The Portland daily press., 1879-05-14
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.
BOSTON P1NAFoRE COMPANY.

| matinee. There will also be but two evening
performances, viz: tonight and Thursday.
| The arrangements for half fare on the roads
| will bring in large number of the musical peo-
pie from out of the city. Trial by Jury will be
| presented in addition to Pinafore.
THE HAYDN CONCERT.
On Thursday evening the Haydn Association
will give the first performance in this country of
Mr.. G.. A. Mcfarren's oratorio, ST. John the Bap
tist 1t is an important and thoroughly well
written composition, evidencing learning, in
vention and genuine musical inspiration. The
| composer is justly held in esteem as one of the
| foremost of living English musicians and has
| every claim to an attentive and admiring hear
| ing. His system of oratorio composition, as
represented in st. John the Baptist, is founded
| upon the high and lasting traditions of Bach
! and of Handel; mixed with these severer
| canons OF musical science, are found traits of
| modern theory and feeling; and the effect of
the work, as a whole, is of great Judgment,
| sound taste and artistic instinct, apt to seize
| promptly upon the most direct and telling
! forms of expression. Mr.. Macfarren's work is
| original in the best way; he accepts the aid of
established models, but does not hesitate to
| write at times with true ndi0et6; with GER
| tain Inconsistencies and simple way of reach
| ing the desired effect that is very interesting
| In the present notice-written with the pur-
| pose OF suggesting to our music-loving public
| how rare and fresh a pleasure the Haydn con-
| cert offers to them-but brief sketch of the
| work will be given, as the report of the per-
| Torrance in Fridays PRESS will be full one
| The text is taken from the Scriptures, with
| the exception of the chorale 'Iy soul praies
| the Lord" of which the originel setting
| by DR.. Croft, reappears as the theme of nota-
| BILE fugue. sThe overture" says the compos-
| Ell" suggests the state of expectancy that pre-
| coded the Advent In it is heard the silver
| trumpet call with which the Jews hailed the
new year; aud the music, continually expressing
the longing of the people for the promised
Messiah, figures the manner in which their
hope pointed His coming, with princely pomp,
heroic honors, or prophets praise, The char
| acters are allotted as follows: st. John the
| Baptist (Baritone) Mr.. J. B. Coyle; Herod An
| tipas (Tenor) Mr. A. E Pencil; Salome (daugh-
ter of Herodias) Miss Nettie Miliken; Nara
tor Mrs. A. E. Cloudy. In the employment of
the narrator, the composer has followed the
example of Bach in his Passion Music the con-
timing the recital to one voice gives unity to the
work, and takes away the too direct personality
OF certain sacred expressions. A few principal
points may be noted here for especial apprecia-
ton: the song Repent We, with its finely con-
trasted episodes, and robust Handelian close;
the dialogue for baritone and chorus, What
shall we do then? the noble fugue upon Crofts'
tune; the picturesque dance music of Salome,
WIltUcu Will LtUllS REGARD W uI6 SERIOUS nature
of the oratorio and with skilful adaptation of
Oriental melody and harmonic modes; the bra
yufd air OF Salome; some well-taken points in
the ensuing dialogue; the beautiful tenor air,
Alas my daughter; the quartette, Blessed are
they-a number which will become useful and
favorite for choir performance; and the great
closing chorus which is an exceedingly must
cian-like and well-wrought ending to the noble
oratorio.
The performers are well known to their au-
1Ianpn Enxla hi J,a1i tive If Ia,,t
OF the Haydens, as i'll his individual efforts,
has identified himself with the musical pro-
gress of Portland; Mr.. Pennell has the advan-
tage OF having studied the oratorio with Mr..
and Mme Macfarren-the latter well known
as successful London singer; and Miss Mil
liken's clear, fresh soprano, and Mrs. Goudy's
excellent contralto voice and pointed declama-
ton are always enjoyable. The chorus, under
Mr. Kotzschmar's leadership, sing with fine
shading, and understanding of their music.
Miss Fannie Jordan is favorably known as the
accompaniSt of the society.
The tickets, admitting ten persons, are good
for all rehearsals and concerts for one year;
and no more profitable pleasure can be bought
for the price of five dollars than this; which,
giving enjoyment to the nearer, helps toward
the support of an excellent choral society.
The Haydns have given many standard works
and four of these-HandePs Theodore, j. X.
Paine ST. Peter, the cantata of Fridolin, and
now the John the Baptist-were sung for the
first time in America by the Haydns.
DUPREZ AND BENEDICT.
Duprez and Benedicts MINISTRIES will make
their first appearance for three years in
Portland next Friday Saturday and Saturday
matinee, at Music Hall. The sale of seats will
commence at the box office tomorrow.
LAURENT-coRELLI PINAFoRE CO.
An advance notice of this company which
will appear at City Hall Friday and Saturday.
says: The sweeping success of this company
in New York and Boston, as well as other
places in which it has appeared, would lead us
to expect something thoroughly operate. Mr..
Laurent has been pronounced unapproachable
as Ralph Rackstraw'' while Mile Corelli has
Tote. Tie balance of the cast is composed OF
experienced artists, all possessing fine voices,
while the chorus singers are OF such an order
that they are frequently called upon to fill the
roles of tn principals in of indisposition.
INGoMAR.
The performance of Ingomar at Portland
Theatre with two such prominent actors as
Miss Charlotte Thompson and Mr. w. e. Sher-
idan, drew very brilliant audience last even
ing. There was naturally much curiosity
evidenced to see Miss Thompson in part so
lately assumed here. by Miss Anderson, and
also to welcome an actor of Mr. Sheridans re-
pute.
That Miss Thompson would give a thorough
ly finished and powerful Interpretation OF Par
thenia was to be expected, but it is question
whether it was wise to provoke comparison
with a characterization that had given so much
satisfaction as that of Miss Anderson. The
latter lady was singularly adapted to the role
of the Greek maiden. The classic dress suited
her admirably. The tall willowy form, in the
with the dagger, was instinct with grace, and
she lowered over the barbarian chieftain like
an angry goddess, her eyes blazing with wrath.
In the quieter scenes of the play she bore hel-
self with the simplicity and native modesty of
| the armorers daughter. Miss Thompson dis
| played more resources of her art in the charac-
| ter but while she commanded the hearty
| applause of her audience for an admirable
| characterization, she fell short of Miss Ander-
| son. She was seen at her best in the very
scene we last mentioned in which iss der
| son was so successful. Miss Ande OF ow-
| ever, tragedienne, and the dramatic enes
| of Ingomar call rather for the power # agedy
| than that of the emotional school. We doubt
| ii Miss Anderson would please in "MiSs Null
| ton" in any degree OF comparison with Miss
| Thompson, while the latter lady is an excellent
|
archness and love-making in Ingomar. 1t has
too much of artifciality; too much of the sim
ulated affection that we should expect to find
in woman of the Camille stamp, and with it
| there is a Renaissance of Maggie MitchelPs
tone that is unpleasant. She is full of coquetry
but it is not the coquetry of the simple maiden
| We also regret that Miss Thompson thought
| proper to assume the blonde wig which has be-
come of late years almost inseparabe from our
actresses Even Miss Anderson had to wear
one in Evadne, thus marring her beauty. Miss
Thompson has no more occasion for a blonde
wig than Miss Anderson, even if Ingomar does
say, speaking of his little brother, che had
| golden hair and dark-brown eyes like yours
| for children's golden hair often turns dark
brown with years.
Mr.. Sheridan proved an admirable Ingomar.
He possesses a fine stage presence, grand
voice, natural elocution, and displayed rough
humor well suited to the character. In the
scene where he expects Parthenia will leave
him, and in the last act, he was pathetic to a
great degree. Both Miss Thompson and Mr..
Sheridan were called before the curtain at the
end of each act.
NOTES.
Miss Julia Gaylord of the Carl Rosa Eng
fish Opera Company has arrived in Boston.