Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-03-07
METROPOLITAN THgATER.

The Emma Abbott English Opera Com
ence last evening. The company is we'll
appointed one, and is the largest that has
appeared in Sacramento in many years. A
noticeable feature about sis the completeness
of the detail and the exactneqs of method.
The sparkling opera of 81 Martha does not
sfford full opportunity for the display of vo-
cal ability, but it served to indicate the capa-
hility of the company, or at least such men,
bers Of it as were on the bills last evening.
Miss Abbott, with handsome and winning
face and form and grace Of carriage,
has not powerful voice, judged
by the passages given in her Martha,
but its sweetness, marked expressiveness,
clearness, fexibility and liquid quality are
undenisble. In the tender passages it has
sympathetic power that is irresistible. 1t
evidences severe culture and adherence to q
determined and high standard throughout.
But il is By dramatic quality that Miss Alb.
bolt fortifes herself. She is as good a
dramatic sc q lyric artist, if indeed she is not
better. She casts the part she takes in the
finest mold of the imagination, and proves
that she has delicate instincts and dramatic
perceptiye power that is very rarely seen
upon the operatic stage. Mrs. Zelda Seguin
was the contralto, and, besides being Of his
trionic nature and q good actress, has a
full, rich, well-trsined and effective voice,
which is used in o finished manner
and marked by the evidences Of experience.
Campobello, the baritone, has cultivated
style, testifying to thorough knowledge of
music. His voice rises, in the loftier pas
sages, to what some one has termed nobility
of expression. 1t is pure baritone, of great
hrmness, resonance and staying power, and
commands at once the auditors best judy
ment. Fabrini is a clesr.ringing tenor,
strong even to robustness, and his voice
throughout broad compass ia marked by
sympsthic qualities of high order. Both
these singers ara good actors, and their stage
presence is something 10 make men envious,
Campobello even taking rank among the
herculesn. MIR. Castle, another tenor OF the
company, and spoken Of as the ideal stage
lover" and 8 finished artist, as also
Madame Rosewsld. were not in the cast. but
are to appear later in the engagement. Mr..
Allen and Mr.. Broderick in minor parts
proved thoroughly adequate support. The
chorus of eighteen voices was good through
out, and its drill was something notable for
its military exactness. Miss Abbott and her
support have every reason to be gratihed with
the exceedingly warm reception accorded the
company last evening and the recognition of
its merits. The prims donna's rendition of
"The Lsst Rose of Summer" drew forth
critical commendatory applause with an en-
phasis not often accorded here, while the in
dorsement of the other leading singers was
pronounced and sincere. The ensemble
of the company in its performance,
the smoothness, ease, grace and dran-
attic finish, and the perfection of
memory and total absence of prompting, all
went to make up an entertainment of
thoroughly compromising character. In
italian opera here as well as in Europe oftenest
the effort is laid upon the greater parts of a
score to the neglect of the recitatives, and so
half learned are the parts by some great
myers and their support that it has become
proverbial. There was q total aud agreeable
absence Of this neglect and affectation last
night, just IS there was Of the prompter's
hood. The orchestra support last evening,
under the direction Of Mr.. Rosewsld, was
adequate and prompt, and partook of the ex-
sctness and smoothnss that characterize the
company. Tonight, "Sonnambula and the
fourth act of I'll Trovatore, F" when Madame
Rosewsld viii make her appearance, in sddi-
ton to those already named.