The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-02-17
.AMUSEM ENTS.
Mr.. MAURICE eRAU's FRENCH OPERA COMPANY
AT THE GRAND.

j HR. MAURICE GRAU's FRENCH OPERA COMPANY
AT THE GRAND.
Mr.. Maurice Grau's new French Opera
Company commenced the season at the
Grand Opera House last night by present
ing the brilliant but familiar opera LA
File De Mime. Angot." The cast Of the
principal characters was as follows: "Clair-
ette." Mile. Paola Marie; "Mlle. Lange."
Mile. Angelo; "Pomponnet" Juteau; LAR
ivaudiere." Jouard; "Louchard," Duplan
'Trenitz," Vilan0, and "Ange Rtou," Ca
poul. The audience was good one in size
and excellent in character, made up large
ly Of the solid people," who are brought
out only by the real merit Of grand opera
and OratoriO music or by the Irresistible fas-
cination of French opera. Ha1
Mr.. Grau always brings q good oem.
pany. He has made reputation for this
and 1t would mot pay him to damage it.
This is the surest guarantee that the pub
lie has Of what to expect from manager.
Ii managers stock in trade is partly a
reputation for excellence or novelty or a
| thorough fulfillment of promises, 1t Ia not
altogether q question of honesty that be
preserves this reputation, but it pays hand.
somely to do so, therefore he endeavors to
do it.
Butof the Company: Paola Marie is not
the exponent Of opera bOuffe that Aimee
Is. She lacks vivacity and action--two
very important requisites in this sort of
musical composition. AT times she seems
to appreciate he delicate humor and spirit
Of opera bouffe, and throw hearty vim in
il, but she does not keep up to the stand
ard all the way through as does Aimee
Aimee made a vivacious "Clairette," not
without sentiment, but full of a rollicking
fun. Paola Marie's "Clairette" is too sem
timental, too inert and too devoid Of ex-
preston to be model. Yet with these
faults she is pleasing. Many people like
her for her refinement and modest demean-
or. These traits in their places are admi-
rable, but, unfortunately, opera boutfe calls
upon these less than upon some others for
successful Interpretation.
l1Mile. Angelo is handsome woman,
whose display Of physical charms quite
Overcame the many shining pates which
ranged in rows throughout the parouette.
The part which she filed last night does
not call for special effort in its dramatic &C.
ton, 80 that it would not be fair to judge
her merits after one performance. She has
a voice which possesses an agreeable quail
ity. Her dressing Of the character doesn't
exhibit the scarcity of dry goods. of which
we heard 90 much when she first appeared
in this character in New York. IL fact
with the exception OF little shortness of her
dress at the top, there is nothing in her ap-
pearance to excite comment Juteau's
"Ppmponnet" was very good.
Duplans "LOuchard" is the standard one
among the hab, tues Of the French opera
Vilano is not agile enough to be a good
'Trenitz." TIE chief feature Of the per-
formance was the temperance of Victor
Capoul, the tenor. OF Q .urse he is the best
member of the company aud has changed
but little since he sang with Nilsson, nine
years ago. His voice is the same clear
sweet one that every one remembers who
heard him when last here. He has good
method, which places him at an advantage
not enjoyed by others He acts well, and,
In appearance, and all else is the Capoul of
the old opera days
Tonight Mignon, first and only produc-
ton here in its complete fresh form. Mig
nop-Opera in three acts and five tableaux.
Words by NM. Michel Care and Jules Bar
bier. Music by Ambrose Thomas, produced
with the following great cast;
Paolar Marie
Mile Leroux .Bouvard
....M'll Angelo
NJ. JOuard
NJ Juteau
| Jarn0 ..."-....M. Terrancle