National Republican., 1884-02-28
ADJUSTMENTS.
THE NAT1oNAL-"LA G1oco

THE NATIONAL LA G10CONDA."
Mmo. Sembrich's triumph of Tuesday night
brought perhaps a larger attendance to the
first performance of Ponchiellis LA Clio.
conda" than would have been present other
wise, even with the exceptionally strong
cast that supported Nine. Nils.
son. The opera was rendered with such
dramatic skill and expression, such musical
nerve and fire, as to create a very favorable
impression Of its merits. 1t forms welcome
addition to our list of tragic operas Mme
Nilsson was in superb voice, and her perform
ance lacked none of the old artistic
grace and dramatic expression. Sig. CAM
panini was hardly at his best
until the fire and dclicacy of his rendering Of
the "Cielo il Mar" in the second act brought
out the tull sustained purity and sweetness
of his tones, and scored an enthusiastic en-
core. Nine. Scalchi, as usual, sustained with
out effort her reputation as one of the best
contralto singers ever hoard in opera.
A self-abandonment, rare in singers and
determination to express the composers
meaning, made her rendering of the blind
mother q triumph of artistic excellence that
carried the audience. Mime. Madi very
finely passed the ordeal of being "an-
other prima DONNA" and in the duo
with Nine. Nilsson sustained her part
with energy and precision. The work of
Novara, Del Puente, and Campanini was
especially noticeable for exquisite quality
in the quintette and chorus of the third act,
the gem of the work.
Tonight the favorite Giovanni" will be
presented, with Fursch-Madi, scalchi, VAL
leria, and Mirabella (his first appearance
here) in tho cast.
FoRD's-THE LONDON COMEDY COMPANY,
The attractions last night at Ford's were
twofold-" The Household Fairy" and
"Hrgton"- of which were presented in
the same finished style of acting which has
won for the London comedy company such
signal success. The opening comedietta of
"a Household Fairy was an extremely deli
cate piece of acting, so natural as to convert
the stage into the lodgings of the bachelor,
| d. Clifford. The charm of the play
is in exdusitely delineated sentiment,
where the pure love of country girl arrests
the would-be suicide-too proud to disgrace
his ancestry by work and too poor to live
without society-from a life Of dissipation
and death of shame. Miss Rorke is as
charming in the role of country modesty as
in that of the Bell of Brighton" which fol-
lowed and which displayed the versatility OF
the entire troupe probably better than any
comedy yet presented by them. Brighton
is one of those rollicking extravaganzas with
out plot, but which permits each and every in
dividual in the cast to appear in distinct and
ceyerly defined character, and to combine
all in a whole of artistic excellence such as il
seldom met on any stage.
Brighton" and tho Household Fairy
will be repeated tonight.
BARLOW & WILSON'S MINsTRELs.
Tomorrow night Barlow, Wilson & CO..
mammoth minstrols begin limited engage
ment Of two nights only and Saturday
matinee Their entertainment is entirely
now, and includes the grand base ball contest,
National VS.. Athletic. Advance seats can be
procured at any time, tn cir sale having com
menced Wednesday.
HENRY IRVING AND MISS TERRY,
Next Monday Mr.. Henry Irving, Mis-
Ellen Terry, and the London Lyceum com
pany will commence weeks engagement a
the National under the direction of MI
Henry Il. Abbey. The repertoire include
Louis XII" Hamlet" "rhe Merchant @
Venice" and "Much Ado About Nothing
On Monday night-the opening one-"Loui
XI" and "The Bellies Strstagem" will b.
presented. Sale of seats for single night
opened last Tuesday and still continues.