The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-02-13

rally circulated. that Mr.. Abbey VIII iuI-
nish the company for the next fcstvai,
composed i'm great part OF Colonei Maple
sons troupe, minus Madame Patti, would
be an additional explanation Tor the dlva's
evident discontinue. IL Is said that Mr..
Abbey has already secured for the proposed
new organization for next year Nilsson,.
Albani, Scalchl, Campanini, Del Puente,
Rayelli, and others.
But TO return to the festival just con-
cluded.
THE MUSIC HALL
IN which il was given is a magnificent
structure. It's mammoth proportions are,
however, sadly cramped by the effort at
economy OF space in the arrangement OF
seats. II will seat 5000 people, and it is
estimated that at Wednesday evenings
performance there was an audience OF over
5000 people present. Extending around
the entire ball is q promenade or lobby
some twenty feet in width, with which
communication is had by means OF ten or
a dozen large double doors on each floor.
When the curtain arose the doors TO the
auditorium were closed, and persons not
in their seats were obliged TO wait until
the following intermission. Thus the audi
ence was not disturbed by late comers. A
very enjoyable and
SENSIBLE FASHION
with the audiences, q large portion OF
whom were in full dress. was to indulge in
a pleasant promenade during the Intermis-
sions. Those who did not go INTO the lob
by would stand up and look about them at
the vast concourse OF people who were
gazing IN turn at them. IL was anything
but unusual TO see ladies walk to and fro
in the aisles, chatting pleasantly first with
one friend and then with another. Thus
the unavoidable long waits in the arrange
mcnt of elaborate scenery, instead OF be-
coming excessively tiresome, afforded time
for pleasant recreation. The audience were
recalled 10 their seats by the sound Of
trumpets Il few minutes before the rise Of
the curtain.
OTHER ARTISTS.
As TO the voices other than the prima
donnas above mentioned, il would tire the
reader to criticise the great number Of
artists who contributed to the success Oi
the Festival. Madam eScalchi pronounced
,Shol-keU possesses I'M alto voice OF phe-
nomenal volume and tone. 1t is deep and
far richer than most tenor robusto voices
yet it is peculiarly feminine in its character.
The character OF tone is much the same as
Il :,
volume. Her duet with Patti in ''Scmi-
ramide" was one Of the grandest efforts Of
the whole Festival. The audience were
perfectly enthuSed, and as the singers made
their exit behind the scenes, amid deafen-
ing applause, Patti gave expression to her
unfeigned delight at the altos superior
work by giving her feryent kiss and
warm embrace.
Sirnor EalacSi ~ harifopp Of thp frOnpp
enjoys great reputation and seems to be
q general iavOrite with the critics. We
were, however, greatly disappointed in
him. lie has fine presence and acts with !
great force and fire, yet his tone is harsh |
and metallic, and, though it may be at
trbutable TO the great resonance in the |
ball, seemed to be decidedly treacherous as
to accuracy. We were
CHARMED WITH RAyELLI.
He has a pure, rich tenor, and knows
how to use il with fine effect. He is SUI
perior to all the other male singers in
Colonel MaplesOn's company, though he
did not seem to be in favor with the Gin
cinnati critics. Signor Costa has power
full, but withal melOdious, bass voice, while
Signor Corsini is very promising baritone.
He played n capital "LepOrello :" TO the
very wretched a" Don Giovanni OF Signor
With the so-called "great
tenor" Mierzwinski, we were much disap-
pointed. He has voice OF great compass,
and that is all. His middle register is
faulty; and he impaIrs his higher register,
which is the best portion OF his voice, by
faulty method. Thus he is at no time
heard with any degree Of comfort by the
auditor. The chorus, except
IN the " Flying Dutchman," was large and
the ballet, supported by Nine.
Cavalazzi, was very fne, while the scenic
effects, especially in "L'Africaine," were
beautiful to the last degree.
The orchestra, numbering about seventy,
under the able baton OF SignOr Arditi, was
one Of the great features OF the Festival.
They were encOred for their performance
Of the overture to civilian Tell" and
were forced 10 repeat the last movement.
The three
NILSSON CONCERTS
At Robinson's Theatre during the same time
rs the Festival were eminently successful.
At the Thursdays matinee the house was
filled to Overflowing, and crowds OF peo-
ple were turned away who could not even
obtain standing room. Miss Nilsson seems
to be as great a fayorite here as She is in
Richmond. She is supported by the BoS-
ion Quntettc Club, Miss Hope Glenn,
Sisnor Del Puente. and Mr.. BOrksten, the
Young tenor and the prOtfge OF Miss Nilsson.
Upon singing "the jewel Song" from
Fanst, Miss Nilsson was eRc0red three
times, and the last time responded with
50 Old Folks at Home" OF course there
was scarcely dry eye in the house, and
it would be difficult to conceive OF greater
enthusiasm than this sweet songstress
stay in Cincinnati.
THE WEATHER
has been anything but propitious, and the
natural beauty OF Cincinnati, at all times
more or less impaired by the dense smoke
from countless manufactures, railroads,
and universal soit-coal fires, was in great
part lost to the large number OF visitors in
The city last week. The general thaw and
subsequent heavy rainfalls rendered the
streets as unsightly as impossible, and the
heavy atmosphere made the days so dark
that i'm most OF the large stores the electric
light was kept burning at midday. The
river is rising very rapidly, and serious
irCshet seems inevitable.
As the Richmond city fathers, who visit
ed the city at this iuncture in purely un-
official character, looked cOmplacently upon
these seeming evidences Of official negli-
gence, and contrasted them with the COM
paratively "new-pin" neatuess OF their
own streets, they fairly boiled with right
eous indignation at the many reproaches
they have been made TO sufler on this point
by newspaper-men and other acedlthy citi-
zens. They did not suffer any inconye-
nience from the condition OF the streets,
however, owing TO the generous hospitality
81 Mr.. John Anderson. This gentleman,
4 private citizen OF Cincinnati, met them