San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-12-21
THE FIRST NIGHT.
THE GRAND OPERA HOUSE SUCCESS
FULLY OPENED BY EMMA
ABBOTT

ABBOTT.
Descriptive Scsnes-Plot of Lucretia Bor-
gia-Critique-Alli is Most Satisfacto-
ry and is Generally Approved.
Yes, the grand opera house is ooened, and
the first performance has been given. II was
doubtless the event o the season; indeed, We
can go further and say that such scene "a
that presented last night WIS never before wit,
messed in the city. II seems as II the world
and his wife" were interested over the open.
ing, and were present. At seven O'Clock the
place was lit up and warmed. and al was
ready for the reception OF the visitors who
BEGAN To CROWD IN,
and TO take their allotted seats. The arrange
ment for this was ADM ~ablc, and all was done
without any apparent confusion. Expert
enced theatre gOcrs were delighted to ind that
instead of sitting on their coats and nursing
their hats, places were provided for them un-
der the seats and the back Of the chairs, al
though some of the "nuvicGS' did not catch
on" to this convenience, and were numbered
with hats aud coats during the evening.
At eight O'Clock the new and drop cur.
tain was lowered and was received with great
applause and all were filled with admiration
at its Chaste design and artistic elegance. At
this time he scene was a beautiful one, de-
lighting the eye and gratifying those who
were interested in the success of the new
venture. The interior of the building has
been so ably and fully described in the
LIGHTS holiday edition that any description
of the house is super1Ous, but 1t may be fully
said that the
GRANDEUR AND BRILLIANCE
Then described was increased when lit up and
filed with well dressed audience. Looking
TO the boxes ladies in rich cOStOmes, full dress
and gentlemen in dress suits were seen seated
comfortably and evidently enjoying the
situation. The same sights were visible in
the crowded paIquet aud in the thrOngcd
dress circle. All seemed 10 realize
the fact that this was II gala night
n dressed and acted accordingly
The upper gallery, too, was crowded, not 10y
the rough element that frequent them in
larger cities, and known as gods" but by
respectable ladies AID gentlemen who liked
that part of the house best or were compelled
to go there because there was no 70 I'M else
where. Some few of the dudes seem to think
that the event gave them the opportunity of
posing as dress coated AdOnlses. and they did
1t badly. For all that the effect was grand.
and all were enthused over the beauty of the
scene.
When Signor TOmasl took his seat and
waved his baton as Il
SIGNAL FOR THE ORCHESTRA
to play the overture, all attention was turned
to the stage, for many were anxious to test
the acoustic properties Of thf house. This
practical test was decided success. and the
soft cadences went through the house sweet
and low, distinct and ear like the melody of
an old song. Instead OF being drowned by
music in the forte,' as in Turner hal, the
music was modulatcd so that while
sense offensive. This was noticeable
throughout the opera and instead, of the
vocalist struggling with the band to see which
could be heard best, the singer could sing
easily and without strain. whilst the band did
what ii Ough always 10 do, seconded and
r ally accompanied the vocalist. There is no
question that the acoustic property of the
house is perfect.
Of he opera,
LUCRETIA BORGIA,
much could be SAID. 1t is written in DonizettI's
Sparkling style, and the Tia ian version has
been very popular, but It requires much acting
and voices of considerable co apass. For this
reason ii has not been surg much by travelling
companies. Indeed, Emma Abbot has the
credit of introducing II for che Il st time in the
South. The plot is very romantic. Lucrc IA
Borg a, duchess of FeTrtTa, Is Tor her sup
posed crimes, is hated outside her duChy. Dis
guising herself, she follows her unrecOgn zcd
son. G nnarO, (Sen r MiChaelinD, TO Venice
and goes 10 ball there in oder that she
may see him. Sh accOmplishes her d sire
but is seen accid tntay unmaSked and IS re
cOgnized by OrsIni Lizzie AnnandaleJ, Nitel-
IOZzo (Robe't BraumOnt, l. verOttO (ElUise
Mort mer). Petrucd Frank DeanO). and 9th
ers, as b rrgia, the murderess of their rela-
tives, and revied In u torrent OF passion she
leaves. threatening engeance, aud the cur
Ia n falls.
In the next act Gennaro out with a party of
friends in Ferrara comes upon the BOrpia
palace on which Is the name. With the point
of his sword GennarO knocks of the "B
leaving "Orgia" as indicative of drunken ust-
full reyelry. For this he Is arrested, brought
before Duke Alfonso William PTuette,l and
notwiths standing his wife's appeal. the Duke,
suspectIng that GennarOis the Duchess para
mour, gives him poisoned wine. Gennaro Is
saved by the Duchess giving him an antidOte,
and escapes. In the third act Lucretia Bor-
ga again in Venice, seeks to
AvESGE THE INSULT.
of those who reviled her at the masked ball
aud has the wine poisoned that is served at
supper. Unknown to her Gennaro is present,
and partakes of the poisoned wine. Lucretia
comes to glOat over her venge ince and finds
her son, She reveals that she is his mother,
tells him he is poisoned and bese eches him to
take the antidOte. lie refuses to be saved
unless his friends are. There is not enough
of the antidOte TO go round. GennarO persists
in his resolution, and dies and LucTetia falls
lifel1ss upon her sons course. Then all Is
over.
Miss Abbott was in excellent voice and sang
with due pathOs and force the music of the
trying opera. Her first duet with Genaro
was remarkable for sweet vocalization, and
her dismay and rage at dete ton was grand ;
the same may be said of he grand scene with
the duke. and her final interview with her un,
recognized son. Between the second and
third acts Miss Abbott, at the
THE REQUEST OF A DELEGATION,
consisting of Col. Belknap, Louis Berg and
Major CressOn, delighted the audience by her
pathetic and artistic singing of the Last Rose
of sumner" Lizzie Annandale was piquant,
and sang with so much sweetness as to cap
ture the house. Her rendition of the drink.
ing song" was immense Michaelini acted
excellently, and used his tenor voice TO ad.
vantage, showing material improvement in
compass and technique. William Pruette 5
fine baritone and distinct articulation was the
source of considerable praise. The other
characters we're well filled, the chorus excel.
lent, the groupings grand, and the scenery
was in harmony with the tOpera. A more per
feet and finished performance was never pre-
scented in the south.
Almost the first utteranceS of the LIGHT
showed the necessity for an opera house thai
should be in accordance with the dignity Of
great city and urged the citizens to see thai
the necessity was properly filed. Again anC
again has that call been repeated, and there
fore the LIGHT has especial pleasure in seeing
that call duly needed and the
GREAT WORK ACCOMPLISHED.
1t realizes the great service the San Anto
MO club has done the public and the visiting
theatrical profession, aud like the citizens /
feels graceful to them for their laudable en-
terprise in this direction.
Mr.. Rischs is to be congratulated upon the
successful opening, and the LIGHT wishes the
house a continuance of that success.
The official programme, which is general!
commended as an excellent specimen of tn,
typographical art, was printed at the LIGHT
office. The composition is the work of Mr.
Theodore $. Kunzman, of the LIGHT typO
graphical staff, am is creditabe to the artistic
skill of that gentleman.
Sleeping in Peace.
The remains of Mrs Armstrong were in
TERED yesterday in the city cemetery, the 10
cal typograph cal union, of which the de