The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-05
AMUSEM ENTS.

ITALIAN OPERA At THE ACADEMY or MUSIC.
largo and fashionable audience assembled last
night TO listen to the welcome strains OF Verdi
The opera selected for representaton by an almost
entirely new company tnew 10 New York pubiicl was
"un Ballo In Maschcran II has been played hero 80
frequently we need not give The plo, work well
known this liz.
We must confess IL u relief 10 listen once moro
10 music which did keep every nerve on the rack
that some startling orchestral effect would produced
where ono least expected IL. Much as we admire the
greater part OF the Emusic OF the future" that
have heard OF late we to a love and ondncss for
the music OF the present and Tho past, which has
given. and We trust VIII give, pleasure to millions.
We cannot Afford to lay aside the operas Beethoven,
Mcyerbecr l;ossini and Verdi matter how rich the
treasures OF tho culture opcrasn may be-
The cast OF the opera oows;-Riccardo,
signor celada Rena,o, Signor Dertolasi; Amelia,
Sgnora Pamieri ulrca Sgnoriua Rambcl; Oscar,
the page signorna Marck; Samuel, Signor Dial Negro.
srnora Palmcr has been heard before In New York,
and last night confirmed the favorable in preston shc
then made Her voice IS somewhat worn, but sge
warns 10 her work, and was received with much APP
pause, especially IN tho duet OF the second with
kiccardo, "iuo 10 sto" The success OF the evening,
however, was tho tenor Sgnor teiada Though
NJ nrst suffering from nervousness apparently,
hc very soon rallied and proved himself an
artist, and genuine lie has u very huc
voice, which hc knows how use. His Singing OF the
charming ~. Scherzo, cd 0 ioa' brought down tho
house. and in this all solos he was most en-.
Enthusiastically cncored. Indeed, the audience seemed
IN mood 10 encore everything, prov ny that Italian
opera, when wen gwen, can be appreciated. The
artists III this company have the great advantage OF
singing well together All the concerted pieces went
admirably. We wish tho orchestra would not play
que SO loud especially In tho passages marked pians
sino IN the score AT times they almost drowned tho
voices by their loud playing.
EAGLE THEATRE
Anna Dickinson on the metropolitan stage.
took place last night at the Eagle Theatre
1t apparently excited very little general inter.
was plenty of vacant space in the house. gor critics
there was double interest in the performance last
night, Tor Miss Dickinson be Judged IN her dual
character OF dramatist and actress, aud we must
frankly confess that In both relations she Is a
failure. With commendablc modcsty "Thc Crown of
Thorns" Is set down the play bills as an ..ackuowL
edged masterpiece" 1t does not state however. who
acknowledged 1t TO be masterpiece. which IS wei,
for the reputation of these people, IL over they had
any. The simple truth OF tho matter is that "The
Crown OF Thorns" has nothing very novel or orp,na,
in except tho very questionable taste shown IN The
selection Of tho title with its to things
too sacred 10 be dragged through the slime OF tho
theatre. Every thought ana situation the play
Is directly t-aceaDlc TO similar situations in
other plays Both Shakespeare and Tom Taylor
mcnt. The dialogue OF the play Is very prosy,
and the speeches, as RUE arc OF great length.
skerhcd or created and We cunno, roa nlIas ans
bright or vigorous thought which cnlvened tho
inlermiLabc palaver OF the animated costumes that
occupied the stage for three hours II 1t had
not been for the substitution OF Mr. Arnott
10 play tho part Of King Henry VIII. orig.
able dismiss the whole Of Miss D,ckinson's company
with short ana not very complimentary phrase Mr.
Arnotts performance last ngnt was however OF a
na
did not appear to know his lncs and
IT difficult to bclievc that no WAS
seriously cndeavorinE TO create tho role Henry VIII
lie certainly suggested more the appearance of Carry
knsclla masqueradins IN "a blue SILK costume
bonnet Of Tho latest fashion. than ,be
ideal OF the blum King Harry Whatever his Intention
was tho audience took his performance excellent
Joke; and IN the serious parts especially laughed
heartily at his grotesque appearance and sti moro
grolcsquc acting. Or Miss Dickinson we have little
10 say that Is complimentary and therefore wish to
say US little as possible In the hrst acts her voice
was scarcely audible through the house, and
| her acting was marked by weakness and
a certain gauchcrie which results from her
| slight acquaintance with stage business. She
made courageous efforts 10 convey her meaning 10 the
publc but Tor strong minded woman, sne
| is burdened with little mincing manncrsms
| quite out OF keeping with the character OF
reaoinr, strange TO say, IS sadly ,monotono us
ana detective and leaves everything to DO desired In
power and succeeded better IN conveying clear idea
| Of the passions she sought TO express than
in any other scene in The play. But even
here tho effect married by an ailectatou
in the pronunciation OF many words which must have
grated strangely ON the ears OF the cultivated part OF
the audience IL Is inexcusabo that SO learned blue
stocking should set the bad example Of
incorrect pronunciation on tho stage, ana per-
mt members OF her company to mako such
mistakes as proDouncing ''Bayonne" "Bayyong, y
| "dissnulaionn ''dssimilatonn and .sdueD ..Iew ),
II educated people are going to reform the
! the poor players" so bad example. II this MIS-
pronunciation be permitted on tho stage in few years
performing. Miss Dickinson Will continue her per-
formancc of Anne Boleyn during th1 week.