National Republican., 1877-11-13
.Ien. at i:Oj p. m., adjourned.
An USLMEN rs.
The Nationai-The Hess English Opera Com
pRny.

iHe NutlOnui-Ahe ness EhkhNh optra SUh-
pRny.
Last evening tho musc-loving public Of
Washington appeared in full numbers at the
National Theatre to greet the renowned Hess
English Opera Company, and to Sec and hear the
new American p.ina donna, Miss Melville. The
performance was French comic opera in Eng
lish. The work chosen for representation WIS
Ambroise Thomas SONG dune Mutt d'Etc,
Of which an English version was made known
under the title Of "A Summer Nights Dream"
The brisk and sprigh:ly English version of the
librctto is by Mr.. NJ. A. COonoy, to whom wo
are probably indebted for the introduction Of
reference TO civil service reform at Wind
sor Castle, in the time of Elizabeth. 1t intro
duccd one artist unknown to local audiences.
unknown as q songstress, at least and it
brought before them once moriscvcrLl much
liked performers, whose reputation rests
upon firm grounds. The stranger is Miss
Emclie Melville, and the impression
she wrought was cminently favorable. Miss
| Melville has u voice of considerable brilliancy
and power, and her execution Of ilorid music
Is precise, lacile, and highly effective. The
better-knOwn singers were Mcssrs. Castle,
| Peakcs, and Turner, and Mrs. Zelda Seguin,
and it is needless TO say that their welcome
was hearty, and the encouragement bestowed
upon their efforts frequent and cordial.
| Everybody should therefore hear "A Summer
| Nights Dream" once, at all events, while II Is
possible that the more thoughtful and critical
dilettdnte will not rest contr mt with the cnjOy.
ment of single rendering sf the opera. 1t
portrys Shakespeare as drunkard, aud
the whole plot turns upon the efforts OF Queen
| Elizabeth to reclaim the poet fGUm his Ii &
ways by coming To him ~ guardian angel IN
u dream. Some love passages between Lord
Ldtinlcr and Lddy Wirtg arc grated on the
main narrative, and some scenes OF ebricty,
with Sir john ia staff as their hero, arc car.
Rcd On during the progress Of the act. The
overture is iull OF happy hits OF orchcStratiUn
although the thrilling of muted vinins never
| tails to remind ono of Mcndcl sUhn. The
first act includes, with less noteworthy pieces
u pretty and piquint duct between Oiiriu and
Elisabeth, trio in the sans vein
n tunctul though somewhat conventional
tenor air. ("Dcar love, e'cr to th,e,"J and
II drinking song oil decided brio Act the see.
Oud, which is by lar the finest act ol the three
is interesting from beginning to end. The
music allOtt to Shakespeare, aud interrupted
by the GOIttrcs Of E.t=dbeih, Is excy cyedinsly
poetiCal and is handled with duintincsa
which would have bGitted DrliOz, while the
accomplishments throughout - which Mr.,
Thomas seems to have imitat, Il, in after years
IL on the point OF drowning herself ont OF spite
toward FHmt-aIc wonderfully ethereal in
quality ANA as scilsuOus Us Hnytaing Gounvd
! lEts ever written. The third uUL is Iceblc, and
| the Introduction OI the well remembered
trio from Aubcr's Grown Diamonds
ctmnot bc regarded rs injudicipus. FruLl
this h'sty review 1t wrlI be um.
, derstOOd that "a summer Nights Dream
Ougnt ~ be heard by ali music lovers. Its
rendering afforded real pleasure. Miss Mel.
vlllc was Qaeeh Elizabeth, Mrs. Sesuin Oirid
Mr. Castle Shakespeare, Mr.. Peakrs ElstGp
and Mr.. Turner Ldtimcr Eti.dJeths Song ol
| tho Ogre" in tho first act was rcdcmaudrd
and 30 was the trio, and loud applause broke
0ut again and again during IhJ hCcJnd nct
In act the third EiEubch's llord o ening aii
was also cncOrcd, and the iuterpOlatcd tri,
had TO pc sung anew. The representation, IN
bnef, although hardly characterized by ~
much finish rs the opera exacts, was slnoOtl
und agreeable. The orchestra and chvru,
were fairly efficient ana the sGenery ant
dresses were fresh amd appropriate.
Tonight, Tomorrow nignt and Thursday
night will bo presented Robert Plauquctte,
o. era comique, The Cnimes of Normandy,
for the iirst time la this country. The Eng
lish librettO, wnich has been arrdnS Scd by Mr.
MyrOn A. CoOney, deserves mention, lUr in IL |,
retained all the sparkle Of tho Origna
without any OF the sensclrss stuff that /,
usually to bo i0und IN qddst. English trlnsla
tiOnS. The east includes the entire com nIrlny
The management deserves ENCOURAGEMENT for
Its attempt to supply novelties. Instead OF
the same hackueyed list OF opsra5 that we
have bean hearing lor the last generation, we
have already heard two new works
Madcap Violet.
The play Of the above title will be given OF
Thursday and Friday evenings next ut tn,
Opera House. 1t is dramatiA.tion by Mis-,
Ella Stockton, who will sustain the principal
role Madcdpy of the play. A well reheaI Iscd
amateur company of this city will assist Mis-.
stockton. Tickets for sale ut SolomOns 4
Chapmans.
| Theatre Coinique.
A crowded house. last night was the result O
the manager giving such good and full per