, 1879-01-19
THE OPERA SEASON

Liz 4rsh Nceh o1 the season OF opera b1
the troupe from Her AIejcsty's Theatre
London, under the management of Col
A1APLEsoS and tho dictatorship of Signo,
ARDlTI, leader and composer long known
to fame, has closed upon remarkable mu.
sical success. The troupe has given US two
performances Of 't Carmen" one of 'son-
nansbuia," one Of i Lo Nozze di Figaro, ~
two of Lucia and one Of al Trova-
tore, representing BEEr, BE111S1, A1ozAnr,
DoS1zETr1, and VEEpI,-a wide-enough range
to suit nearly oil tastes. OF these repre-
sentations s'Carmcn," Sonnambula," and
"Lucia" " were given up to standard Of
excellence that has not been known here
before. ssu Troyatore" was given very
smoothly, and in some parts with great
power, lie Nozze di Figaro" nearly
reached fasco owing to En- unfortunate,
but none the less silly and miserable,
jangle between two of the artists.
which would have been of little account had
it been confined behind the scenes, where
1t belonged. Tho personations which stand
out conspicuous for great merit, and rank as
really artistic productions, are Mime. GERS
1ER's Ami'la and Lucia, Miss HAuK's Car
men, DEL PuES1E's Escan,i2o, GA1Ass1s
Henry 4dshton and Contc di Luna, CANpA-
MINIS Eagardo, and Nine LAD1AcHE's
~dzucena. 1t is the prominent feature Of this
troupe, however, that one does not have to
look to individuals for his pleasure and enter
tainnent- It is not like comet with q
bright star at its head dragging after it long
and inconsequential' tail. The PRINCIPAL
artists are not only adequately but strongly
In every representation the
little parts have been excellently filed, and
this has never been done here before.
With the first and second parts strongly
cast: and backed against large.
efficient, spirited: and well-trained cho-
rus, the vocal ensemble is all that could
bo desired or expected, and rooches
that high standard which critical opera-coers I
have long sighed for but never supposed
they would have. Behind the footlights sit
Ill orchestra aud conductor more than
worthy to support the artists and chorus of
his troupe. It is not only large mud full in
III its parts (being the largest bnnd ever
brought here for opera), but it is composed
If musicians of long and thorough training,
many OF them having s11nmered and win
cred with THEODORE THOMAS. who are not |
'nly competent to play the notes and to sup
'ort the singers, but who play with rare
plr1t, vlgor, precision, aud expression, and
re SO seif-re1iant that their skillful conductor
eldosn has to give them any attention; much
ass labor With them, which leaves him free
keep the vocal part Of his forces we'll up
Its work. The result of the strength
na excellence Of this triple combination
such an ensemble as we hare never had
ere before; nud old works like ssLucia,"
Sonnambula," and 81 Trovatore," which
ave been given hero scores of times, CD
cared Ike new creations. Can any one fail
} see how thin and weak the =" Carmen" of
le srEAKoscH troupe was in comparison
It'll the same work as given by this, with
extraordinary vocal ensemble aud full,
Gu instrumentation: Can any one who
IS assisted ut performances Of s. Lucia" in
us city recall one that was at all comparable
ALL tne sp1enelld representation by this
oupe, or one that eau be praised without
"Lucia - was tie secoud |
'era ever given in Chicago, and the first to
gwen entire. I! has been performed
'enty-tour tunes, and we cannot recall a
presentation that can be compared with it.
NOW, what will be the result of all this? ,
e near great deal OF falkland great :
Al OF 1t twadlie-about educational work in t
1s1c. COL MAr1EsoS has been quietly s
ing some of this work, aud has succeeded | !
revolut'onizing operate taste and knowl~ | r
GO IN our midst. The consequences of his 6
'rk are already apparent, though the season q
out hal1 through. To put it in very plain r
gl1sh' lie has quietly shown us that wa t