The New York herald., 1879-10-11
ADJUSTMENTS.

Ncnhi'innl .ics w .............M. VI. Castlemary
The Strakosch Italian Opera troupe sang 'faust
last evening Brooklyn Academy OF Mnsic
an audience which about half filled the house 1t was
not an enthusiastic assemblage. and It's applause
was judicious ana bestowed only when fairly won
The feature of the occasion the appearance of
Mile La Blanche Miss Blanche Davenport). who was
cast for AIarguerta. She pleasantly but
quietly received, and her audience seemed little dis
posed to accord her recognition until they had
tested her powers artistic. 1t may be said that
she quaihedly successful; she made good
impression. but her success WAS not instantaneous
nor absolute; she did much that Was r"od. bat
nothing that was marvellous. Her voS ssso-
prano of fine but uneven quality. Her Nrg-
lister is good and nearly all OF her higher Stss
are full. rich and round. But there are
some in both registers which are weak dspro2or-
tionstey to the rest. and there unpleasant vi
braton in her upper notes when they are used in
crescendo. She is not always true in pitch. occa-
sionally fatting seriously, as in cal campo il
fratc last evening" in the third act Rccitative pas
sages she does badly and her phrasing lacks
artistic spirit, but though these are serious
drawbacks to perfect vocazation they exist
only in q small degree; they are not always
present and are seldom noticeable, being merely
casional blemishes. and often resulting from
vousness or carelessness. We have thus plainly
stated her faults, observed under trying circum-
stances likely to show them promincntly-the ner-
OF first performance before critical au-
dience. Her strong points were many and crcdita-
BILE; her voice sweet and flexible and possesses
pee uliariy sympathetic quality OF tone which is
used most judicously and effectively. Her weak
notes are few and the balance are strong pure aud
OF prime quality. She has. apparently. u natural
musical instinct, and has been under good masters.
She adds greatly to the effect Of her vocal efforts by
of her fathers name Thus, with faults
which can be- eraaicased and good good points points
in the fact that she scored a SUCCESS. but not
triumph Her entrts and opening phrases were good
and finish The duet with Faust and tho passage
beginning ''Ti voglio idolatrsr" was
by bi! Of acting that, together. made
it remarkable. The closing solo in act
third another fairly success for the lady.
The Jewel Song not well done the phrasing
being poor and the melody poorly interpreted. All
OF her music in the prison scene was admirably ex.
ecuted and with touching expression OF tone. Had
all her work been up to this standard would have
been triumph indeed. and. as che combines SO
large q share of dramatic with vocal ability and has
youth in her favor, study ought to do great things
for her yet.
NJ Customary who sang the role of Mephistopheles.
has powerful voice that has been well trained. but
the quality is not always pleasing. and It lacks
roundness and finish in leeato passages. He sang
and acted with great spirit last evening but he
often a semitone Fat OF the orchestra. HIS lower
tones not full as they might be, but he
possesses excellent notes in the middle regis
ter and is painstaking artist in all he undertakes.
He is good addition to the troupe. out not
strong the announcements made previous to his
coming indicated. Miss Lancaster WAS u thoroughly
good Siebel and Mr.. Gottschalk and Signor
La4zarni we'll cast Valentine and Faust.
Both gentlemen have improved greatly since last
and serviceabe artists to the troupe
Miss Arcone Marta and did snail part we'll
The orchestra WAS ample in numbers and OF good
material. 1t would be much improved il the brass
and reeds not allowed to predominant
stantly the strings, they did last evening"
and general toning down of power would add to
their effectiveness accompaniment to the voices
The chorus did their work well. but allowed to
sing of tune at times, and triae out of time.
The voices good, and they only need frmer
hand over them to make them sharper and prompter
III their music The Soldiers chorus. was we'll done.
As whole the opera went wcll-very much
better than we have heard it rendered by more am
bilious companies. but st,ll it is open to improve
chronicle only pleasant results in criticis!ng per-
plainly where they exist and the result often sho
that they capable Of prompt remedy.
THE DRAMATIC WORKS OF Mr.. DION DOU-
CICAULT.
Mr. Dion Boucicault has been working as q drsm-
atist for forty years. His first play written
when he ut school, at DIR. Jameson's. Brent
ford London, for performance ut . school display.
1t was called tho "Old Guard" He brought 1t out
subsequently, in Isi2 under the title of "Napoleons
Old Guard" Many actors have made the part Of