The Portland daily press., 1880-09-25
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.
THE PIRATES OF rENzANcE,

Gilbert ~ SulllvanS charming opera of
1.-THE Pirates received a capital rendering at
City Hall last ven1ng and it is to be regretted
! there was not larger audience present to Cen
JOY it. Those who were in attendance, how
ever made up in enthusiasm what they lacked
in numbers, and were not slow in demanding
encores of the more familiar airs.
When the opera was ,produced last season.
coming as it did after SO great a success as
Pinafore, it proved something of disappoint-
ment to majority of the admirers of that
highly popular work. They expected the
same catchy melodies, and the same burlesque
effects with which they already were familiar
They did not, or thought they did not, appre-
ciate the higher order of music afforded, or the
delicate satire which was its strong charac.
terlstic. But the minority were pleased at
once, and, last night portion of those who
had belonged to the majority before, Joined
with the minority, who wanted to see the
opera again, and found they enjoyed it inn
mensely
The Pirates received a much better inter
probation from this company than the other.
The principals were, some of them better
singers. 1t is true that Miss Laura joyce who
was advertised. did not appear; an error that
should haze been remcdied before the tickets
were sold. Miss Gonzales who assumed the
role, possessed good voice and acted with
spirit. Tie beautiful female chorus. that
proved such striking feature before, was alb
sent, but this chorus displayed among it's men,
bers several pretty women, and it must be
said that both female and male chornses rem
dered their music better than it has been
heard here before. Some of them were
formerly members of the Laurent-Corelli
troupe.
Miss Minnie Walsh as Mabel, captured the
house with her opening aria. She displayed
sweet clear, flexible soprano Of considerable
power, and she executed her music in man.
ner that exhibited an excellent method. She
was admirably supported by Mr. Macreery,
as Frederic, whose clear, resonant tenor is one
of the best that has been heard in Portland
Mr.. Brocoini repeated his former success in
the character of the Pirate King Mr.. Ryley's
General Stanley, was all that could be desired
from dramatic point of view. Mr.. Nash was
a good Samuel, and Mr.. Standish humor-
GUS Sergeant. Misses Danielle, Chappele
and Perry We're pleasing as the three daugh-
tiers.
While all the music, as we have already
said. was admirably given, we may particu-
lariZe the solo II am the Pirate King" Fred
erick's solo 81 Love You," Miss Wasf's
opening aria, General SANKEY'S song, and the
chorus by the Pirates and women, given as a
choral unaccompanied, in the first act; and in
the second act, the scead between the Pirate
King, Ruth and Frederick, and the sce,,a be-
tween Frederick and Mabel, the Policeman's
chorus, and the pirates vow. sThe charming
little song that pertains to General Stanley,
with its delightful accompaniment was not so
successful. Most of the sabove numbers were
encored The orchestra was small but good.
To-day there will be matinee and evening
performance ard we hope the house will be
crowded. 1t was pity the opera could not
have been given in the beautiful New Port
land Theatre whore it would have been so
much more effective.
THE CARY CONCERT.
There are still few choice seats remaining
at Stockbridge's for the Cary concert which
will take place at City Hall next Monday
evening. Misses Franklin and Holmes are
highly spoken of by those who have heard
them, the Temple Qnartette are great favor
ties in Portland, and Mr.. Kotzschmar is al
ways great addition toiany concert.
MY PARTNER.
Mr.. Fields, agent of the My Partner COM
pany, is in town. The play will be produced
at New Portland Theatre Friday and Satur-
cast:
Ssa s sngso o aSqs Ad Bsr1
Maj Henry y Clay Britt candidate for rseee
Mr. Matthew lathe Brandon "a man who has seen
Josiah s sefas "a who fogSt e. e. De
Sam Bowler, Miser, formerly Of the Circus i"su'
Mr.. Wellington widgery, an old English SER 81
Mr.. Jim johnson, sheriff Of the county '''si'
Mary Brandon, '.who had no mother 70 guide A''''
her. Miss Dora Goldthwaite |
Grace Brandon her young sister.Miss Lizzie Goode
Miss rosie Pentland, spinster, housekeeper at
MOTEL Mrs. Louis Morse
Wing Lee Chinese servant at hotel Chas. T. Parsloe
The Boston Advertiser says that Miss Cary
had an enthusiastic ovation at Worcester, and
her first selection resulted in o double recall
but she very sensiby declined to extend the |
programme. Her noble voice was never
heard to better advantage here, and it
seemed more round, full and exquisite than
ever before. In the selection from Donizetti
she found full opportunity for vocal embel-
lishment, which Estill further illustrates the
wonderful quality with which she is endowed
NOTES.
Mr.. g. I. Ulmer and Lizzie May Ulmer are
playing in Philadelphia.
It is possible that Mr.. Joseph Wheelock
will support Mr.. Edgar when the latter gem
EeiCnan pidyS llodf dt NEW EOrtlanQ 1noatr0.
Mr.. George Learock is leading man at the
Academy of Music, Chicago.
The Chicago Tribune speaking of Brignoli
in English opera, says: Now for Brignoli. 1t
must be confessed that to approach the sub
Ject OF Brignoli in English, as he appeared
last night, is quite as dreadful and narrowing
an expedition as the drop from the language OF
Dante to Saxon must have been to Brignoli
himself Brignoli was braced up to it-that
was plain to be seen. Determination to do or
die was written out all over him. Expectation
CAPPED when he appeared, and the audience
were breathless until the crucial test had been
applied and the favorite tenor had actually
demonstrated that he could sing in English.
1t was soon over, and whrlwind of appro-
baton bore witness that the first had been ac-
complished successfully, and that Brignoli's
English. was as Ineligible as anybody's. To
be sure ne would occasionally come to conso-
nantal precipice, or an abysmal vowel, or
dizzy steep of diphthongs; but the fact re-
NAMED, in spite Of all, that Signor Brignoli
is the frst Italian tenor who has sung in this
country in English, and that he has mastered
the difficulties admirably