The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-08
Comments of Crftfcs.


John p. Frenzel-I can not understand WHY
the opera "Orpheus and Euridice" is included in
the repertoire of the American Opera Company
1t is very heavy, almost monotone. Take from
it the spectacular portion and very little is left
The capacity of the company should not be
judged by the presentation tonight. Doubtless
the company is capable of better work. Tonight
the performance was tedious.
O. r. Johnson-Undoubtedly, this was the
best production of grand opera ever seen in this
city. The orchestration was mastery, the
scenic and spectacular effects picturesque
and, in two acts, brilliant, and the ensemble
more nearly perfect than are accustomed to
see here. Still, l think the selection was not the
best that could have been made for a frat night
for the cast of principals was limited to three
artists and there was comparatively little OPP
portunity for the chorus. The latter did not
impress me as being particularly strong and es-
pecially did it seem to be deficient in the male
voices. The company may not be numerically as
large as some people have been led to believe,
but 1t is certainly large enough for even
so fine q stage as Engish's, and if many more
people had been employed in the production
they would have to be hung up in the rigging
loft or slowed away in the property-room. The
ballet was feature that added greatly to the
beauty and picturesqueness of the performance.
and the costuming was rich and tasteful. Miss
Hastreiter is magnificent singer, and her act
ing has true dramatic force and earnestness.
Miss Juch is great artist, but she should not
guy, and the vocal triumph of these two ladies In
the last act was striking and decided In the
cast of 'Flying Dutchman" and "Lakme" the
full artistic strength of the company will be
brought into requisition. The attendance
tonight was creditable to the city, and
shows that there is an appreciation of such
merltorious entertainments in Indianapolis. In
addition to this, 1t the proper thing to go,
you know l am glad that the company made
be iHaHeement for return visit do not
think that the production tonight was fully up
to the reputation of the company, In every re-
spect, but it was SO much better than any grand
opera we have ever had here, that adverse csiti-
cism does not seem to be appropriate. Greater
singers have appeared here in opera, but not
with such attractive and striking surroundings
The scenery used by the company is somewhat
the worse for wear, and some of it looks shabby
in a strong light such as was thrown on it FROM
above and from the sides last night
Carl Barus--I think that the performance, as
a whole, was very creditable. but Theodore
Thomas is just the man who lacks the ability to
bring out all the strength there is in such an OPP
era, although the singing of MISS Hastreiter
was very brilliant. The work, however was
hardly suited to such an audience it being one
of the first which was written by German
composer.
FL. q. Levi-The rendition of the work was
one of the most brilliant which have ever wit
messed, the chorus and orchestra being excel
lent and the individual parts being well taken
The opera, however, Is one of the earliest
compositions of q German composer. and
one which led TO the overthrow of the Italian
style Of composition. Miss Hastreiter never ap-