Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-12-11
AMUsEMENTs.
ITALIAN OPERA,

law operahouse rolled up, and the
chant of the monks in Donizetti's
grand opera of La Fayorita," re-
sounded from behind the scenes. The
train from Little Rock arrived late,
and the artists, with their baggage,
we're hustled off to the theater in a
hurry. A fair audience had assem-
bled, and some manifested a little i'm
patience, but when tie orchestra be-
gan the opening notes Of the opera,
the long wait and attending dis
comforts were forgotten. The scene
Of the opera is laid in Cas-
lillian, Spain, in the.timo of the Moor
ish invasion, and runs on a little TO-
mantle love story between Fernando,
a young novice in a convent, aud Leo
nora, a favorite of King Alphonso, of
CASTLE. When meeting his inamorata,
h. r%etires from the convent, becomes
a soldier, wins a great victory over the
Moors, and is loaded with honors by
his royal master, who also bestows
upon him the hand Of Leonora. La
ter, upon learning that she had been
mistress to the king, he renounees his
title, casts his sword at the feet ofthe
king, curses his wife, re-enters the
monastery aud resumes his VOWS. The
broken hearted Leonora makes a pill
grimage to the convent to ask
forgiveness, meets her former
lover and dies at his feet,
Fernando falling by her side
in despair, in the closing scene. This
is only brief outline of the action,
and though the opera was somewhat
curtailed, it was a quarter to twelve
ere the end was reached. With her
beautiful contralto voice, Miss
Mathilde Phillips made a very de-
lightful Leonora, singing with innate
brilliancy and power the impassioned
music of the role, and depicting the
woes of the wretchcd heroine with
grace and full dramatic expression.
Fernando was well acted and fairly
sung by Signor Talbo, who made
a good impression, despite the fact
TINT he labored under the effects Of
severe h~oarseness, which in the aria
"Spirito Gentil' of the last &C. was es-
pecially noticeable. At intervals,
however, his voice was exceedingly
sweet and clear, and he gave evidence
Of being a cultivated artist. Mile.
Girard, as Inez, the confdante of LIE.
onOra, looked lovely, sang charmingly
and seems to be as clever an actress al
she is a songstress. The par
of the King, by T~agliapietra
was the grandest one Of the list in
vocal sense. No finer baritone voic,
has been heard here and the grea
artist deserves the eminence he occu
pies in the lyric profession. Asil,
from a few unimportant features tn,
opera was smoothly rendered, and
afforded a delightful evenings enter
tainment, worth turning out in th.
raw air Of a wintry night to hear
This afternoon Donizetti's gran,
opera o f"Lucia di LammermOor' AM
tonight Gounod's Faust are an
nounced.
PANORAMA.
The panorama Of the revelation Q
St. John on the isle of Patmos wa
exhibited last night in the Contra
Baptist church. The attendance wa
quite large, and all we're well please
with the exhibition. There are twenty
two pictures in all, well and TASTEFUL
executed, affording to the mind a cor
eeption of the grand vision of S
John as related in the book Of Rey(
l%ations. The last two scenes al
magnificent. The one representa-
the pearly gate of the new Jerusalem
I sparkling with real pearls, presepte
a scene that is surprisingly beautiful
q The exhibition will be repeated t
night, at the same place, for the Der
eft of the Sunday.school All love-
J. Of the beautiful and sublime shoul
. not fail to attend. Children, men
g bers of any Supday-sehool in the cit.
under twelve years Of age, will be az
mitted FREQ.