The Asheville citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1885-1889, 1885-08-15
THE CANTArA LAST NlaHr.

One of the largest and most elegant
audiences we have ever seen here filled
the Opera Hall last night to witness the
performance of the Cantata, the New
Years Eve.o Probably it was nothing
new to very many; certainly it is SO old
that we propose to give no details
of the story. But we can say that in all
its features it was perfect and beautiful
to the eye and to the ear. Recalling
the vivid picture, we feel as if for the
time we had for the time lived in d POI
etic illusion from which the present was
effaced, and in which the past came up in
vivid reality with all the charm that
fancy has thrown around rustic sports
and rural pleasures upon which srthe
English writer's ofthe past SO much flez
lighted to dwell and which have fascf.
mated the American readers into sub
lection to the same delicious spell. We
will not dispel the illusion by note OF
name or individual act. We prefer to
treat the subject aslthe past, with actors
robed in all the beauties pf s-gdhel
day when pleasures were Invested with.
the charm of fancy, and whenAmagina-
ton threw itssyeil over the rude form of
sport
The curtain raises on the sold Year.
seated on his throne, his now departing.
sceptre trembling in his feeble hands,
his bending form yielding to the weight
of time; and his countenance sad, SOL
emn and impressive, tells the story of
his departing power. Father Time,
grave, stately and inexorable, stalks in
in his relentless march with scythe up
lifted as token of his aim and power, and
the Old Year is reminded that his course
is nearly run. The clear, full, sweet
tones IN which the warning was convey
ed fell upon the hearers with ravishing
effect, and the rich, deep notes in which
the old year, pleading for delay. might
almost wish his timebad been prolonged,
SO sweet the interchanging strains, and
SO rich the harmony of voices. But
when at the wish of the Old Year, the
Seasons came trooping in, Spring with
Zephyr, Dewdrops and Months, Sum-
mer with Sunshine, Rainbow and
Months, Autumn with Cloud, Jack Frost
and Months, and Winter witk Snow,
Sleet and Months, the feeling changed,
and the concentrated year stood present
in all its glowing splendors and all its
striking contrasts. Time, past, present,
and to come were forgotten in the
magic of the scene. 1t was a gorgeous
picture, those beautiful young girls, and
the fairy.like children, in brilliancy of}
costume as vivid as the rainbow, and
picturesque appropriation of adapta-
tion of style that give endless form and
variety; but everywhere, the inevitable |
foil of Time and the dying Year with |
solemn nfien and sober garb to mark |
the limit put to beauty and to pleasure.
The chief feature of the Cantata is |
song and recitation. This was all ex-
quisitely beautiful and harmonious.
The series Of Tableaux were presented |
with faultless beauty and accuracy. The |
first, the May Pole, displayed an English
village scene, dear to the readers of old /
English books of former country life. |
Here was a scene in which the bold and |
joyial Robin Hood might have joined;I
upon which the grave and courtly Sir |
Roger de Coverly might have looked
with relaxed severity, and in which the
lads and lasses of past generations were5
free and joyous participants. When |
the pose of the Tableau was brokers. the |
figures fell to dancing with most delight
full abandon, and with the antiquatedi
costume, the antique figures ofthe dance,
and the lively movement presented a |
picture once common enough upon the |
English village green. This scene was
admirably conceived and admirably ex-
ecuted.
The next, Summer Tableau, the Pic
mic, was not SO fortunate. It was an /
and the presence of cham
paign bottles on the sward made the
scene as modern as could be done.
The Summer Tableau, a Harvest Scene,
was in fine character, the young men and
in. rustic though bright and
picturesque garb, in all the exhilaration J
of the joyous haying season. =
Then the end approached; and solemn
winter claimed the right. Not in al
picture of cold and storm and gloom, but |
Illuminated with the light that cheers
the Christian heart and gives its bright
ness to the Christmas season-the glo-
rious Star of fBethlehem- beautifcl BEAM
of light extended by angel hand, stretch
ed toward the lowly manger. This was
an exquisite execution of most ex-
quisite idea and the heart stood still !
while the eye rested with wrapt devotion
and admiration upon the beautiful /
picture.
And then the old year with tottering
steps came down from his ghoary /
throne, and the young year with lusty |
stride took up his place, and seized the
sceptre, and the old year was sung out,
and the new year was sung i'll, and San
Ia. Claus came upon the scene, and the
little girls joined in chorus; and all join
ed in chorus, and then the curtain fell, |
and then we wondered whether it was
q beautiful dream or sober reality, and |
if the latter, how it was that human wit |
and human grace and beauty could cre-
ate such illusion.
We may add because here We do not
trench upon the grounds of illusion, that |
the music Oft the evening was one of the |
,hiefest charms. Amateurs SO skilled as
Mr.. Jacobs, ON the piano, and Mr.. Chan
1ler of the violin, command the heart
md ear, whenever they consent to please.
Their execution was artigtic, tasteful and |
pleasing, and their accompaniments were
n admirable time and tone.
If not asking too much, we might hope /
or renewal soon of the pleasures of
asst nights entertainment.
HE STRUNG His FISH.