The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-08
ORPHEUS AND EURYDIOE.
The Opening Performance of the Ameri-
can Opera Company, Last Night.
Very Large and Brilliantly Dressed Audi
ence in Attendance, Including Many Wis
itorS from Other Cities and Towns.

| so long heralded to the people of Indianapolis
was not disappointment in any respect but
rather an artistic success, in which the people
and the company partake almost equally. The
company as an entirety is good one, for while
| 1T contains no over-shadowing prima donnas, 1t
is so constituted that there really inequali
ties, but all is excellent, and so excel
lent as to provoke universal admiration
| The aim Of the management has been
to provide an operatic combination of magnitude,
and, at the same time. one that would meet the
highest expectations. In this respect it has
succeeded in a manner that reflects credit upon
those who had the honor of getting 1t together.
At every point, from the beginning to the end,
1t is perfectly balanced, and there is no feeling
that there are two or three good
| features to apologize for desert of in
different things. The principal vocalsts are
well known among the best this country has
produced, tue chorus is we'll selected and par
ticularly well drilled the mise scene is superb
and the ballet of such magnitude and excellence
as to place it beyond criticism. There has been
better dancing on the Indianapolis stage. but
never finer effects in that direction. The tab
leaux were set with the utmost care and with
rare artistic taste.
glance at the audience was enough to show
that all were there who lay claim to love of mu-
| SIC The patrons of opera were out in full force
and it is very seldom that the audience of last
| night has been excelled, either in point of num-
| bers or the character of those in attendance It
| was remarked by the management that there
was an unusual number of ladies present, but
this partly arose from the fact that large num-
| Der OF gentlemen had resigned their seats to
| make place for the ladies, so great was
the crowd that they all could not be
accommodates with seats. 1t was fact
however, that the audience was very
that it presented an unusually brilliant appear
ance That this should be So following a week
| of expensive and popular amusements such as
those of last week, when the first music festival
was given in the new City Hail. is remarkable,
and disposes of the charge that the Indianapolis
public is not patron of amusements 1t is
! doubtful if any other city could have made as
| good showing, especially at this season Of the
year. English's Opera-house was filled to the
| doors, and it would have been difficult to have
gotten any more in.
The curtain rose on the scene where Orpheus
| stands at the tomb of Eurydice, gathered about
| which, in company with the chief mourner, are
grouped for the best effect. The story that then
| proceeds to unroll before the spectators has
| been made familiar to all lteratures. copied
| from the Grecian legend. Orpheus weeping
| over the tomb of Eurydice, is approached by
| Amor who bids him be of firm courage and the
grave shall lose its victory. His passage through
! the horrors OF the underworld is rewarded-by
| the gift Of Eurydice. The condition on which
| Zeus has granted his prayer is that he shall not
| look on her until they reach the upper world.
| Moved by the prayers of Eurydice, who fears
] she has lost his love, he turns his eyes to her
( and she falls dead. Here the Greek legend,
| with stern fidelity to the idea of jns-
| tice. comes to an end. One must ad-
| nit that the restoration of Eurydice,
| through the prayer of Amor adds little to the
! story. Had the legend been adhered to- how
ever, one would have lost the magnificent appeal
| to love on which the curtain falls. This redeems
| what is hardly to be looked on as other than
bemish Quiet and austere as the treatment is
| throughout, "Orpheus" is dull only to the dull.
TO fully appreciate this opera one must be an
| artist in music, endowed with natural and a
cultivated taste Otherwise it will! appear
| tedious and will not hold the attention Of the
| auditor. To remedy this, and to fit il for the
| general public it has been mounted with su-
| perb ballet and supplemented by scenic effects
| that tend to entertain such as would otherwise
| find it dull and embarrassing. The mingling of
the ballet. always questionable has never proved
a complete success in this city, and 1t may be
said to the credit and taste of the people of Indi-
annapolis. that the ballet advertisements are never
honored with encore.
1t must be admitted. though. that the accesso-
| ries provided by the American Opera Company
are the finest ever seen in the city, and, in their
way, were all that could be desired. The cos
tuning was In perfect accord with the theme to
be presented, and was evidently designed with
the end in view for which it Is used The same
may be said of the scenery and all that is
brought into use in the presentation of the
opera. The scene wherein Orpheus makes
descent into the underworld in search of
Eurydice was strong and effective one. The
opening of the third scene, where he still seeks
though vainly, reminds one of the effect wrought
out by Dore in the way of contracting the light
on one point. while the general effect is not lost
sight OF. This was one of the finest scenes ever
set on stage in this city, and probably as good
as can be found anywhere. The transformation
scene at the close, and the ballet were splendidly
put on, both in detail and in the number and
costuming of those engaged in it
The principal figures in "Orpheus" are but
three in number. Nine. Hastreter assumed
the role of Orpheus, her fine and sympathetic
voice, supported by splendid stage presence for
that part, making her Interpretation of it strik
Ing and effective. Nine. Hastreiter is native
of Louisville, and has made reputation in
Europe as we'll as in her native country. Miss
Emma Juch, possessed OF very sweet and sym
pathetic voice, took the role of Eurydice and to
the satisfaction of all, sharing with Nine
Hastreiter the honors of the evening The COM
paratively minor part of Amor was sung by
Minnie Dilthey. who did it with much grace and
sweetness.
1t is superhuous to speak of the orchestra.
which is under the direction of Theodore Thomas
which is enough in itself to indicate its merits.
In fact there seemed to be determination on
the part of tho management not to spare expense
at the sacrifice of any of the features of the
evening, so that thespectator and the auditor was
at loss to say what he liked best Of it all Such
another performance, taken as an entirety,
has not been given in this city, and
it would be q great mistake for any
lover of music, beautifully framed in stage
accessories to miss this engagement This sug-
geston, however is nearly or quite superfuous
since it appears that everybody has determined
to be in attendance. The sale of tickets for this
evening is as large as for that of last night and
the sale for the matinee, which was announced
at SO late date, gives promise of filing the
house quite as full the occasion of the