Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-08-01
AMATEUR OPERA.

dropped the DO. overheard in deep water and
AMATEUR OPERA.
Its Growth and Development I'm the
City Of Washington.
SOME NOTABLE PERFORMANCES WHICH HAVE
BEEN GIVEN ENTIRELY BY LOCAL TALENT
WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED AS PRINCIPALS
AND THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL
PROFESSIONALLY.
Even before the war Washington was re
| garded as musical city, with highly cultured
| taste and number ofprosperous musical organ
| izations containing good proportion of solo
| lists that were fully up to the average. Eminent
| vocalists from abroad always met with hearty
| reception here, and managers learned to know
that their attractions would receive intelligent
| appreciation in the capital city After one OF
| the periodical fires which have marked the his.
| tory of the National Theater the completion OF
| the new building was pushed forward with all
| expedition so that Jenny Lind, the greatest
,h OF the century might give
prosperity Of local musical organizations, but so
soon as hostilities we're over those associations
We're were re,6 6c ana resumed their practice and
Philharmonic Society has already been referred
| to in THE STAR, and how under its auspices
oratorlos were successfully presented.
THE FIRST VENTURE.
The idea Of giving an entire opera by anna
| tours, however, does not seem to have been con-
templated until the fall of 1870, and its concep-
ton justly belongs to Mrs. John Jay Knox then
Miss Carrie Todd. The Chiidrsn's hospital was
interested in that worthy charity. Being her
self a finished musician she believed there was
sufficient talent among the local amateurs to
with others she decided to attempt Flotow's
"Martha" for the benefit Of the Childrens hos
hnPc If,,vH = H.
task of rehearsing the chorus until the time for
active stage practice should arrive, and the
T f1e with gor end
a novelty, and the tickets for the performance,
although placed at high figure, sold rapidly.
The entertainment was made a swell society
affair, and O more brilliant audience never was
got together in Washington than that which
assembled in Walls Opera House on the night
OF December Is, 1870.
THE CAST OF CHARACTERS
was as follows: Lady Harriet, Mrs. Camp;
Nancy, Miss Addie Randall; Lionel, Mr. 8. II
Witherow; Pl,uaken, Mr.. S. G. Young; Tristan,
Mr. E. j. Harrington; Sheriff, Mr. w. c. HILL
The rehearsals at the Opera House had been
conducted by Adolph Birgfield, the well-known
operate conductor, who welded the baton on
the night of the performance, and the rendition
of the entire opera, both US to singing and act
ing, would have been a credit to any profess
sional troupe. The member of the cast who
gained the greatest amount of praise was Miss
Randall, who threw into the part of Nancy a
bewitchlng archness and grace that evidenced
the possession OF genuine dramatic talent,
while her execution OF the vocal score revealed
power and sweetness There was but one ver-
dict after her performance, and that was that
she should Immediately place herself in train
ing for the legitimate operate stage. She did
so, and her subsequent successful professional
career has proved the wisdom of her course.
The other principals acquitted themselves most
creditably, and were warmly praised tor their
efforts. The chorus, which was composed of
young society ladies and gentlemen, received
hearty commentator for their effective work,
and many oftheir numbers were encored The
whole performance was SO thoroughly success
full that it was repeated on the following night
In obedience to an emphatic popular demand.
The high standard established at this initial
venture by amateurs into the domain of opera
deferred further attempts in that direction, and
1t was not for three years afterward that the
next opera was given by amateurs. This occa-
sion was the presentation of ]. Remington Fair
lambs romantic opera called
VALERIE; OR, TREASURED TOKENS"
under the direction of the composer. 1t was in
tended to give this opera at the National thea
ter, but just a few days before the day fixed the
theater was burned down and the performance
was given in Lincoln hall. Mrs Fairlamb sang
tralto, Mr.. Johnston tenor, and Mr. Cannon bass
and though the composition was criticized there
was no fault found with the conscientious work
OF either principals or chorus. Prot Farlamb
possessed great energy AID activity, and in the
spring Of 1876 gave series of four perform
during which valerie" was twice repeated and
the Bohemian Girl' presented. In Bales
opera Mrs. Fairlamb sang airline: Miss Emma
Maqse sas Mf M
and Mr.. e: B. Hay, Florestein In the fair scene
children's ballet was introduced, which was
quite effective. On the last night of this oper-
attic season the garden scene from "Faust," and
the tower scene from "Trovatore' were given,
with Mrs. Fairlamb as Marguerite and Leoaora.
PRODUCTION OF FAUST"
The following year the most ambitious at
EQInnt that mazda NV
carried out under Prof. Fairbanks dire ction
which was the production Of Gounod's "Faust"
in which Miss Eva Mills made her debut In
GUIDED Miss Emma Kaufman al as 81, Se eas' Nh m
Herndon Morsell, Fdust Mrs. w. Keen, Meplis-
topsse.ss, and Mr.. I; a. Cannon, Valentine The
both by principals and chorus, that was not an
tictpated, the exacting solo roles being all
p5boPesy and treated while the
Mills was particularly praised by the press and
the same advice was given her which years be-
fore had been spoken to Addie Randall-that
on the professional stage she would find her
true vocation.
THE SECOND "MARTHA."
Later in the same year martha" was re-
peated, with Miss Eva Mills as Lady Harriet;
as Lionel, and Mr.. S. g. Young in his original
role of Punkeh. There were two performances
given at the National theater, and both were
favorable impression she had created in
Faust Mrs. Sherman made q Charming and
vivacious Nancy, and Mr.. Pugh revealed a
manly tenor voice of much sweetness and
proved himself good actor.
The success of "PinatOre" in London and the
publication OF the piano score in this country
afforded the next opportunity for our local
amateurs, and that opera was produced at
FOrds Opera house before it began its success
full career in New York. Mrs. Camp was the
Josephine; Mrs. Sherman the Buttercup: John
Pugh, Ralph; VIM. II. Daniel, Can't. C0rcOrun:
Ned Hay, Sir Joseph Porter; Howard Nyman
Dick DeGdeye, and Charlie Helm. Boais,O0in.
The performance was under the direction of
Mr.. Harry Sherman, who had successfully con-
Quoted the later performances of MARTHA"
From that time amateur performances Of
opera have been numerous. "Pinafore" and
1.-The Pirates Of Penzance" have had numerous
representations with variety of casts, and
1.-THE Sorcerer," Also by Gilbert & Sullivan. mas
been produced. The Washington Operatic as
ISOLATION gave impetus to this class of work
and its productions Of 1.-THE Chimes Of Nor.
mandy" John Sousa's "Smugglers," patience"
&C., are very pleasantly remembered.
II may safely be asserted that there IL no city
In the country where so many performances or
opera by amateurs and of such uniform excel
!ence have been given as here, and Washington
has just reason to be proud Of the extent and
character OF her amateur vOcalists
Or those who are mentioned above "a having
made their first venture in amateur oDera Miss
Addie Randall, Mrs. Fairlamb, Miss Eva Mills
Mr.. Morsell and Mr.. Keen, have ACQUIRED good
populations on the professional stage, and Miss
Randall and Mr.. Morsell still hold enviabie
positions in the ranks Of English opera.