The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1877-01-24
The Opera Of BeIshazzar.

Butter6eld's grand American opera
OF Belshazzar has had two public pre-
sentatlons in this city. On Monday
night Opera hall was we'll filed with in
telligent and appreciat;ve auditors, and
on Tuesday night the hall was crowded
with equally critical listeners. On
both occasions, the unanimous verdict
was that the composition is most ad-
mirably one in every respect, and the
performance fully up to the highest
standard of excellence that an amateur
companyis expected to attain. Indeed,
it was more than equal to the average
of professionals, and in some particu-
lars as perfect as possible.
Gen. Jennison, as Belshazzar, was
superb and, if he will excuse the i'm
piled imputation which the sentence
may be understood to contain, seemed
born for just such king. Mrs. Wilson
was an admirable Antouia; and, if the
part of Nitocritis had been made for
Mrs. Edward Smith, or she for the part,
they could not have been better suited
nor could the character have been more
ably and accarately ly sustained. F. F.
Grow as Festus, and Misses Norton,
Hoyt and McCue as Ladies Of the
court did remarkably well Especially
the ladies, Of course.) The Magi were
represented by Messrs. Bromley, Mar
BILE and Dodge, who followed their IN
structions faithfully and sang and acted
their parts well, but We think this fea-
ture might have been made more at
tractive by bearing in mind that the
magi were priests, held in highest ven
Grafton by people of all degrees, from
king to peasant, and whose conduct was
accordingly most dignifed and naughty.
Cyrus, by Mr.. Raymond, was we'll
personatea throughout. A little more
animation in the acting might have i'm
proved the character, but the singing
could hardly be bettered; and Messrs.
Meacham and Orser, as Persian gene
rails did their parts perfectly. DR.. VIII
liamson's personation of Daniel was
superb, both in regard to the acting
and singing, and j. G. Hawes sang and
acted the part of Zerubbabel in a very
commendable manner, although suffer-
ing with a severe cold. The part of
Shelomith was assigned to Mrs. j. C.
Mcclure, but that lady's health did not
permit of her performing it and CON-
plying with the rules prescribed for
costuming; hence, Miss Emma Graham
was substituted, and, although she had
but day to prepare, she played and
sang the part with singular accuracy,
and elected very general applause.
Miss Katie Lyons, as the child, and
Miss Emma Heising, as the angel, were
both good, and Miss Ella Webster as the
Jewish Princess, personated the char
acter extremely we'll, quite equal to that
of any other performer on the stage,
and sang beautifully. The soldiers and
choruses are important features in this
opera, and we doubt whether even pro.
fessional company could be found who
would do their duty more faithfully,
efficiently and correctly than those who
performed in these characters in this
city. The Jewish choruses especially
have difficult and expressive music to
execute, and unless it is well sung, the
effect is quite contrary to that desired;
but on the occasions mentioned their
singing was certainly very correct and
effective. The Babylonian chorus, al
though their singing is of a different
character and much less important for
effect, because of the attendant scenic
display, sang and acted with proper
spirit and nice appreciation of the
scene in which they were supposed to
be participants. The soldiers, likewise,
sang correctly and acted well; and all
the tableaux were really grand and
beautiful. pictures The hand writing