The Portland daily press., 1882-11-25
AND THE DRAMA.
LITTA,

LTTTA.
1t was too bad. Last evening an artist who
has attained great eminence in this country
singer, appeared at Portland Theatre sup.
ported by troupe which ranked with ether
leading concert companies now visiting our
prominent cities, and only about hundred
ladies and gentlemen gathered to hear them.
This fact is to be deplored, not only on account
of the loss to those who stayed away, but also
for the opinion of Portland as a musical city
which these artists will bear away with them.
Still it only goes to prove that our musical PEG.
ple-and Portland is cee brated for their UNI
ber-will not go to Portland Theatre tr Aear
concert Opera attracts them thither, but not
concert.
Mdlle. Marie Litta who made her first appear
ance in Portland on this occasion, was the
strongest feature of Strakosch's Opera Troupe
in 1878. She saved the company I'M dire
failure. Her voice is rather light, it is a
soprano, clear, musical and very fl xible. In
the upper register it is especially good, and the
higher notes strike upon the ear like those from
a silver bell, or more properly speaking like
the music evolved by striking on the finest
OiJoudis 4AOA iOWOA hOtCo ci0 nOO ~ SOOu, anu
at times last evening displayed "a little huski-
ness. Her command of technique is admira-
Bile, and she executes her roulades, thrills and
| staccato runs with apparent ease. She favored
| her audience with two encores, the one, appar-
| emily, Tyrolean air, and the other the ever
| familiar Way down on the Suwanee River, -
| while the famous "Ah! che la naoTte," from
"Trovatore" with Signor Baldanza was vehe-
| mently redemanded.
| Mr.. Louis Blumenberg, the violincellst is
| an admirable artist. and his rendering of the
| Ronad7azd by Sivori and Davidoff's "SpinniDg
| Wheel" aroused his hearers as thoroughly as
| Mile. Litta had done. His bowling was firm,
his tone, at times, rich, full and mellow, at
| others sweet and clear as water trickling from
| spring, and he played with great expression
| For an encore he gave an exquisite little air
| using the sordSno-with delicacy that called
forth the strongest expressions of delight.
| Signor Bahamas tenor is of the robust
| quality. For an encore to his "No7e Ver' he
| gave the beautiful "Over the Summer Sea-
from "Rigeletto" but it requires the voice of a
| Ravelli to give that selection satisfactorily.
Mr.. Bereghy has good bass but he was suffer
ing from bold last evening. Mr.. Harrison's
accompaniment were acceptable.
YOUTH.
Next Monday evening the Boston Theatre
Company will appear in youth at the Port
land Theatre. The play, like all the spectacle
plays, depends upon scenic effect rather than
the drama for success. Its story is in brief as
follows:-Rev. Joseph Darlington, vicar oil
Beechly, is a severe churchman with secret
which he hides, in repentant adherence to his
duties In early life he sinned, deserted his
victim, who, left to the world, lives on the
world in guilty splendor. firing of it, how.
ever, under the name Of Mrs. Walsingham
she seeks her native place to bury in old asso-
Citations recolectons of the life that is so false
She there encounters her betrayer. Recogni.
ton is followed by recrimination, and pain.
full scene is closed when Darlington refuses tc
grant the prayer of his victim, that she may
retire and live in her old home. Stung by
his severity she VOWS vengeance, and chance
furnishes her with means Darlington's son
Frank, a careless, young soldier, betrothed tc
his cousin, has already fallen into the meshes
of one OF her sex-Eve de Malvoise. Frank
has promised his father to renounce her, but
his promise is soon broken when she encoun
tiers him at boarding cottage on the Thames