The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1881-01-23
ADJUSTMENTS,

he musical art OF the times Arcauy KNOW tne tt0an
opera Company, under Mr.. Henry Mapieson's man
'gement belongsiu the very highes, class that while
We have heard singer Nsson) rs great as Gefstcr
We have not, during the last quarter OF century,
heard so great tenor rs Campanini nor so grand |
Darloneas Gaass and that the ensemble OF the operas
presented and whal, the strength and efficiency OF
hcorchestral Accomplishments, toanything
we have ever heard In America II at either of the
,ny two performances of tlls unrvaied company with
which to be favored there Is vacant seat II |
viii he evidence Of amortifying lack OF musical cul-
lure. With moro force than Tennyson when he says
Better nfty yearsot Europe thaua cycle OF Cathay
and Ariti than years Of the commonplace artists,
II artists at all, who only vitiate the taste Of the unn
formed. The discriminating critic Of the Philadcl-
phia Times, sLieakng Of recent performance ca La
Favorlta y IN that city, says: "Tha the crowd does
not SO to the opera to listen to the music so much as to
hear high note freshly shown by the fact that
the audience at the Academy last night not nearly
large as on the night before although the two great
artists of the company appeared in Donizetus finest
opera. There was avery gop, audience, however,
and II witnessed the finest performance OF the season.
the performance thus far that has excited real en-
thusasm and that will linger In the memory of al, who
heard and saw II. La Favorita Is one of tho
nobest works Of its school, but II Is not very often
sung from the fact that there not many contraos
the one female part, nor many tenors who make
Fernando effective II was necessary only to hear
Campanini In his opening aria to recognize the Wide
gulf that separates great singing properly called
from the slender performances that often win APP
pause. The rich and resonant voice, pure through
out Its whole great range; the noble breadth OF his
STYLE Joined with fauteSs deicacy OF execution, and
the intense feeling that Is expressed In every note
make the rank and 6lc of popular singers seem mere
children In comparison And Miss Cary was close
beside him. Noteven her itnneriS is q Amer piece VI
work than her Leonord and no one who heard their
nnt .nat IL, la, 0NSf l,nI d,
greater scenes that to follow to determine which
nights OF the opera should be considered of night
The third act would have been worth waiting for had
It contained only Miss Cary's - mic Fernando,
in which her glorious voice was heard In all its purity
and beauty Campanini, In the early portions of the
act, had accomplished the dintcnt duty Of standing
stiil with unusual dignity but when Esrnondo begins
to realize the imposition Of which he Is supposed
to be the victim, the gradual development OF the
dramatic situation was most fascinating study.
Singing all the time with unlmpeachable effect his
expression Of growing passion became more and more
intense. There was no waste of effort, but every
movement had Its meaning, until the climax
reached In the passionate rejection OF Leonora and
the curtain fell upon what the whole SPELL bound
dience recognized to be of the finest pieces of
ing the operate stage. Enthusiastic people
In the boxes could not wait for the fall of the curtain
to throw their bouquets upon the stage and three
four times the singers were recalled with shouts OF ap
plause. After so strong scene 1t Is difficult TO es-
cape an climax but the last act was Just admir-
able. Here, as though to show the wide range OF his
art, Campanini sang the 'spirlto gentil with an
exquisite delicacy that lyric tenor could excel and
the plaiutiye music OF Leonoro was In every way
worthy OF Its company The nnal scene between tile
two lovers, so full OF passion and sorrow and of quick
revusions opora-goers of to-day have not heard
better sung nor seen acted with such In
tensity of feeling. The whole performance
| ment and tina. alone would place Campa-
mini and Cary In the highest rank of operate artists
strong feature of these performances has been the
carefulness and completeness of the ensemble. No
finer orchestra has ever played operatc music in
Philadelphia the chorus is uncommoniy satisfactory
and the more Important operas In which two three
really great artists have sustained leading roles, have
| Is very rare indeed Madame Gerstet has now been
heard sufficiently often in Philadelphia to enable to
Judge pretty decidedly what rank she ought to hold
When she made her first appearance here two years
| ago in La sonnanbula everybody was captivated
by her delicious voice. the and simplicity of her
Imina. She has voice whose highest notes excel in
purity and beauty those OF any voice that has been
heard upon our stage within generation and when
gives is great and genuine. The whole of her music
| In 'sonnambua. and one act OF Lucia she
sings perfectly. To hear her is real delight as pure
as Is rare Her manner of singing is nearly the
same in every case direct and unaffected, and her
high notes are sngulary pure, clear, anu musical.
quirements of her art, Madame Gerster's powers of
attraction must lie limited, but while she retains the
liquid purity of her high soprano her singing In such
music as the 'Ali non giunge. whether en- the
stagcor on the platform, will bea source of real
may be spoken of with fewer qualifications. Cam
panni established his reputation here eight
years ago. but he strengthened IT in each Of the two
seasons last past, and never have his powers
as dramatic singer been mpressivey displayed
that in this past week: He has the grand style
| and In listening to him one must recognize thai
1t is not high voice that makes great singer but
the knowledge and skill, the power and feeling, the
voice Is used. Considering at the range and the
quality of his voice, his exquisite method, and his
dramatic Intensity, we have difficulty in assigning
Campanini place among the great operate artists
his time. In comparison with such man, the new
amateur, a boy. But Ravelli deserved his warm re.
cepton. lie has beautiful voice and correct feeling,
and while he has much to learn there snot much tia
he Will need to uniearn. Care, experience and hart
work should make him an admirable tenor. The two
artists of the company who share the higher honor
with Campaniui are Miss Cary and Galassi. Mis-.
Carys voice. In an exactly opposite way. is quite AZ
unusual, perhaps more unusual than Gerster's. am
matte i, singer Gaassi's broad ' style is Sometime
lacking in refinement but his voice lisa noble baritone
and nobly used Such artists as these can do NOR,
than sing an aria, and in the Wide range of operate
music. from the melodies Of Donzetti to the Tioderi
musical drama, they have done nothing here tina
In Philadelphia the same journal says: 1.-The shor
but prosperous engagement of the Mapleson orer;
, Company az the Academy Of Music ended be coming
last night with an excellent performance of Gonnod'
Faust that most beautiful of modern operas, b
which the learned and the unlearned listen again an
again with ever fresh delight. 1t is not often that
; can listen to Faust who sings as well as Campanil
does II not one of his greatest roles, this certainly
that exhibits very fully the exquisite taste thai
not less characteristic OF his art than its drama,i
strength. His salve Dimora' is perfect model q
tenderness and refinement and of that delicacy Of
ecnton that Is the result OF conscious strength an
knowledge, and there is other part Of work tina
is not equally well studied with this. lie Is the On
9 member of the company to whom 1t Is hardest to sa
goodbye. SigDor Novara's performance OF Mephis
tophees was Of anature to intensity the discomfort wit
the distribution Of parts during the season. by which
able artist has remained almost unknown until til
3 very last night. lie sang the corresponding role i
Boito's opera, but this was more attractive per
, forn,ance than the other, by as nnch rs Gounod
greater than the Italian amateur. His voice is goo
bass, rather than great one, and he sings with un
times lacking In polish. He is good ac,o
and gives the grotesqIe Interpretation OF Mophist
with remarkable spirit and liglitless. He and Cam
panini achieved the uncommon result of winning
recall In the prologue, and his cup Of gold sup
: ported by strong ensemble, was skliful and eHec
tive, his artistic self-possession Just saving II
grOtesqueness from the charge Of exaggeratio
Mile. Valera's Margherita showed this clever lit
IS very well indeed Including the whole of the garde
scene, which Is not always given with such
iulness and throughout the opera her work was T.,
Siebet and the noble Valentine of signor Gaassi
e no praise. The chorus was strong and good an
the orchestra all that could be asked for
have left space except to say that In Madame G;
yallazz these operas have danseuse singularIy gl
and graceful, so that the ballet Is always pleasing.
, Next week, commencing on Tuesday, Lin
coin Hall viii be turned into veritabe museum,
p, Gen. Tom Thumb and his wonderful party of giant
dwarfs, m.dgets, and wonders begin q short season
one, and all know the General and his charming lit
q wife, and will be anxious to call upon them. III
Rochester Herald, In speaking of this troupe In III
=. city, says: 'The Tom Thumb troupe viii odd
a close very successful engagement of two weeks
this city. Their houses have been simply wonderful
n and great dincuy has been experienced In accomin
! dating those who came to witness the performanc
Their has been fully merited, as the entertain
ment is first class one In every respect. There W
r be an entertainment this afternoon and evening,
8 usual, and II there are any who have not attend
they should by all means go to-day. They will ce
: tainly never regret IT, they cannot fail to be full
g satisfied with the entertainment. The midget esp
Q ciay Is worth the full price OF admission. -
e The performances of Gilbert and Su
yaI's 'Pirates OF Penzance - TO be given
Ford's Opera House during the latter part of tn
week Will without doubt attract large and fashiOnal
u attendance. This Is the first rendition of /
sprightiy opera by select home talent since 1t W
T.; given to the public In this country by The author
who, by the way, lose all exclusive property In II
It their action In the next place the Mabel is Miss
Mills who created the leading role In the famous pr
decessOr OF 'Ihe Pirates at the Standard Theatre