The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-10-18
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.
BOcCACCIO,

BocCACCIo.
A large and brilliant audience assembled in
Protland Theatre last evening, to witness Won
| Suppe's "Boccaccio" as interpreted by Mains
Opera Troupe. The house would, no doubt
have been crowded If it had not been for the
threatening state of the weather. but fears OF
. south-easter evidently had their effect upon
the opera going portion of the community.
Boccaccio will always prove a favorite with
lovers of comic opera Its bright, melodious,
rollicking music, its rich and varied costumes,
charming the eye with their combination OF
color; its intensely comic situations; all these
20 to enthrall the senses even when placed IN
the hands of mediocre company. When
then the soloists are good, aud both chorus and
orchestra we'll drilled the effect is heightened
In o corresponding ratio. Mains company
has won an enviable reputation as one of the
best, I. not the best, comic opera troupe in the
country. Last season it gave "Boocaccio" IN
Portland in manner that left little to be de-
sired. Both as singers aad actors the mem
bers of the organization from the prinad donna
down to the youngest chorus singer, were adj
mirable. This season while the company is
excellent, and embraces many OF those who
appeared here last December, yet it is not as
strong as it was then The principals are not
the EQUALS of those who preceded them, and
the ensembles are not as impressive.
Miss Flora Barry, who assumes the role OF
ssBoccaccio," is no stranger to Portland. Time
has dealt kindly with the popular vocalist and
her voice retains much of its remembered
strength, sweetness and mellowness. While
she has not the peculiar beauty. dash and Vi
vacity that marked Jennie Winston in the
role, she nevertheless acts with sprightiness
and intelligence. In her rendering of the re-
frain to Fiametta's song in the hrst act, ana
the brief aria in the closing scene OF the sec
ond; in the favorite and familiar air, There
ia q Jolly student standing there,
where she, metaphorically, handles the baby
in her arms, and trlls so sweetly in pianissimo;
and in the serenade 1t seems as II her
voice was heard in all its old time richness and
power Her scene with Lambertuccio is well
conceived and well executed and there are
many little touches throughout the opera
which show that the lady has famiarized her
self With effective stage business.
OF the other ladies we must confess we miss
Misses Gutherie, Edmund and Somerville
who were respectively the Fiametta Beatrice
and Isabella Of year ago. Miss Reignord IS
rather amateurish as Fiametta and, while
she has Q good voice, it is affected somewhat
by the nasal tone she imparts TO it. Miss
Odds very good Isabella. Ryse, OF course, is
an admirable Lotteringhi, and receives de-
served encore for his cooper's song. The trio,
"From thy dreaming" by Lotteringhi, Lam,
bertuccio and Scotia, is as funny as ever and
the audience redemanded it, Mr.. Cooper is
fair Pietro. The grand ensembles, "He is
Prince" and "Open Gates are well worked
up and the audience insiste on the raising OF
the curtain at the close of the latter. A special
word must be said for the orchestra composed
of the regular theatre orchestra, and four
strangers. led by Mr.. G. A. Kirker. The thir-
t00u pieces are prompt and efficient.
Tonight the new opera Donna juanlta
will be presented and there will be great curl
osity to see it.
Friday and Saturday next Annie Pixley
will present "M'liss" at Portland Theatre sup
ported by an excellent company. The Boston
Herald says;
"a large and happy audience came away
from the Boston Theatre last evening, even
though it was we'll nigh midnight when the
curtain finally fell on the now familiar drama
tho company In her support had proved SO en-
tertaining. The performance itself was fully
IS good as usual, while the beauty of the play
was greatly enhanced by the size OF the Boston
Theatre stage and the opportunities it affords
for handsome setting. Miss Pixley is really
remarkable little actress, and when she breaks
loose from lone part acting" we predict rap
idly rising fame for her. In her present char
acter, however, she is perfect host; and IL
was evident from the applause and recalls CIV
on her that the audience was thoroughly de-
lighted. Her singing is OF itself well worth
going to hear"
KELLOGG CONCERT.
There are still few good seats left to the
grand concert to be given by the Kellogg Com
pany on Thursday evening at City Hall. Our
exchanges say that Miss Kellogg is singing
even better than ever, that Brignoi seems to
have recovered his youth, that Miss Pease is
the possessor Of remarkably good contralto
voice, that Mr.. Adamowski is one of the best
vioinists now before the public, and Herr
Liebling magnificent pianist. A splendid pro-
gramme is offered.
NOTES.
The most celebrated singers of italian opera
this season in London were not Italians. Patti
is an American of Spanish extraction. Albanl
is Canadian, Sembrich is a Pole. Fursh,
Madico, and Warnots are German. Nilsson is
a Swede, Guercia is Spanish, Valleria and
Minnie Hauck American, and De Reszke,
Marie Roze, and Trebeili are French
Sims Reeves, the veteran tenor. is to sing
"Edgardo" in Glasgow, which will be the
last time that Scotland will hear the music
from this favorite of many years. Shortly at
terward, bis son, Herbert Reeves who studies
to initiate his fathers manners and appear
ance, will make his debut in opera on the
same stage as "Arturo" in Lucia, on which
occasion Mile. Valera will be the "Lucia. I"