Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-12-29
.iVCSEVENTS.

rfc Th,auc Last Nighi-The Boston Ideals.
The Boston Ideal Opera Company,
which is always great attraction in
Richmond, opened a four-nights' en-
gagemcnt at the Theatre last evening in
" Victor, tie Blue Stocking" They
have been reorganized since they last
appeared here. and while three OF the
old fayoIites-Nliss Ulmar, Miss Phil
lips, and Mr.. Whitney-are missel
from the cast, the company may justly
lay claim to that strength Of organiza.
ton in all its parts that has heretofore
characterized it and made it famous.
Miss /elic de Lussan, who has time
and tine again won great favor with
Richmond concert audiences, appeared
for the first time here in opera, and il
is but the truth 70 say that she COM
pletely captiyatcd her hearers last eve
ming. The beauty Of her voice is too
well known here to need further COM
mendation and while in concert she
eyinced decided lyric ability, we were
more than agreeably surprised at the
rapid strides she has made in a pro-
feSson so new to her. An actress by
nature, she could but be graceful upon
the stage. yet with all that, she has
diyested herself in a remarkable de-
gree, for so short study, Of ANA
teurish ways. She scored a decided
success as Fanchette. being eacored
in all three acts. and recalled three
times for her clever and naive rendition
of the sons with chorus in the third act,
&" Oh, Paris Towns the Spot for Ne. '
Miss Agnes Huntington. the new
contralto, who supplies the place of
Miss Phillips, who was with the old
company. is a beautiful songStreSS.
She was excellent as " Celestine," and
was deseryedly encored in the second
act.
Mr. Mcdonald, as " Victor Delmar.' -
was as dashiDg and pleasing Is ever,
while Nlcssrs. Morsell. Barnabee, and
rockingham were recognized as favor
ties, and while they have lost nothing OF
their operate powers by time they gave
additional proof Of their versatility Of
talent in the new rdlss Of last evening.
Miss Mena Cleary, as " Friquet," was
very pleasing, and elected a decided
encore in the last act. Miss Knowles,
as .'Ulrica," the iortune-teller. rem
dered her part very acceptably.
The chorus is as strong as ever, and
is most pleasing by reason Of the gen.
eral beauty of its yOung-lady members.
The company carries its own excellent
orchestra. which is under the able di-
rection of Mr.. Samuel l.. Studley.
The work presented last evening
Victor, the Blue-Stocking Is an
opera comi1ue, which, translated from
the French by Mr.. Oscar We'll, is
thoroughly unobjectionable and alto
gether pleasing. The music is bright
and the llbretto fairly clever, but it
has little in 1t, either one way or the
other. to leave a decided impression
upon the mind. However, in the hands
Of the Ideals, it furnishes an evening
of real enjoyment to lovers Of light
English opera.
The company is under the manage
ment Of Mr.. w. II. Foster, and deserves
the success which it is undoubtedly
achieving.
Tonight Ciralda," an opera doubt
less taken from the drama of "The
Three Black Masks" will be presented.
The Theatre will beyond doubt be
filled again with a brilliant audience, as
on last evening.
THE MOZART LAST NIGHT.
There was quite a good audience at
the musicale last evening, and an agree
able programme was we'll rendered.
Mr.. May sang two solos, aud received
very ilattering encores. He has i'm
proved decidedly in his vocal method,
and deserves credit for conscien-
tious study. The trio for violin,
cello. and piano was given with
fine effect. Mr.. Miel's French horn
solo, a composition that taxed the
endurance of the horn-player, was in
some respects meritorious, while his
tempos and expression were correct,
the effect was marred by the fact that
either his instrument was not in tune
with the orchestral accompaniment, or
rice rusa. Though the orchestra
played their numbers acceptably well,
they did not elicit any decided express
sion of enjoyment from the audience.
Next weak the musicale will be given