The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-02-13
Special Correspondence Of The Richmond DIS
patcl.I


and some Of the Things They Saw.
Especial Correspondence Of The Richmond Dis
patch.l
CISCINNATI, February :, 1888.
The Opera Festival closed last evening
with Donitzetti's Linda di Chamounl."
The Festival proper ended on saturday
night with Lohengrin. hut two extra ope-
ras were given on Monday and Tuesday
nights OF this week, "FauSt" being pre-
sented on Monday. The large crowd oi
strangers who have filed the hotels and
boarding-houses and given additional life
10 the ALWAYS busy streets OF Cincinnati
have disappeared a. suddenly as they came,
and nothing remains Of the third Opera
Festival but pleasant memories for many,
sad reflections for the army OF ticket-specu-
IotorS who oyerdid the business, many Of
them going into IL wholesale at retail
6gures. who were fortunate at the end TO
have retailed them at wholesale prices; and
an occasional poster, which seems to defy
the dirty dampness which prominently
neryades the Queen City" OF the West at
this season.
MANY and varied have been the express
siOns concerning
THE OPERA FESTIVAL.
Lengthy and detailed accounts have filled
the papers, and vet volumes remain un-
written. The evident jealousy OF other
large cities, such as New York, Chicago,
st. Louis. and Louisville, at the "preten-
sions" which Cincinnati makes to being a
great musical centre, and which was so
plainly exhibited in the harsh and SEEM
ingIv spiteful criticisms on the Festival
daily appearing i'm their great journals,
would furnish food 10 the dspassioaate
philosophical mind for lengthy and in
structiye chapter. We lay no claim to the
requisite ability, and therefore dismiss the
theme with its bare suggestion,
To our mind, the Festival, while might
have been better, and could readily have
been worse, was all and more than we had
anticipated.
TIE TASK
Of producing such operate works as "Tra-
yiaia," "L'Africaine." Sonnambula,"
William Tell" Semiramide," "Flying
Dutchman," "DOn Giovanni" and "Lob-
engrin," and all Of them within one week,
even with such capabilities as Colonel Ma
plesOn's troupe is possessed OF, presents
difficulties in its successful accomplishment
that cannot easily be Oyer-estimated. And
when that undertaking was carried through
90 the manifest delight of the thousands
who crowded the hall at each performance,
and that, too, without one change in the
programme as originally set forth, il speaks
volumes for the management, and may be
justly set down Is
A DECIDED TRIUMPH IN MUSIC.
Not only was every opera given in the
ri Int Ia. arfo
were happily free from the customary eX-
cuses for the non-appearance Of cranky
singers. which is the unfailing accompani-
ment OF ordinary operate seasons. With
the exception of the substitution OF Madame
Galassi as "Ortruda" for Madame ScaIchi
in LOhengrin, there was not q single
change made from the manner in which the
singers were east before the Festival began.
il is only doing simple justice, therefore,
We take il, 10 say that, as a whole, the Fes-
tval was 4 great success. Some features,
OF course, could have been improved upon,
while again i'm some Others there was a sad
lack Of excellence. Yet, where can we find
perfection except in Patti? And even that
perfection. like all that Is human, lacks at
least one essential element.
THE GREAT DIVA
sings with a finish, force, and sweetness
that we have never heard equalled. Yet it
is the beauty Of the flower without fra
GRANGE. She lacks feeling. She gives the
proper expression 10 every phase and the
true tone 10 every note; her rare natural
gifts have received the finishing touches OF
art. so that whatever she does is beautifully
done. In a word, she disarms criticism
and arouscs the deepest sense Of admira-
ton, especially in those who can appreciate
her high ART. Still, withal, she fails to en-
thuse her auditor. That indetinable some
thing, whether il be nature or art, or both.
by which the very soul OF the singer, all
aglow with passion or filed with sentiments
OF JOY or sadness, takes possession Of the
listener, Is wanting in Patti
ALBANI
Possesses ii TO a rare degree, and hence her
Popularity. OF the two. Patti is unques-
honably the greatest artist, yet we must
confess We were charmed with Albani, and
experienced more real enjoyment from her
Fsinging than from PATHS. 1t is fact be-
yond contradiction that the little lady OF
lhis continent more than shared honors
with the great songstress from across the
waters; and Madame Patti has learned
within the past week that she cannot much
longer be .faciIe princepS with two such
powerful rivals in her way as
MADAME CHRISTINE NILSSON
aud Madame Albani. The perfect storm
oi applause which greeted the Swedish
Nightingale as she appeared in a private
box before the immense audience which
mad come 10 witness PATHS "Semira-
mide" was anything but fiattering pre-
lude to the appearance OF the prima donna
and that she felt the popularity OF the other
TWO became more apparent ny the Festival
wore on. Finally, ut her last appearance
|oi the week-on Saturday afternoon In
Don Giovanni "-she made display Of
Weakness which, while II could not fail To
arouse a feeling OF sympathy, was rather
lamentable In so proud princess Of song.
4 Up 10 that time the very excellent rule OF
|ihe directory OF the College Of Music pro-
|hibiting response 10 eRc0res had been
|strictiy obeyed. But Patti seemed TO feel
Plat she must do something 10 WIN the
affection Of her audience, and by
A GRAND COUP D'ETAT,
" IL were, 70 share IN the popularity OF her
rivals. In the soubrette role OF "Zerlina"
he was charmingly bright and yiyacious.
Aever was she more sprightly. But 1t was
! great effort, and the effort became very
atent. She responded 10 the encore time
pa time again. Even when the eordiality
&I.A .I..s..