The Portland daily press., 1881-12-02
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.



Portland has good reason to feel proud OF
the Cecilia Club judging by their corcert at
City Hall last evening. The individual men,
bers of the quartette were old acquaintance OF
the public as members at one time or the other
of either the Rossini Club or the various
church choirs of the city, or both, but on only
two previous occasions had they appeared In
their own town as quartette, since their Or
ganization as a club in March last, one OF
which was at miscellaneous concert given by
the Haydn Society. Since then they have
drilled with great patience and evidently IN
der careful and skilful instructor The
parts of the State where they have sung has
been well merited, and last evening they not
only drew very large audience to City Hall,
but drew from it enthusiastic plaudits and ire
quent encores.
The programme embraced fourteen num-
bers, and the additions heightened out the con-
cert to nearly half-past ten o'clock. For all
that the selections were SO well chosen and
sung with so much grace and spirit that no
one felt tired. The quartettes were sung with
much smoothness, and beautifully shaded, the
voices blending perfectly. Especially pleasing
were the unaccompanied Lois Lovely Star,
and Soderman's ssWedding March" The solo
numbers were all encored Miss Nettie Mil
liken's pure, high soprano and brilliant execn.
ton, was displayed to advantage in the ford
aria sRejoice, from Macfarren's oratorio of st.
John, and in response to recall she gave the
little ballad sSupposng" with much archness.
Miss Bartett's graceful execution was exceed
ingly we'll exhibited in her encore SELECTION OF
"Robin Sang in the Linden Tree" IN whlch
her triiling was very we'll done and her tones
very sweet. Miss Bryant's beautiful mezzo-so-
prano was heard to great advantage in Pm
suits "The Raft" which she gave with much
dramatic breadth and pathos, and, as recall,
responded with Come, MY Darling. Mrs.
Morrison's rich contralto delighted her hearers
in Mercadante's "S'Estino," and for encore
she gave most charmingly "only Summer
Shower, The concerted numbers, DesldeS
the ouartettes, were well rendered,
Miss BERTHE Webb plays with even greater
strength and precision and her rendering OF
Der Beriot's concerto drew forth an enthusl-
astic encore to which she responded with
Alard's "Blalmenlied." Mr.. Lndali mas a
rounded full tone, and not lacking in brillian.
CIV of execution. He gave the Last Rose OF
Summer" and little Alpine song for encores.
Mr.. Murray accompanied most acceptaply.
THE yoKEs FAMILY.
Tonight every seat will be occupied at Port
land Theatre and the sign standing room
only" will probably be displayed The reputa-
ton of the Vokes family has preceded them
and the s.Belles Of the Kitchen" is their best
play. The plot on which the various scenes
are strung is that of a number of servants in
a country-house in England, who, while the
family is away, dress themselves up IN cos
tunes and give specimens OF tragedy, comedy,
farce, burlesque and ballet, all in excellent
style. Better get seats during to-day for to-
night will be too late.
SONG OF THE BELL
Schiller's "Song of the Bell, will draw
very large and fashionable audience to-mor-
row night to Portland Theatre. The various
tableaux win prove highly interesting, the mu-
sic Charming and the recital of the poem has
been intrusted to gentlsman of excellent eo-
cutionary ability. Tickets can be secured now.
NOTES.
At the concert to be given by the Hutchin-
son Family, December Sth, Miss Florence
Holmes (who sang at Miss Cary's concert last
year, and Mr.. Isaac Littlefield will assist.
Clara Morris reappeared in New York, Mon
day night, in Camille The Tribune says there
is no abatement in the poignantly real pathos
and passion Of her Interpretation of the char
acter
Anna Dickinson brought suit against Fanny
Davenport to recover her play of the "Ameri-
can Girl, in Philadelphia, Monday. Miss
Dickinson says Miss Davenport ruined the
play by introducing "gags" foreign to the IL
bretto. Miss Davenport says she had to intro
duce them to make the play go.
Mr.. Hassard of the Tribune, one OF the best
musical critics in this country, says: TO deal
with generalities, it may be forthwith set down
that M noe. Patti is by no means either won-
an gifted with phenomenal range of voice or
with uncommon vocal power. Nor is she an
actress of more than average merit Her tones
are OF golden quality and of perfect evenpess,
but they do not extend beyond the ordinary
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