The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-12-27
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
EMMA ABBOTT OPERA CO.

of opera that have been given in Portland for a
long time, were those of the Emma Abbott COM
pany Christmas afternoon and evening. The
carnival virtually killed the attendance at the
matinee, but there was very large and brill
liant audience in the evening.
The opera of the afternoon-"A King for a
Day"-was composed and presented twenty
five years ago in Paris. The author of its Ii
bretto it was who subsequently wrote the
emotional play, "The Two Orphans which
| had such marvellous run in this country. In
| the original mounting of the piece grand bal
let was one of the features, but, of course,
that was dispensed with here. At Paris the
opera ran 300 nights and since then had not
been heard from till Miss Abbott revived it,
The libretto was translated by Mr.. Rosewald
the musical director of the company, and ar
ranged by Mr. VIM. Castle, the tenor.
The opera is very bright, melodious and
sparkling, with charming rhythm and
swing to the choruses, and is not lacking in
very horid writing. The plot in brief is that
of a fisherman, zephoris, who falls in love
with and saves the Princess Nemea from
drowning. He afterwards, lamenting his con-
dition, falls asleep on the shore after writing
in the sand eff was King" The real King
comes along, sees Zephoris and the writing
and determines to humor him. A drug is adj
ministered and under its influence Zephoris is
transferred to the palace and treated as king.
The prime minister hates Zephoris, because he
also loves the princess, and has conspired to
overthrow the real king This Zephoris knows,
and he manages to defeat the prime minister,
oIt bofo he !, H. -
he is drugged aud returned to his old station,
The king is not ungrateful. He beheads the
prime minister, promotes Zephoris to his place
and marries him to the princess.
The orchestra and chorus were remarkably
good, the former consisting of ten pieces
brought by the company and MIR. essimmer,-
second violin; Mr. Todd, second clarionet;
Mr.. Batchelder, cello; and Mr.. Felt, drums,
of this city. The viola player was an artist,
aud in passages of the opera impaired the tone
of French horn to his instrument. Mr. Cas-
ties voice has become a baritone in quality,
and he uses the falsetto frequently, a sad
change to all who remember the superb tenor
of The Castle and Campbell Co., of twenty
years ago. To suit his voice the pitch of the
instruments was lowered half-tone, which
prevented in sou1e of the concerted music that
perfect harmonious blending to be desired.
Nevertheless lie acted with spirit and effect
and always rendered his music in good tas Q.
Miss Rosewald as Princess Nemea exhibited a
voice quite strong and flexible i'll the upper
register, and sne executed the ford music OF
the due Never to Par" admirably Miss
Amman, ale displayed rich contralto in the
part of Zelide, the sister of Z4phoris, and in
the mockIng-bird song La Iiedlenne, In the
third act her beautiful execution called forth
an encore. Mr.. Alonzo Stoddard was Capt.
tai King, Mr.. John Gilbert a most satisfactory
Kaducr-or prime minister-and the other
parts wers well taken. The opera was beau-
tifully costumed.
Lucia di Lammermoor" was most enthu-
siastically received, and the prominent fea-
lures, such as the great sestette and chorus at
the close of the third act, were heartily en-
cored. Miss Emma Abbott assumed the role
of the heroine and, while we cannot admire
her methods, or many of the tones she pro-
duces especially those of the middle register,
we are we'll aware she fully satisfies the aver
age opera audience. She acted with great
spirit and, in the scene with Edgar, where he
demands to know if the contract has been real
ly signed by her, and in the famous mad scene,
she showed good deal of dramatic power.
Her diamonds we're very handsome. Fabbrini
had good robust tenor, and Stoddard was
especially pleasing as Ashton. The opera was
terribly cut, but such choruses as were given
were done with true artistic feeling. The
clarionet and flute solos of the orchestra were
beautifully rendered. Let us hope the COM
pany will visit us again soon.
THE PROFESSOR.
Friday mig hit the Madison Square Company
will presenl the Professor at Portland
The cast has been printed in this journal.
When the professor was brought out here
before it proved one of the greatest hits of the
dramatic season. 1t should draw crowded
houses now.
THE LYCEUM.
The Lyceum is drawing capital houses this
week. The "Molly Maguires'' is brought out
in capital shape, and Mr.. and Mrs. Jerry
Conan, with Mr.. Phillips and Miss Bach are
great cards.
NOTES.
A dispatch from New York states that Mr..
Joseph Wheelock made tremendous chit" at
the Mt. Morris Theatre Monday evening, in
the dual role of Rex Sterling and Red Feather,
in Coyne Fietcher's new play, "The Indians
The play is pronounced strong one and was
presented with good cest The audience dis
played great enthusiasm and called the star