The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-10-29
The Opera Troupe.

The Opera Troupe.
ED. 7. G. ADvERTISER-Sir | think
that l am a public spirited citizen, at
least my desire is to be such, and aim to
promote commerce, agriculture, and
other important interests OF the country,
including even amusements. ! consider
our amusements OF the highest import
ance. Napoleon has said LET me make
the songs OF country and do not care
who makes the laws" l delight in good
music, hence l subscribed cheerfully for
a season ticket when the Farini opera
troupe was proposed; and l feel now,
after listening to four representations,
that my money was well spent. There
are many who differ with me. For the
munifcent subscription fund of $1,000
they expected some first class artists
direct from London, Paris or Milan.
Now, we had no reason for such expect
alton l expected good fair musicians,
well up in their art, AM | got more than
I expected / have lived here a good
many years, and say that we have not
had in Honolulu, during the past decade,
or as / believe at any time previous,
company OF artists the superior or even
the equal of the Farini troupe. Who has
ever listened to such a glorious tenor
voice as ThrOwer's in Honolulu? Don't
tell us about what you may have heard
or what you want to make us believe
you have heard in some great city else
where. We have perhaps had an equal,
or, admit, even a superior to the prima
donna, Mile Fora, but who that has
| listened in Il fair and uncritical spirit,
and observed her rendering OF parts in
the operate selections that have been
played, can do other than acknowledge
that she is a superior and finished artist?
! The exquisite contralto voice of Mile
Hopf is perfect delight. Signor Farini
| has been suffering from cold, but he is
/ a masterful artist, and | am sure that
| everyone that listened to him in the duo
| in "Il Trovatore" on Tuesday evening
! recognized his eminent ability on that
occasion as a superior artist. Miss Avery
has taken a very satisfactory part in the
series of performances.
Now, here we have five artists OF
| fine musical education and experience,
accompanied by pianist who has de-
lighted everyone with his touch, who
left the United States, undertook a voy-
age OF :, 100 miles and gave us in Homo
lulu, where we are cut off from the great
musical opportunities of the world, seven
choice, carefully prepared and well rem
dered musical performances, bringing
with them a rich and varied wardrobe OF
costumes, and doing all this for the
enormous sum of $2,0OO-the price paid
for one evenings performance of one
first-class artist elsewhere.
Now, it is claimed for Honolulu society
that it is tolerably we'll off, that it is
liberal and generous, and has consider
able musical and artistic taste. But in
! this instance l am afraid it has fallen
short of the high reputation claimed for
it. I am afraid that a company of very
fair painstaking artists have been treated
coldIy and unfairly, if not shabbily, and
that they must necessarily, in view OF
their present reception, go away with a
sense of narrowness and ilhberality on
the part of the community of Honolulu,
calculated to keep other artists away,
and injure our character for iberality
and musical taste, which may be as
much of misfortune as would be the
case if ships with commercial ventures
should turn aside from our port. But !
trust this opinion will be reversed.
Make every allowance for first perform
ances given under adverse circum-
stances. Listen with an unprecedented
ear; 90 to the Music Hall once more
with determination that a troupe Of
talented artists shall not be sent away
without the assurance of having been
fairly and generously tried as to their
artististic quality by a full and fair
minded audience. Give them for once a
bumper house, and l feel assured that
this troupe will leave in the minds OF
fair thinkers the impression of having
made the highest musical mark that has
ever been made in this city
SEASON TICKET