San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-01-12
EMMA ABBOTT.
Her Appearance In Grand Opera
Last Night.

Her Appearance In Grand Opera
Last Night.
The Emma Abbott Grand Opera com
pany reached this city on the delayed
International and Great Northern
train at 4 O'Clock yesterday, and
drove Immediately to the hotel. Last
night they began their four days en-
gsgement at the Grand opera house,
giving for the first time In this city En-
ma Abbott's new opera of"Ruy Bias"
which 10 a version OF Victor Hugo's TO-
nance OF the same.
This orchestra, which is one Of the
finest now travelling with any opera
company, and which Abbott Is always
careful to supply, was led by SigDor
Tomssi, as usual. They began their
grand overture at a quarter past eight
and at $50 the curtain rose on the new
opera, disclosing Mr.. WIN. Pruette as
Don Salllst di Began" singing an In
comparable baritone solo, OF great
length, which drlited easily into duet
with Michalena's fine tenor, when he
appeared as "Ruy Bias" This cap.
tured the audience and drew
the first applause. Then the
chorus, which 10 made up OF pretty girls
and har dsome men, all with fine voices,
appeared. The chorus is better than
ever and lays over anything heard be-
fore In San Antonio. Miss Abbott's ap-
pearance, as Queen THERESA" Of Spain,
was the signal for an ovation OF applause
to which she responded with graceful
curtesies and sweet smiles. She knew
that the audience was hers and the town
too, for that matter, and began singing
with the air OF Q triumphant queen.
al lu "a mil oil In
"business" and finish that her long ac-
quaintance with and study OF art has
given her. She has not the voice of a
Jenny Lind or a Nilsson, and there are
better voices even In the United States,
but nohs use theirs like Emma and
none can smile so sweetly or kiss so
warmly, or "ioye" her leading man on
the Stage. Her costumes, too, were
magnificent and were the wonder, not
to say envy, Of the many fashion,
able ladies present In the audience.
In appearance Miss Abbott does
not look so we'll as on previous visits
here, though her form has lost none OF
Its perfect lines, nor her arms and band
their shspely contour.
Miss Annandale's appearance as Gas
ilda," lady In waiting to the queen. was
again the point where the audience
overlooked with enthusiasm. She is
as much favoIite In San Antonio as
Abbott and her singing is liked better
Her pure rich contraltO was heard to
great advantage last night in a beauti-
full sole, with castanet accompaniment.
MichaIena, BrOderiok, Pruette, Beau
mont, Allen, and others, carried their
parts well, and Of course, all were at
their best, and tried to please. The
audience was satisfied with The MEN,
bers Of the company, one and all, and
spplauded them heartily. thus In turn
Satisfying the singers. The opera in it,
self pleased many, while Others it did
not. They seemed to expect a grand
treat. They got their moneys worth,
though, for there are many pretty gems
Of chorus, solo and duet and the thread
Of the opera itself is romantic love
tale. sweetly told, with its action laid
10 the voluptuOus CLINE OF old Spain, al
though the finale ends In tears for all.
Tonight the company will appear in
the Carnival OF Venice" comic opera,
in which Miss Abbott will sing the
Erminie lullaby, and tomorrow night
Verdi's grand opera, "Trovatore," Is
the bill,