The Portland daily press., 1880-12-04
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.
REMESYI.

| everybody is more or less ashamed OF his own
| city. Such was the case last evening A
great violinist an artist, who has but two
| conpeers Oil his instrument, visits Portland
| aad not enough interest is taken in the event
| to fill little Rossini Hail. II this were owing
| to lack of musical culture we should not be
censorious, but it is not. Neither is it IA fact
| that fhose who are fond OF good music had not
| ths means TO attend. And so this second
PAgauini comes and goes with the idea that
| Portland is good place to keep away from,
| and probably will so impress other great
| artists.
| ii the public could only have heard the
Hungarian last night they would have been
stirred as no other than Ole Bull has ever
stirred them. We say Ole Bull because he, of
all others, most resembled in STYLE and man
nerisms, Remenyi Here, however, the COM
parison ceases. Some have said that the
former used unworthy means to trick the
crowd. Not so Remenyi But, as Edward
King says she has the intense spirituality of
Ole Bull and has added to it the vouptuous
rhythm, aud the melody born of Southern
moonlghts and the perfumes of rich blossoms
As to the difference between Wilhelmj and
Remenyi, Wilhelmi's school is in the lofty
mould of the classics. He is notable for the
nobility and dignity of his style, the breadth
and simplicity of his conception; Remenyi for
the subtle grace aud delicacy of his playing,
the fanciful and poetic sentiment with which
he surrounds the work that he interprets. On
these points all, or almos. all, critics agree.
To these qualities of Remenyi sboulI be added
fire and fervor such as were never before seen
in concert room in Portland.
When Remenyi stepped before his audience
last night, his description by the New York
Times came forcibly to mind. "a good
French Abbe who could better intone mass
Quietly hy took position, and softly the first
notes of the andante movement of the great
Mendelssohn concerto were breathed forth,
like the wind stealing over an Eian harp.
The player paid little, or no attention, APP
parently, to anything but his instrument In
it he was absorbed, listening, as it were, to its
most delicate utterances, or tossing his head,
from side to side as if swaved by his emotions.
a celebrated critic expressed his playing of
the concerto so we'll we can but reproduce
it here, The time was taken much slower than
with less inpressonable violinists while his
manner expressed unmpeachabie tranquility
aud dignity. In the vivacious finale, the bow
arm seemed to catch something of ths fairy
ike designs OF the composer, and the DOW
fairly danced over the strings with a lightness
befitting q troop of elves in Il moonlit glade"
And oh. such exquisite sweetness as he pro-
duces from the violin. In no one note OF his
cantdbite playing was there harsh sound
His touch is as light as feather and his
dinlinue1td0S seem marvellous.
His "Anda usian dance and lore duet was
as richly painted picture as il it glowed on
canvas. The clatter of the tambourne, the
delicate notes of the guitar, the feet provoking
dan of IN. tl,a Ion.
and shout of the Ddysaaos in the fonda, inter-
rupted by the heart pieadngs of the lover,
aud the gentle remonstrances OF the maiden,
the clink OF the glasses, the rustline of the
leaves and the plash of the fountain, all were
reproduced with the skill of a great painter.
And all these effects were only the more ir-
tensfied in the Carnival of Venice" given as
an encore, with all the wonderful feats of a
perfect technique. La his Liberty Hymn ne
seemed inspired, and magnetized his audience
as we'll. In the National Church Hymn of
Hungary" given as an encore, he showed how
he is mbued with the national spirit, for it
breathed religion in itself
Remanyi was assisted by Miss Clara Poole
who has been heard here before and favorably
and who sang Tor an encore "Danbury Cross
Mr.. De Celle and Mr.. Beale accompanies.
MONTE cRIsTo.
Last night Monte Cristo was repeated at
Portland Theatre and went off with much
There are some details to which attention
should be paid, il the company contemplates
an extended tour. Fer example, while some
of the actors pronounce their French properly
others do not. 'Mossoo, is neither correct
nor elegant. Then some are guilty of mis-
pronunciation of their mother-tongue. Epauet
is not pronounced ep-ulet, nor Offensive. oaf-
fensive, nor monstache, mustac. In the
matter Of costume Danglars, Dantes, and
some of the sailors wear sailor garbs of diff
ferent periods, and the gendarmes are attired
in the uniform of the Republic rather than
that of the time of Louis XVIII. The furni-
ture is hardly appropriate to the character of
its surroundings. These are perhaps minor
matters 10 many, but they can be easily
remedied and will add much to the effect Of
the play,
Mr.. Studley is not only an able actor, he is
also man of fine presence. Last night by his
heartfelt earnestness and impassoned ardor,
he made the conduct of Monte Cristo rational
and the character heroic. His interpretation
comprehended resentment Tor ill-treatment
and did not lack bitterness or irony in its in
terror moods. Where self control was most
necessary, repression was evident, and thus
the intensity OF his acting made apparent.
Where passion gained the upper hand, as it
did at times, and must in any man, it was tn o
greet passion that Is built upon revenge, and
did not fail to stir his audience deeply.
The play is so dependent upon a large
theatre for great spectacular effects, to set off
the acting; is of itself so ialky. and SO different
ia many respects from the original story, that
we are astonished that it is so we'll put upon
the stage, and so well acted by company out
side of the inetropolitan theatres Monte
Crsto will be repeated at the matinee to-day,
and the evening performance Tonight
NOTES.
The reserved seats for the Weber Club con-
certs are ready at Stockbridge's. The concert
will be given at City Hall Tuesday night
Nine. Marie Criticos and Miss Bryant vocasts,
Berlie Webb violnist and Kotzschmar will
assist.
Persons holding complimentary tickets to
the Weber Club concert can have the same ex-
changed for reserved seats at Stockbridge's,
free of charge.
GARFIELD AND ARTHUR GLEE CLUB.