcrsong "
{ailss Melyllle}, md watz.rondo {Air. Turner.
The Instrumentation IS very Vraecfci mil
searkltng, and tho numbers sso hare cited arc
work XIII ii tcality % o!ds pssa bctweep u'' opera, s
cont1uc md upcra-bouflc. aud Is never tire.
some.
The Performance 1ast evening was in erery
great cxiullity: mid, bcstdcs, Is capital actrrss,
7ul1 oi grace md .riyaci.y. slrs. aeguip il as
charming as ever, both yocally and Grammatical
jetug especially noteworthy both " to arriuess
and feeling. Our uil-tme fayorite, Nr. Castle,
play Of lis ineii.luous tones, alltl, though stiIl
SOMEWHAT stacy. actcl with com uincntabIo sp!rit.
Mr. Turncr was, 10 usual, sonrwllat sIfn In
walk aud gesture (though ho warmed ur cor. a.
siderauiy IL tho Inst uctj; but sang viii quito
pleasing effect, Tho patt OF the ntatr vas e.
cruted With much power BY air. Morton; aud
Mr. Seguln was, VI course, very funny as thr
great Sheriff: THO minor parts were Will Oiled;
fho chorus, though ANAL, 10 fres and eiiicient:
and the orclestra did their work fairly,
It would b. useless to Iartlcuiarlzo the yarl-
GUS c,,rorcs, Us atlost every number was called
Tor sceol,d tinlo,-eacs, pro,niucnt member OF
the cast rcrctyit,C illlv sharv OF recaiis.~ond
aii being sumu,oued before tic xurtaiu Al thc
cioso OF tho tlrst and second actg, Miss Mel.
snnT t.nvs ..f,ol i,ear tl,a rrnte asr{,, anIl
Uavt. H. win an ern,ttaitN Shower If hir,. .tIEn @
warhIfnTs. - ""''"'
'rh" neitcncc o,vtnr In stronv connt.,.o,,~.,-
tious. WIS not 40 ntlns.russ ~ Il sI,onld harc
hect' hit tht. h,,t,aes tunn.t faI fntmnrnva I'm.
In, t},o ro,r nirnnr ~ ~, wal, ,s i T. ,s,.'