The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-11-29

The best to my taste is the Trovatore,
And Mario can soolh with q tenor note
The souls in purgatory."
"The moon on the tower shone soft as snow,
And who was not thrilled in the strangest way,
AS we heard him sing while the gas burned low,
"Non ii scardar d me-"
Bulwer, otherwise known as Owen Meredith.
or the vioeroy OF India, Is o poet, and when he
wrote the above stanzas. we have no doubt that,
in his mind, he paid very little attention to the
set ideas and critical ma 1nerism Of the classics
who sneer at this opera, Verdi's chef d1nDre, 80
full of beautiful and soul.inspiring harmony.
1t was presented last night at the Varieties
Theatre to al audience that reminded US OF the
palmiest days Of the opera. Not seat was va.
cant, and how deliciously were those seats flied
The youngest and beat were there. as in "tbe
| olden golden time," when the Orleans Theatre,
| and later, the Opera House, were tableaux by
| themselves, and when the critical eye and the
| admirer of the beautiful in nature and art went
ao the theatre as much to enjoy the sight Of
the beauties in the hall as to appreciate the
beauties of the great composers and the talent OF
| the artists.
We could not help regrettlng, as we listened
| to the magnificent strains, and beheld the
splendid array Of youth snd beauty that there
| should not be more ''set off in the audience.
In old times the ladies never the ught OF going to
the opera without having their hair dressed as
for ball and wearing the Costume de
rigueur." The low-necked dresses, twell
rounded white arms, environed by the pride,
pomp and circumstance that makes lowell
ess lovelier, all contributed to make the
opera thing Of art and realized dream OF fancy.
| These days will come again, we doubt not, If We
| may judge from what saw last night; in the
| meanwhile we are happy to see that New Orleans
has lost none of its taste and appreciation for
music, and the opera none OF lis attractions.
| Regarding the performance OF " Frovatore
by the PappeDheim troupe, we have now to cou-
fess to an agreeable disappointment. We nave
been deceived 30 frequently heretofore by no.
| madic opera companies coming here heralded by
an enthusiastic Northern press that we natural.
ly Entertained great fears that the Pappenhem
company, whilst it might present one Tor two nj
mus) neritorious subject, would in TIE main
manifest nothing but medipcrity. Our first sur
prise last evening occurred when we cast glance
at the orchestra, which consisted of forty mu-
sicians, and whose part of the task during the
eve ming satisfied US that when they shall grapple
the classical hafmOnit . ct Meyerbeer tonight
| there will be no room for serious criticism.
The first act had not cused when it became
| evident that Pappenheim, Adelaide Pnilhpps,
Charles Adams and ragiiapetra had not recov-
cred from the fatigue OF their iourney from
Chicago which city they left on sunday nigh.
| Pappenheim ls physically q magnificent, hand
some young woman, and sr'is'ically tfor there IL
no question that she is an artist OF high order
| posset SEES warm sonorous and long voice,
trained and cultivated for the falcon roles, with
| ouly q elight weakness in the lower register,
| which was not so manifest at the close OF the
| opera, when. also, this lady did not avoid the
higher notes Of the score as she had done In the
| first act.
or Mr.. Adams, after listening to the andante
| OF the romaDzt OF the third act, the Judgment
| ofeverybody Was that he was a cultivated singer,
| and we have but one regret to express, that ia,
| that he should have consented to repeat the
| allegro. Mr.. Adams will certainly agree with us
that he sang with great eff1rt and that his voice
| was not in condition 10 justify him in indulgpg
| In musical gymnastics. He is what the Italians
have gracefully named tenor di g7accia.
While we recognize his talent as q singer
we must defer an appreciation Of his
voice. which in the higher register pos
sesses remarkable qualities. Mr.. Tagliapietra,
| bdrhondnt; voice rather metallic; sings with
taste and ardor, but somewhat rega rdless Of the
score. Mr.. Tagliapetra received an encore after
| the andante Of his solo.
| We had had the pleasure already Of hearing
| Mics Phillips in concert, but never before in
opera The role OF Azuoena has found few per-
| feet interpreters in the world, owing to the
| scarceness Ut pure contrato voices. Miss
| Phillips is q mezzo soprano, who redeemed her.
| self most admirably in the prison scene, for
It'll owicg to fatigue, she manifested weakness in
| the gypsy scene. Bu5 we must pause in our
| ference to this lady, to say that we have never
seen the great part Of Azucena acted more mag
nl6cently than it was last night by her. Miss
| Phillips is magnetic.
Our criticism is written too hastily to do Justice
to the singers individually, and we must choose
| another opportunity to do so. AS q WHOLE the
| performance was most satisfactory, and whatever
| defects were apparent at the beginning Of the
opera were compensated for by the close, which
was charmingly rendered Tonight we are to
have the s'Huguenots." This signifies another
| full house.
| ST. CHARLES THEATRE.
Macallister in magic again tonight, when an
other hundred presents will be distributed among
| the audience. At both performances yesterday
| The theatre was crowded. At the matinee the
| sewing machine was won by Miss A. Courpert,
| NO. 261 Camp street, and at night the sde-board
by MIR. W. Il. Long, No. 219 Sixth street.
MILTON MOBILES
will again sppear at the Academy tonight in the
"Ph9nix."
| Read Navra's invitation to the China Palace.
| Read Navra's invitation to the China Palace.
THE ARREST OF JOHN TILLEHMAN.