The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1883-02-18
ADJUSTMENTS

The first production Of Iolanthe ~ the
beautiful and charming latest work of Gilbert and
sullivan, VIII take place at Fords Opera House on
Monday evening, February ~. ''tolantbe So will e
given With the full strength vt Charles w.. Ford,s
English Comic Opera Company, led ly the famous
Blanche Chapman and Marie Bockcl and spnr,,,tc tod
10y the distinguished American comedian, Mr.
George W Dcnhaw. Mr.. Ford company nov mum.
hers upward ot sixty operate singers, among whom
we may mention the following wel-kuown artists
who have achieved national reputation; tharIea "a
DUNCAN, Charles ". Drew, Charles y. Lang L. W
Raymond, Philip Branson etc, Geuevieve Revuolds
Louise Kissing, Alice Butler, clara Peck ctc b,ye
made the name OF charles ". Ford well ana f,Vcrntlv
known through every city In the United states (
Critic NJ Cincinnati, In writing OF Mr. Tord's FIRST
presentation Of 80 tolauthc ~ La the Ouecn CItv az
the west, after hearing testimony to the beatiitfu
manner In which 1t was rendered, says In speaking
OF some OF the members OF this excellent opcratlc on
ganl2ati0n tlat "Phnp HransOn, tho tenor is
what Castle was In his host days;' and
actor, and baritone with delicious voice fiji Of
manly and tender tones, etc, notwithstanding tho
efforts 10 prevent this opera being brought ont thc
other day In baltimore, II was sung In that civ ot
furd's Grand opera Horse ana scored an uudeniable
success aud was by far the best producton aver iy
OF comic opera In that city. Tho S,,, of that cty
says: lhe opera showed careful rehearsal excellent
stage management, aud careful attention to detail.
The costumes aud scenery very handsome.
aud, rs regards the singing and acting, Mr. Ford
company Is much superior TO tho WostOn compony
who save 'lolanthe recently at the Academy OF
Music, The company last night brought out many
nice little points lost In Its FIST production for want
OF voices. The choral effects last night were excellent
and most Of the solos charmed the audience as to he
redemanded. The first scene was very pretty and
with the brilliant costumes made q charming pcture
advantage, ~ When 'lOauthe ~ was presented I'm
New York the reserved places were put at two dollars
each, and even then many were turned away The
House, and shows that the engagement Will beN great
musical success.
Lovers of music have rarely had more
attractive week before them than thai which l. now
offered by Manager Maplcson's italian opera COM
rany The selection operas is more attractive than
usual and the casts Of such excellence that 1t is only
tile dictate Of popular craze that has lecreed thai
those when Patti does not sing ''Oif nights. -
Monday are to have - Faust with the charming
Alhanl, who makes her FIRST appearance In WASH
lugton, after having, tor nearly ten years been
leading tavorte with the critical audiences OF Inn-
don, where she has shared applause and admiration,
mods masterpiece, with Rave GalaSsi, and ScaIchI
IN the cast, cannot fall to he memorable one.
Tuesday evening Patti and Scachl appear together In
semlTamide, - and this has everywhere been pro-
nounCed grand performance. "Wednesday evening
we are promised an event second to none In musical
importance In The appearance OF the phenomenal
Young tenor MIer2winskl, IN his greatest role
drnoHo together with the incompatible ia.
lassi. the ideal Ten. These great artists viii
he heard together In Rossinl's great opera
- william Tell. - Thursday evening Mozart q
noble opera, - Don Giovanni = will he heard win
scalch as Ssriinr, Nine. Fursch-Mad as Donna
Anna, Ravelli Don Ottduip and Ciampi. CeIlni AS
the wicked Don Giordnni Friday evening Al6ani
Nerui' "kgoletto, and the cast also includes
Scalch Galassi, and Rlveli so that 1t promises to
he an adequate and enjoyable representation. The
season closes with the Saturday matinee aud Patti as
IiOiet1 IN la TTaviata.N II should not he forgot
ten that one OF the features Of this opera season will he
u splendid ballet with Madame Cavalazz rs tho pre-
miere danseuse. To those who have never hearl her
and they will be the larger part OF her audiences we
predict that Albani will hc the revelation OF the sea-
son II Is, We believe, eight years since the writer
heard hor Sing Elsa to the Lohsngria of Campanini
She then was little past grlhood and possessed
the pures sweetest. and most perfectly cultivated
SOPRANO voices. She should now he In her prime, and
II there Is better singer heard at the National this
week we shall know that Mrs. Ernest Gyo must have
a bad cold
1t is seldom that performance keeps up
with or rather outruns promise to such an extent as
in the of Mr.. Ragan's illustrated lectures at
Congregational Church The peculiar merit OF this
exhibition above those of inferior class which
have before been seen here, lies In the Intelligence,
eoquence, and wit OF the young lecturer, who Is an
educated gentleman, "a graduate of Yale, and In the
perfect support between himself aud the experienced
assistant with the lantern, which gives perfect
smoothness to the whole Those who fail to attend
the lectures this week Spain, Scotland, and Mo-
rocco will miss treat. The praise avishly be-
slowed by journals Of other cities is well deserved
Mr.. Frederick Warde has followed Mr..
Mccullough just as Mr.. Mccullough followed Edwin
Forrest though not perhaps at such distance
This successive rise Of aspiring Young tragedans is
Ia the natural order of things, and, barring the
danger Of overstocking the market Mt any one time
is desirable promise of becoming very eminent
among the throng Mr.. Warde is no weakling and
though he has manifest limitations, has yet great
capabilities undeveloned uat should make him a
pleasing Interpreter of great dramatic works, with
respectable place among the "stars.n To say more
At this stage Of his career would be eXtravagant His
characters during the present week IirgiHitS,
BrutuS, Damon, RfcheiieH, PetrUchiO, and Richard
IN.
Mr.. Lawrence Barrett will appear at the
National Theatre February 20, producing his new
N 40, ia,
This scholarly gentleman, who is without superior
among English speaking actors, IS worthily doug
for the American what Irving is doing for the Eng
llsh stage. His production of sterling plays like
'Norick S Love, and the tragedy which he win pre-
sent Monday week, genuine services to dramatic
art.
The successful idyllic play Z" Esmeralda !"
OF our distinguished resident, Mr.. Francis HodgsOn
Burnett will be performed at Ford's opera House
during the week OF February % by company IN
Guiding John T.. owens Mr.. and Mrs WalCOt, * ate
Denim, WILSON, Charles u. Wells and others, and
viii without doubt be OF the notable successes or
the season.
The popular success achieved hy that
melodrama, 1.-The Romany Rye, =, at the
National Theatre last week lends interest To the an
nounceInent of the return of the companion work.
''The lights % London, - which has at least one
better feature in being relieved by touches of genuine
comedy.
testimonial benefit will be rendered the
Washington Chess and Checker Club on Wednesday
evening next at Abner's Hall. After the dramatic
performance, which begins At o'ClOcK, the floor will
lie given up to the audience for dancing. The pro-
gramme promises to be rich and varied.