Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-01-19
OUR PARIS LETTER.
THEATRICAL NOTES AT THE FRENCH
METROPOLIS.
Grand Opening of the Theatre Italien-
A Glance at the Audience-Beau.
tifuI Toilsts-Letters-
PAR1s. December ID. 1859.

kIaLlOu,
prospect of war, Paris is never too preoc-
cupied to feel the most profound interest
In the publication of new book, the sue
cess of talented debutante or the opening
of new theater. Since the prosaic trans
formation of the old Ventadour Theater,
of glorious memory, into a banking. house,
the Parisians had lost hope of a resurrec-
tion of the Theatre Italien, and when it
was understood that Victor Maurel, bar
itone of great talent, was going to rein
state, under exceptionally favorable condi-
tons, the beautiful representations of the
good old times" the news was received
with unbounled enthusiasm. This
MAGNIFICENT PROSPECT WAS REALIZED
A few evenings since. Maurel and the
Corti Brothers, for many years directors of
their own theater at Milan, obtained ALSO
Lutte coRtrol of the old Nations Thester,
for years under the direction Of NJ. Bal
lande, an actor Of rare ability, formerly
connected with the Theatre Francois, the
originator of the matinee" and father of
the gifted painter, Louis Ballande. For
nearly four months the old Nations Thea
ter has been in the hands of the painters
and decorators, and will be known hence
forth as the Theatre Italien, the most fash
ionable and elegant theate7 of Paris in
deed, the only theater at present where
full dress will be severely insisted upon.
All the boxes and the greater part of the
best seats were engaged months ago for the
entire year by the leaders of society and
distinguished foreigners visiting or residing
at Psris, and the opening night was the
most brilliant in the recollection of the
oldest theater.goers The President of the
Republic occupied the most conspicuous
box. He was accompanied by his daugh-
ter, Nine. Wilson. The box next to the
Presidents was occupied by Victor Hugo
and his daughter, Nine. L0ckraY, and her
BEAUTIFUL children. In the boxes nearer
the orchestra were the Prlncesse Mathilde,
NJ. and Nine. Ferdinand de Lssseps, Jules
Ferry, Mrs. Mackay Of California, Alexan-
der Dumas, the Duke de Morny, Gordon
Bennett, Sarah Beruhsrdr, Marie Van
Zaudt the singers F5uJe and Duprez;
the painters Melssonnier, Dupre and Bal.
lande the favorite singer, Gabrielle
Krauss, and hundred other celebrities OF
Paris.
AMONG MANY BEAUTIFUL TOTLETTES
That of Mrs Mackay was, perhaps, the
most remarkatla-a heavy silk of the
fashionable color, crushed Strawberries,
embroidered profuseiy with anemones of
all colors and very fine pearls. Mrs.
MIsckay's diamonds were the largest and
rarest seen that evening. Nine Alexandra
Dumas dress OF rare Cbanully lace,
trimmed with black velvet, was very ele-
CANT, and that of Jeanne GARNER, the
beautiful singer OF the opera, was notice
able for its extreme simplicity and good
taste The material was of softest batiste
trimmed profusely with old Valenciennes
lace. The heavy, blonde hair Of the deli
cately pretty singer was worn high, in a
single coil, aud fastened with golden
comb the only ornament.
THE THEATRE ITALIEN
VIII be devoted to representations Of Ital-
ian OPERA and the artists will always be !
the best that Italy can provide, but at !
present Maurel is the chief attraction. |
He is a brilliant singer, and enjoys a good |
position in the best Partisan society. His |
intimate friend Is the Pence de SagaD, who |
has been the soul Of the enterprise, aud |
this fact alone has had much to do with its |
success. MAurel sang formerly at the |
Nentad0ur TheaJsT, with tle P.t.i, Nico- |
lini, Tamberlik aud the Marquis de Cam |
dia, better known as Mario. Tae opening !
of the new Theatre Igalien has interested |
the old associates of Mfurel, and letters Of |
congratulasion receiyed from them have |
been published in the Paris journals.
PATTI WRITES AS FOLLOWS:
" made my debut at the Ventadour, com.
monty known az the Theatre IJalien, in
Sopnam5ula, in 1862. do not remem-
Der the name OF the tenor who Gang with
me. l only remember that Taglialico was
the Count, and ever since that eventful de.
but he has been my most devoted friend.
l shall never forget the emotion that felt
the first time l appeared before a Partisan
public, but its reception was benevolent
ald quickly treasured me- | regard those
seasons az the Nentadour as the most
glOrieus OF my artistic career. | sang
during those years with Mario, that incom.
parable artist; Nandin, Gardoni and 9TH
ers equally celebrated. The gracious
souvenirs OF my first triumphs were some
times darkened by the shadows of envy
and jeslousy-the inevitable companions
Of youthful success. Oue evening during
. performance Of Linda great many
bouquets were thrown upon the stage, and
among them was one arranged in a Sin
gular manner. One Of the flowers became
detached and fel upon the floor Of the
stage with a formidable noise. 1t was an
enormous ball oil lead, which would have
struck me on the head if it had not been
badly attached to the bouquet, which was
thrown with great skill, and Just touched
my shoulder. Another time, at the con.
clusIon Of performance of Traviata, re-
turning to the stage to salute the public
which had recalled me, the curtain de
scen5ed suddenly, and before I could re-
cover presence OF mind had struck me. I
lay unconscious for some time, but was not
seriously wounded, which was owing to the
hIga and heavy couture then worn. Il was
an everyday occurrence TO find matches in
the bottom OF the water pitcher in my
dressing room, and to receive mysterious
looking parcels Of the finest gloves, inclos
ing nose from the maser, begging my ac-
oeptauce, SIS "a token Of gratitude for the
pleasure received from my rendering Of
some particular role My father was Id.
vlsed 20 have t3ese gloves examined by
chemist, and no one hut mysei seemed to
be surprised when be declared them to be
poisoned | am sure these. ADD hundred
other petty Intriguas, were resorted to in
the nope Of disabling me Tor the moment
It was at Paris that l sang fer the first
time ID Troyatare, and under circUm-
stances which made 1t an event in my
career. It was the occasion OF charitable
benefit organized by the Countess do Beau
mont, to which | gave my services gsa-
For some unknown reason, at
the last moment, the orchestra refused to
play unless paid IN advance. One can Judge
IF the effect, and Of my sssouishmeuJ on
entering the stage - hear the musicians
tuning their instruments I waited q mo.
nent, the tuning ceased, but not a
found, not tone, to accompany my voice ,
There was a dead silence in the whole {
.heater-the audience seemed to take IN s
he situation. | never felt such despair in
III my life g; but, unconsciously began TO
ing. and after few bars the orchestra
oiued me, and played exquisitely the
whole evening. It was the most brilliant {
representation of that season, and a veri-
able triumph. It is not necessary for me
% tell you how happy l should be 10 assist {
It the opening OF the new Theater Italian.
,ut l must cross the ocean again TO see