Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-12-25
Emma Abbott.

The brief engagement of the Emma
Abbott English Opera company in this
city, commencing on Thursday evening
next, and continuing until Saturday
night, with matinee, promises to be one
of the most successful musical events,
artistically, that has ever taken place in
st. Paul. Of the artistic accomplish
ments of the company, Miss Abbott ex-
pressed herself, during recent inter-
view with Ismes-Star reporter, of Gin
cinnati, as follows:
"My artists" said Miss Emma with inter-
est, care selected after they have acquired in
dividual regulations and established their nat
ural gift of voice, their artistic training, and
have also demonstrated their popularity with
the public, for singer might be very fine in
concert and still not possess the combination
of acting and singing which is indispensable
on the operatic stage. Miss Rosewald is a
prima donna and has achieved reputation by
reason of her beauty and her voice, but an
equally powerful factor is her capacity as an
actress. She can sing the great soprano part
of Leonora in the "Trovatore," which is
been pronounced the best "Ollivette"
on the stage, and that you
know, is beautiful piece of comedy in light
opera. Miss Annadale, the contralto of the
company, is also splendid actress as well as
singer who established a reputation with the
Strakosch company before l engaged he1.
''Castle is too well established IS a popular
favorite to need description, His splendid
tenor voice and his acting harmonl2e, while
his dressing is correct and extremely elegant.
ssYalentine Fabrini, the new addition to the
company, is beautiful tenor, and has high
reputation. He sings the classic roles finely,
and is my support in the great tenor part
'Edgardo' in Lucia
'tGeorge Comfy is another new acquisition.
His reputation has been growing rapidly, and
he is undoubtedly the grandest basso profundo
in America, with stupendous and thrilling
voice like the organ. In Lucia he sings the
role of Raymond
"Then you have engaged new artists this
season?'
"Certainly. My plan is to constantly
strengthen and improve my company, for
there is no better way in which to res pond to
the hearty support have received from the
public. And you will see that this work, be-
gun under great difficulty, and carried out in
the face of some prejudice against English
opera, has at last attained a solid and rounded
success and demonstrated that opera in Eng
lish has only to have the same artistic care to
secure the great advantage of being perfectly
comprehensive. AS 1 said before, the
greatest of the arts is not an aristo-
cratic privilege, but given to us to
move the hearts of the multitude with its
soul and beauty. The ensemble of the COM
pany, that is, the principals and the double
chorus, male and female, make q complete
combination. ! have secured for the chorus
young people with fresh voices and they ap-
pear in proper dresses so as to produce beau
tiful bouquet of color on the stage. The full
orchestra is part of the company as much as
the singers and you will observe that instead
of the clang of horns and noise which mars
the effect in some companies, they play exact
ly in harmony and unison with the voices and
produce the proper effect, thanks to the able
leadership of Signor Tomassi, the best orches-
tral conductor imaginable.
''Signor Olmi, the baritone, is a beautiful
singer and very graceful and picturesque as an
actor; his reputation was established il other
opera companies before l engaged him. Mr..
Stoddard is also beauti ul artist. Mr.. Apple
by is promising young tenor who has won
considerable fame.
"Mr. Tams is a splendid buffo, and is also
a magnificent stage manager.
. "Miss Marie Bonheur is a young lady of
whom have the highest hopes as an artist.
You can see that the operas are SO thoroughly
studied in all the principal parts, the two cho-
ruses and the orchestra, that we never use a
prompter You never see the horrible prompt
er's box in The center of the stage when the
Abbott company is performing" And here
Miss Emma indulged in a look of the highest
pride.
''And how does the company travel?''
"We generally manage to make an express
train. At the opening of the season ] took
my company from New York to Denver and
opened the new Tabor Opera House. 1t was
a triumph and an ovation. We took all our
fftv people and returned directly 10
New York after the engagement. /
could stop the train aud give an opera
if 1t could be done without scegery. And my
ambition is to be alb to give the opera at
each city, where feel so much at home, just
as give it in great cities"
81 see, Miss Abbott, that success is success
full, and you deserve it."
81 hope that the last is the real reason after
all,'' said the little lady.
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