Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-02-04
AMuszNESTs
M oprsA or rArsr.

Emma Abbott achieved her second
triumph before a very large Memphis
audience. She sang superbly, and
the main interest of the evening CEN
tered in the brilliant manner inwhich
she carried it. Miss Abbott does not
lack in the art necessary to make her
Marguerite at once winsome and SOM
bre and though Of slight physique,
neither is she overweighted in the
music. With her pure soprano voice
she can execute the most difficult arias
with surprising brilliancy, while her
runs andthrills are fauItless and full of
sweet melody. Hen acting is so thor
Oughly expressive that nothing is left
to remark but that she is perfect in
both the vocal and dramatic features
of the part. She was called out last
night at the end Of each successive
act, aud again at the close of the ope-
"a. 1t is said of the fair lady that she
regards Marguerite as her best as
sumption, and that she labored unre-
mittingly for three full years to per-
feet herself in the delightful lyric
role. After fully mastering it she
played before the composer Gounod,
who at once complimented her by
sending a handsome copy of the oper-
attic score, upon the margin Of which
he wrote the sentence claire justo
eagale lumineuse bein ~timbress,"
which translated into expressive Eng
lish means always smooth, clear, cor
rect and sparkling, witha silveryrine.'
Many of her greatest successes have
been won in the Part and among them
none created a more profound inn
preston than the compliment paid by
a refined and critical Dub
lin three years ago, which in token of
a high appreciation, presented her
with a silver crown studded with a
cluster Of beautiful emeralds, a SOU
venir sheno carries, and ofwhich she
is exceedingly proud, as she should
be indeed. The part of Faust was
sung e~xcellently by Mr.. Tom Karl.
His temperance was greeted warmly,
pleasant recollections of his artistic
singing some years ago with the AIDE
laide Phillips troupe, being fresh in
the minds Of many present. Mr..
karls voice is s~trongand sympathetic,
full of resonent sweetness, and there
could be no complaint made Of
his performance, while there was
much to praise. In the part of
Siebel, Zelda Seguin, made an excel
lent impression, and in the garden
scene she received two recalls for the
exquisite manner in which she sung
In the language of flowers" Mr.. W,
u. Mcdonald gave a musical perform
anco of Mepbisto, his strong baritone
voice showing broad range and fair
training and Mr.. Stoddard scored a
success, both vocally and dramatically
as Valentine. In the death scene
with Marguerite he acted and
sung with intense power and thrilling
effect. On the whole, Faust was rem.
dered in superb style BY the entire
troupe, the orchestra doing its full
duty toward this end. Tonight Paul
and Virginia, Masses musical sensa-
ton, and first introduced in the South
by Miss Abbott last winter, will be
given, with Miss Abbott, Miss Seguin
and Mr.. Castle in the leading roles.
It was in this charming opera thai
Miss 5eguIn was eomplimented by
the Orleans Club last winter with a
bale of cotton, as a present. This
afternoon the comic opera Of the
Chimes of Normandy is in course Of.
representation
TO-NlGHT's OPERA.
The opera of Paul and Virginia, to
be presented by the Abbott troupe
tonight, is by Victor Masse. and
founded on an exquisite story written
by B, st. Pierre. The scene is laid in
a picturesque island off the coast of
Africa, where the widowed mother of
Virginia sought shelter with the
mother Of Paul, the latter lowly born,
aud the other Of noble family
The children grew up in innocent
companionship, like brother and sister,
the mothers fix plans for the couple
to marry when old enough, but decide
it best for Paul to hunt his fortune in
India. 10 the midst Of a violent
storm on the eve Of his departure they
sing a budget Of charming love arias,
then seek shelter on a neighboring
plantation, passing through i droaFy
forest to reach it. Mesly, a runa-
way slave, miss Seguin) pur-
sued by blood hounds, is met
and the young couple agree to
beg the planter to forgive the runa-
way, which he does on account of tho
raylsAing beauty Of tho charming
Virginia, Tho plantation scene with
the blacks in a fantastic bamboula