The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-07-31

| COMPANY A sUCCESs-MR. GREENsFELDEI
SHARES HoyoRs WITH MRS. RrCHTyGs.BER
NARD-A REVIEW OF THE OPERA, &C.
Mrs. and Mr.. Bernard may feel Justly
proud OF the cordial reception that was &C.
corded the first presentation that has ever
been given OF their opera The Duchess. Mo.
zart Hall was filed with q brilliant au-
dlence, whose unmistakable and frequent
marks OF approval stamped this the initial
performance with favorable verdict that
cannot be gainsaid.
The following Is the cast, TO whom much
credit Is due for the success Of the evening
Captain Darlington, Mr. Edward w. Hoff;
Corporal Nahum Nimmo, Mr.. Joseph 5.
Greensfelder Anne Hyde duchess Of
York;, Madame Caroline Rcbings- Ber-
nard; Louisa Sydney (her Maid Of HONOR,
Miss Amy Rogers.
Mrs. Caroline Ricbings-Bernard was, very
naturally, the star Of this quartette, for as
it was she who first gave form TO the con-
cepti0n, she, above all others, with her supe-
rior dramatic and vocal powers, might have
been looked to for Its perfect crystalizaiion.
Her scting and singing was grand through
out. The greatest evidence OF her lyric
force was probably seen 10 the aria OF the
second act Meanwhile each Moment"
1
proud and nearly masculine courage. She
completely oyersbadowed her timid and in.
experienced protfgt, who suffered from a
double disadvantage. Miss Rogers is yet a
novice on the stage, and her timidity on
first essayiDg so important role naturally
oyercdme her. Her lines in dialogue were
inaudabe TO the nearest seats TO the stage.
And then with a voice OF mezZ0 soprano
character, she had to contend with con-
trato part. Her voice is pure and sweet,
and when she reached the duet with the
Captain in the first act, When Caught
and Gagged" she had gained much OF her
self-possession and sang her part with
| feeling. Her chaste rendition OF the song
"What Delightful Feelings" won for her
decided encore.
Mr.. Greensfelder as Corporal Nimmo
made decided hit, and shared honors With
the pTinla donna. He was thoroughly up
in bis part, and sang and acted to
the great satisfaction OF his auditors. lie
has q grand voice and knows how to act,
which are elements OF success that give him
great promise for the future. The scene
between himself and Mrs. Bernard in the
duet near the closing OF the second act,
"My Treasure" was very fine, probably
the most spirited and enjoyable Of the eye-
ming. His makeup" was capital Though
he might have looked little more fierce
with more cadaverous moustache), and his
facial expression assisted no little in the
perfect portrayal of the Jolly rollicking
Corporal. In his first song In the first act,
Man is But Man." he gave the curious
composition in a dashing, happy style, con.
GLIDING it with deep, ,cetsustaned note.
In his first duet with the Captain, Yes,
ha A fu IN liz i-to ~ uoi ioo
received severe test, the requirements OF
the score taking him TO high note and
dropping to correlative two octayes below.
Mr. IIof portrayed the role Of the Cap
tain admirably. He was easy and graceful
in his acting and sang his difficult part with
great sweetness. To him the composer had
entrusted the sweetest and most taking air
in his entire work. 1t was the ballad In the
first act entitled "WOman's Love-" II will
most likely be considered the gem OF the
opera, and become popular should 1t be
published. Mr.. Hoff did it full justice, as,
in fact. he did his numbers throughout.
The ballad "Ah Can l Fer Forget Thee
Quite" in the second act, is very sweet but
trying on the voice, but admirably suited to
show of the tenor's best efforts, and he re-
ceived an encore.
The quariette at the finale OF the first act
was beautifully rendered, as was also that
in the finale OF the second. The orchestra,
though small, was eflectiye, and are to be
commended for their careful and successful
performance OF their parts.
The opera was originally intended by
Mr.. and Mrs. Bernard as a compliment to
four OF their pupils in Baltimore, who were
10 perform it at some meeting Of private
theatrical club to which they belonged. The
work, then unfinished, was seen and adj
mired here, and Mr. Bernard induced to
complete and produce it in Richmond.
The difficulty OF successful operate
creation cannot be well over-estimated, for
the work OF the author and composer are
80 mutually dependent one upon the other
that the wolk OF the musician or dramatist
is often impaired and sometimes ruined by
his co-laborer. A good librettO, that will
play well, can only find its successful musi-
cal Interpretation in genius who can enter
thoroughly into the spirit OF the author, so
az TO make the music language paraphrase
OF the plot. Dramatic action, sad utter
ances, and laughable situations must all
find expression in the music as well as
words. SO for success in an operate crea-
tion the composer must enter thoroughly |
into the spirit OF the authors work, so as to |
portray it in his own. In this Mrs. and Mr.. |
Bernard have achieved their success. There |
is unity in the work OF elch and they |
blend so as to form an opera which seems |
the inspiration Of one genius.
The plot Of the opera is rather what might |
be termed serio-comic, and is founded upon |
an historical incident which occurred du- |
ring the reign OF Charles the Second OF |
England. 1t is completed IN two acts, and is |
essentially parlor opera, written after the |
plan Of the Barber OF Seville" and "DOn |
PasquaIe." The incident upon which the !
plot is founded is as follows:
The Duke OF York, brother to the King, |
was naturally weak, but bis wife, Anne
HYDE, united in her own person all the STIR
ring qualities Of ambition and martial ardor, !
and in the effort to crcumvent her bold |
and plots the King and court |
were kept constantly in fermeGt. Parlia-
ment brought in bill for the exclusion Of |
her husband from the succession, and |
pending its passage orders were issued |
to keep the Duchess under arrest in her |
own house at Richmond. The command Of |
the troops detailed for this service was given |
to a young officer, who naturally shrank |
from the disagreeabe duty. In the mean
time the Duchess endeavored to ef- |
feet her escape by substituting her IA
yorite maid for herself, and the many |
ludicrous situations caused by the exchange |
OF characters forms the plot OF our opera. |
1t Is rendered especially intricate by the |
fact that the maid, having met the young |
officer, a mutual attachment has ensued, |
and TO complicate matters still more, an old |
Corporal, who is q constant and favorite |
comrade OF the Captain, falls desperately In |
ha rI1r har