St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-10-12
"LUCRETIA RORGIA."

Abbott. the Song Bird, Captivates n
Large and Critical Audience at Tin o
Grand-..FIOWerS and Applause
Showered Upon the Prima Donna.
1t was large and critical audience of st.
Paurs music-loving people that greeted Miss
Abbott last night in the opening performance
of her weeks engagement at the Grand opera
house. The demonstrations of appreciation
from the audience must have been tlattering
to the prima donna and her excellent company.
As a dramatic composition "Lucretia Bor-
gia" is of such sombre coloring and texture
that one is not prepared to find entertainment
in il even when presented in opera. But the
glorious melody which Donnizetti has rung
into the opera, and the artistic rendition
which the Abbott company give it,relieve the
performance of its gloomy aspect and
the auditor is left to float on
sea of harmonious cadence SWELL
ing in solemn grandeur TO its height, now
sinking to mellow toneS-then dying away
and leaving Its thrilling memory on the ear.
Miss Abbott scored brilliant success last
night, Notwithstanding the heavy part she
has to carry as Borgia. The St. Paul people
who had not heard her sing since her visit
here two years ago were not prepared for
the marvellous improvement she has made
She has reached the acme OF excellence as
the Interpreter of opera in English. Her
voice last night was in excellent shape and
she had captured her audience and
even before she had reached the
gem of the first act-the celebrated aria of
Lucretia, Cam Q bello.' Enthusiastic ap-
plause was showered upon this song, which
was ended with wonderfully brilliant and
difficult allegro movement the teSsitura OF
this movement being too fatiguing for most
artists, and is omitted in Italy on account OF
ifSn QnSamhl6
the first act closed with the tableau where
Lucretia defies Orsini and his followers. In
the second act Pruett. finds opportunity to
display the qualities of his splendid baritone
voice in the grand aria, vengeance and Swift
Destruction" But for beauty and dramatic
effect the trio for Lucretia in this act, sung
by Abbot Michelena and Pruett, was the ex-
ceiling feature of the evening. And when
the curtain dropped on the scene and duo for
soprano and tenor at the close OF this act
wild wave of
ENTHUSIASTIC APPLAUSE
ran through the house which WAS EOt stayed
until Miss Abbott, accompanied by Pruett and
Michelena, appeared before the curtain.
The grand aria from Gennaro in the
third act brought out the singular
sweetness of the handsome young
Spaniard tenor voice which so delighted the
audience that an encore was given. The
catching song of the evening, however, was
Annandale near the close of the last act.
Miss Annandale was always a favorite in st.
Paul, and it must have made the young lady s
heart swell with tumultuOuS joy at the ova-
ton which her admiring friends gave her
last night while she sang this beautiful
song Miss Abbott exhibited some lovely
costumes during the evening, particularly
in the second and third acts. The court robe
of the second act is particularly beautiful,
being composed of white MORE antique,
band embroidered with pearls, with Queen
Anne collar. In this act, Miss Abbott wears,
suspended in a little bird cage, which is
fastened in her hair, her famous diamond
weighing twenty-five carats. In the cele-
brated prison scene, she wears a superb dress
of black Lyons velvet. 1t is in this scene
that Miss Abbott. in her impersonatlon of
Borgia, exhibits the most touching pathos in
her endeavOrs to save the life of
the wandering son, to win whose
love she had repented of her
crimes. Miss Abbott's claim that she now
has the best company she ever had is valid.
There can be no bad opera in a company
where Annandale, Michelena, Pruett and
Brod lex take the leading parts in support
of the prima donna. 1t is true that BrOder-
lex had but little opportunity in 'Borgia" to
give expression to his powers as a basso
singer. Michelena's tenor is marvel of
sweetness, but he was scarcely up
to the tragic demands of the
Borgia. He ought to show to
great advantage in ''Iinda' and ''Traviata.' -
Tonight Miss Abbott's company will sing for
the first time in ST. Paul the charming comic
opera, ''Crispino, or, 1.-THE Fairy and Cob
BIER During the performance Abbott will
introduce the famous lullaby scene from the
opera of 'Erminie," which is now the reign
ing operate craze in New York Miss AMMAN
dale will sing the beautiful part of the Fairy
Queen, and Walter Allen will display his
comedy talent in the Cobbler.
AT THE OLYMPIC.
An audience that well filled the Olympic
theater witnessed the initial performance of
Walter Bray'S Ideal Speciality company last
night The performance opens with a
laughable farce. entitled The Dead Shot. :"
in which Billy Wells has the part of ODE
diah Shaw, Quaker. Miss HetheringtOn
sings several songs and A. E. Boyce, the
flying man, gives good exhibition on the
trapeze. performing a difficult feat from one
trapeze to another. suspended at opposite
sides of the stage. The closing piece is en-
titled 1.-The Old Slaves Return" and intro
duces plantation songs and comic dialogue.
The company is attractive and will hold
the boards all the week.