National Republican., 1883-02-12
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
TIE MAp1rsoN orrRA COMPANY.

THE MAPLLsON OPERA COMPANY.
Mr.. Mapleson next week will givo WASH
ington six performances of grand opera. Mr..
Maplcson's chorus and orchestra, under the
mastery baton of Signor Arditi, is always be-
youd criticism. He has been sngularly sue
cessiul in his male voices but he has occasion
ally presented the remarkable spectacle of an
opera company without any primo donne.
Not that Mr.. Mapleson does not advertise
them as prime donne, only so many of his
swans have turned out to be geese that the
public has become a little less conlding
toward Mr.. Mapleson. But this time he will
bring three truly great woman artists-Patti,
Albani, and Scalchi. OF Patti and Albani it is
not necessary to speak-only it is said in
London that neither of these charming sing
ers is at her best until confronted by the other.
Nine. Scalchi sang before an American audi
encc for the first time last autumn, but she is
an artist of the first order of merit and is un-
questionably the greatest dramatic contralto
now on the stage, and indeed has never been
rivaled except by the American singer,
Carey. Nine. Scalchi is especially great in
Arsace, which she sings with fire and splen-
dor of vocal and dramatic force that commands
enthusiastic admiration. She first sang this
part with Nine. Patti in London during the
season of 1878, and created great success by
it. As for Juch, Fursch-Madi, and Dotti
(who by the way, is the wife of the actor j.
b. Polk, tho less said about these ladies the
better. They belong to the class of "accond
voices" which are eminently useful but
totally unequal to great parts. Among the
men will be missed Campanini, Novara, and
] n. IL, u
and there is new tenor, Mier2winsli, who
is fine but unequal singer. The list of
operas to be sung during the engagement is:
Faust" with Albani; Semiramide," with
Patti; civilian Tell" with Dotti, Galassi,
and Mierzwinsk,; "Don Giovanni" with
| Fursch- -NIadi, Dotti, and Scalchi; and "Travi-
ata" with Patti.
FoRD's--MR. FRED wARDE.
| Very good reason exists for giving careful
hearing to Mr.. Warde, the tragedian who is
! to make his first important appearance before
| this public at Ford's opera house tonight. A
familiarity with Mr.. Warde's work during
four Of tho seven years that have
elapsed since he came TO this country,
iustihes the statement that he is an actor
| of fine intelligence and most OK
] CcllGnJ SCnOOllllS' lllA huVGcAacA nave
been distinct in many parts, and there are no
failures to be scored against him. What he
can do in performance tho main burthen of
which must rest upon his own shoulders re-
mains TO be seen; but expectation Of good
work is warranted by the memory of many
performances in which he has shared honors
equally with Mr.. Booth and Mr.. Mccullough.
This is the third season he has travelled inde-
pendently; and that he has proven
satisfactory TO that part of the public before
whom he has played is shown by the fact that
he has lasted so long. There is ample room
for good tragic actors in this country. We
have none too many of them. If Mr.. Warde
develops well, he will be very welcome. His
ambition is laudable, at any rate, and de-
serves encouragement. He will play Vir-
ginius this evening.
THE NATIONAL THEATER.
"Tho Romany Rye" which will be offered
at the National theater tonight, lisa play by
George Simms, author of "The Lights o.
London" 1t belongs in the same general
class with that drama, and has been quite
successful on both sides of the ocean, Messrs
Brooks and Dickson send it to us with every
assurance of Il competent company and the
best scenic effects. 1t will probably attract
considerable attention