The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-10-19
THE OPERA LAST NIGHT.

Miss HOnEberg Delights u Wheeling Au
disnCe-.A Flus Performance,
II the people Of Wheeling had known
what was offered to them last night the,
would have packed tho Opera HOUSE
Two such lyric artists as Kate BensbsIp
and Pauline Moutegrito do not come thil
way every day. They have both supert
volCea highly cultivated, tne presence snC
good dramatic action. They are strops
enough TO carry through successfully ami
operate performance.
Miss BsnsbUrg has not been heralded
beyond her merlts. She brings us fresh
young voice oi sweetness and power, o.
good compass, flexible, clear aud true
Nature has endowed her richly in form
voice and artistic sense. She has the tai
ent to take creditable place
on the dramatic stage, a gift
which serves her well In
opera, where too few artists Of dramatic
power are se0n. In her singing and hel
acting there Is soul. From the moment
oil her bIst Appearance EllB interests lei
audience. From interest to sympathy is
an easy step, and then comes the complete
mastery. The applause was showered on
her, ss ahe well deserved. In Bales
comic opera, "fhe Sleeping Queen" with
which the evening opened, the soprano
has good opportunities to please, aud Miss
Bsns6eTg not only pleased, sine astonish.
cd. The nightingale song has often been
heard here, but not as 1t was rem Tered here
last night. Aa Marguerite in Gounod's
faust and Marguerite" she charmed
again and showed what she could do In a
more serious role.
Mis- MontegriHo, 90 Donna Agnes, In
"The Sleeping Queen" and ISieJei finale
CharaCter) III Faust and Marguerite"
used her rich Contralto voice with great
sCceptability. Miss Montegrilfo has won
q high place among the Contralti OF the
American operatiC stage. She 10 q highly
cultivated artist and wins a full share OF
APPRECIATION. She sang the flower song In
Faust" skillfully and beautifully, and the
house warmly acknowledged her success.
MIR. Ross David. tenor, and Mr.. Frank
Walker, baBso, arc 80 far behind the So
pran0 and the ContIalto that they might
well be thought 10 belong to another com.
pany. Mr., David Is light, very light
tenor, who occasionally sings sweetly, but
there is too litlle OF his voice to count ior
much except when he has the stage 10
himself and the house is very quiet. He
Is uncertain about his movements, some.
times finding his feet in the wrong place
and endeavorinR to plant them 10
bstter advantage. He seems 10
be without experience In his business.
Mr.. Walkers voice 10 atill less accepta.
BILE, though his acting Ia not SO crude,
He had, however, the misfortune 10 ap.
pear as MephiStophsles. character which
only week ago Wheeling saw finely
done by MIR. Morrison. With the char.
aCter Mr.. Walker does very nearly moth
ing, but this could ba forgiven II he were
able to do more with his voice.
The orchestra was BkillIully handled
and acquitted itself we'll. Tonight "The
Sleeping Qleen" asuin with the third act
from Martina TO complete the bill.
The house should be packed tonight,
No peison will ever regret having heard
Mrs Bsnsbefg and Miss MontegrltTo.
Such performance Rs they gave last
night will remain In pleasing memory fol
a long time, and a full house will not only
render the company It's due, but as well
reflect credit on the taste and discrimina.
ton OF the Wheeling public.