The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-10-20
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
VIRGINIA.


made lis debut ia this city last evening az Port
land Theatre and scored a decided success
The audience was large and enthusiastic re-
calling the performers frequently and insisting
on numberless encores, and was made up not
only OF fashionable, but also of our best known
musical people
Virginia" as Mr. Cheever Goodwin nas con-
str1cHd his libretto, is patterned after the
style of Gilbert & sullivan. It cannot be said
for Alr. Goodwin that he Is as delicatelys satir-
ical as Mr.. Gilbert but he manages-at least
in the first act-to throw in many bright say
ings mixed with some fearful 1puns, and. while
he SLOWS the second act to drag little. (per-
haps seemingly,so from the length of the first
acV he manages to send the audience away in
an agreeable frame of mind. The plot if plot
1t can be called, as we said YESTERDAY deals
with the FRANKS of Mephistophiles who. enter
Ing village plays havoc with the rustic loves
OF the villagers and nearly gets caught himself.
Mephistophiles reminds the spectator of John
Wellington Wells of the "Sorcerer,' and there
are "reminiscences of Faust, Tolantne, Pima
lore and Billee Taylor throughout the work.
Inc music by Stephens and Solomon is
bright and the numbers come tripping after
each other IN great profusion. The choruses
are large and admirably drilled giving their
music with great spirit and precision ana act
ing with considerable abandon. The chorus
of dudes was in perfect keeping with the char
acter both in dress and style. The NAVY
chorus was odd and effective. There was
delicious quartette In the scene where the
devil presents the rings, sung by Misses Ed
mondson and futile, Messrs. Fessenden and
Weeks. The serenade BY Mr.. Fessepden
showed the qualities of his voice to excellent
advantage. The cha hal" solo of Mr.. Bro
colini deserved its encore, and Mr.. Wilkinson's
SOLO at the close OF the first act-a strong rem
iniscence of "All on account of Eliza" took
immensely. In the second act the trio song
and dance by Miss Poole, Mr.. Wilkinson and
Mr.. brocolini, obtained triple encore espec-
Tally from the happy idea of substituting the
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS for his master in the
scene.
The acting Of the principals was yery
good, Mr.. Brocolini particularly, making de-
cided hit. The opera was well costumed and
fairly staged. The orchestra, twelve pieces.
was admirable, and was led with skill By Mr..
Virginia will be repeated tonight We
must thank Messrs. Rock and Bachert for the
excellent troupe they have brought to this
city.
DE KoNTsKIs SYMPHONY.
The Boston Advertiser says: 1.-THE Cheyalier
de Kontski's symphony, entitled "The Sol
dier's Dream" which was performed at the
concert in the Roberts course on Tuesday eve
ming, this being its first production in Ameri-
ca, IS an example OF the most unsophisticated
kind OF programme music" It's four move
ments deal with the conventional themes OF
war poetry, including not only the vicissitudes
OF camp and battle, but the pensive reveries OF
the soldier. 1t is decidedly enjoyable music,
taken piece BY piece, SO to speak, displaying,
as it does throughout, the composers very de-
cided genius for melody in the form of we'll
marked rhythms that set Que to beating time in
spite of himself. The elaboration of details is
often very ingenious and captivating, but it ia
generally in the form of variation rather than
development; indeed, of development proper
there is little more than mere suggestions
throu ghoat the symphony. The work. in fact,
is almost one continued defiance of symphonic
form. Not TO mention the introduction of yo-
Cal solos and choruses at discretion in the saw
eral movements,t the separate movements them
selves have little more conference than an or
binary medley, and in some cases they end
without the slightest apparent attempt at eli
max. So far as the descriptive worth of the
music is concerned, it is for the most part
wholly conventional and generally quite sup
critical, and it is difficult to follow the 4story,
even with the printed scheme before ones
eyes. The work contains frequent reminiscent
ces OF other authors and in one case there 10 a
| very remarkable melodic resemblance to Liazts
familiar polonaise No 2. The symphony was
performed under the composers direction by a
large orchestra OF local musicians, assisted by
Miss Marie Nellini, soprano soloist tlre chorus
OF the Boston Oratorio Society, and Mr. Frank
Donahoe and Mr.. j. G. Lennon, organist.
La GioCoNDA.
The Tribune, speaking of the new opera to
be brought out by Abbey's company in New
York, says: La Gioconda," the novelty of the
last London season, has in it the material for a
splendid spectacle, Its first act plays in the
courtyard of dueal palace at Padua; it's second
on board ship at sea, and this ends with con-
fiagation and rescue. The production of this
opera will mark red-lettsr day in the Metro
poitan Opera House annals and some scenic
effects out of the ordinary run may be expect
ed. They will surely be forthcoming if as
much care in proportion to the interest excited
by the event is bestowed upon ia Gioconda',
as has been spent on Faust" For this opera
elaborate settings have been made, and tha
ballet, instead of interrupting the action in the
market scene, will ill an act, and will be Civ
en- with the charming original music which
Mr.. Thomas made familiar in his orchestral
concerts years ago. x
KELLOGG CONCERT.
Miss Clara Louise Kellogg will give a CON
cert in Portland Theatre next Tuesday even
ing.
OXFORD COUNTY MUSICAL ASSOCIATION.
The miscellaneous concert given at the First
Congregationalist church in Bethel, Thursday
evening, by the Oxford County Musical As
ISOLATION was well attended, and the concert
was very satisfactory. The following was thu
programme:
Chorus-U Unfold ye Portals Gounod,s Redemption
Song-Hybrias the Cretan .........,....,. Elliot
MIR. A Bradford.
Soprano Solo and Chorus-LovelY Appear
GOunod's Redemption
Song q. Farewell my own True Love. X ucken
to'o"oe' 1eneyre y mia.
Song-W atkins Evening Party .........H atton
Mr.. d Stinchfeld.
Ch0rus-Peasants Wedding March. ...., j., ,Soderman
sono a. Friar of Orders Grey .Ghield
Chorus, Christmas carol-tHoiy Night. .BSrnDy
Piano Solo-Cachuca, Caprice. ...-......... Raft
Mr.. Harvey Murray.
SONG ia. Song of May .............. ....Marston
'ons b Come in and Shut the Gate. Leslie
Mrs. w Chase.
Song and Chorus-Holy Lord God ...... Gounod
Song Camelia and the Rose ..............G CAM
Miss Clara Merrill,
Chorus in Unison-Deus Misereatur. Goss
Hymn-Now the Day is Over. Barnby
The pieces marked b. were sung as encores.
The chorus by the good shading Of their
numbers, showed their appreciation OF the
careful training of Mr. Kotzschmar. Mr.. Muir
ray played the piano accompaniments finely,
and was aided by Mrs. Tewksbury OF Lewiston,
who on some of the Plumbers played an accom-
paniment on the organ, very acceptably. The
sessions closed last evening BY concert the
first part miscellaneous; the second part from
the oratorio of the Messiah. The solo parts
were sustained by the State street church quar-
tette choir of Portland T,
NOTES.
Among the new artists at the Lyceum next
week will be Lang and Sharp, Harvard sisters,
and j. o Reed the old time "Rocks'' we'll
known here years ago.
Falmouth.
The First Congregational Church and parish
having accepted the resignation of their pastor,