Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-12-22
MUSIC AND DRAAA.
THE OPERA PATRONIZED BECAUSE II
is FASHIONABLE.
The Pan-American Delegation at the
Casino in New York-Abbey Invests
in Tights-Footlight Flashes.


Rosalind May. the regular New York
correspondent of the SUNDAY UNION,
writes as follows about amusements in the
metropolis:
ITO one not familiar with the caliber of
the New York mind, the crowds which
fill the Metropolitan Opera House at each
performance would indicate an enthusiasm
for art. To one who knows, it means that
opera is fashionable. The genuine lovers
of music are in the minority and, crime
though it may be to write it, are oftenest
found in the cheap seats-even in the fam
lily circle, which is for the most part filled
at a sacrifice of something less dear than
harmony or melody. Why else would
those occupants climb thai hight and per-
hapS submit TO roast of some hours? Not
to show themselves, since there is no glory,
but to sensitive mind rather mortifca-
tion to be seen among impecunious neigh
borS. Some, of course, are accustomed to
shabbiness and it arouses no special emo
tion, but large sprinkling of auditors in
that high up and far away region are de-
votees who, rather than be deprived of
opera, go where they hope to pass unseen
by that bugbear of existence, friends
| Others a little better off, hover on the
verge of gentility, and spending a dollar,
come down one flight; ignominy is spared
| them and they can hope that if observed
| by the bugbear just mentioned they may
be reckoned as not having been able to
procure better accommodations. And so
it goes-with exceptions, of course, that
prove the rule,-real appreciation dimin-
ishing as prices advance until
THE BOXES
Are reached, where the music, however
portunity for dress and chatter. Take
away the element of fine dressing from
| this special form of entertainment, and the
audiences would shrink into-I fear to say
what nothingness. The boxes are, indeed,
the life of the whole thing, and without
them opera, of whatever school, would suf-
fer extinguishment. 1t cannot be denied,
however, that box occupants do their
share towards diverting the public while |
passing away the time themselves They
are most useful class. OF what would |
not the country at large be deprived with
outssthem? In their way they work hard |
enough, and if they themselves in form
and feature are often libel on the lovely |
things they wear, let them be pitied, not |
ridiculed. Beauty is a divine gift, and |
like the poetic inspiration, not the result |
of manufacture. At all events, opera |
fiourishes, though so far but one singer,
Reichman, has attracted special notice, his |
impersonation of the Dutchman being set |
down in the same category with Alvary's |
SiegfrIed, an unequaled performance |
Fischer and Lilli Lehman are admirable, |
of course, but this very 'of course often |
prevents remarkable enthusiasm. Perotti's |
high note is high as ever, but disagreea-
BILE personality and faulty singing other
wise frequently renders him unpleasing to |
eye and ear. The fact is certain, too, |
that Italian operas, even if marred by |
the German language. have crowded the |
house, and the want of Wagner has so far |
not been felt pecuniarily. Wagner is
promised as hereafter, with Vogl to take |
Alvary's place. But can he? Can any,
one atone for the absence of Alvary, the |
picturesque?
Musical critics and leaven of the fash |
ionable element who think it the thing |
to talk about music, are expectantly await |
ing the arrival of Nikisch from Boston,
when the first of series of four symphony |
concerts will be given. Nikisch has thor
oughly stirred up the Hub, and it is pre-
sumed the same fermenting process will |
go on here when once he has appeared.
OTHER ATTRACTIONS.
"Charles Wyndham, the popular come
dian, after successful engagement at
Palmer's Theater, is succeeded next Mon
day by Richard Mansfield, whose Richard |
TIT ,,J otbo- ip,nareopot;ope ora o,t;o;
pated with great interest, and the same
Twelfth Night at the Fifth Avenue.
full and prolonged visit and during his
stay 'Myles Aroon' has been quite a boon
to lovers of fun. The Great Unknown at !
Days, is still doing excellent business,
while the Tuesday night revivals fill the
house each week with choice and cultured
audiences capable of appreciating the ad-
mirable entertainments characteristic of
this admirably managed theater.
"Quite ripple of excitement was created
this week by the attendance of the Pan
American delegation at the Casino to wit
ness a perennial Erminie," which seems
not to grow old nol wane in public estima-
tion. Excellent attendance is also the
rule at the daily and nightly fencing, |
dancing and other exhibitions of the Hun
garian ladies at the Eden Musee. This
unique and very attractive establishment |
fills place of its own and remains quite
without a rival, since, open at all hours of
the day, it gives entertainment to numer-
Gus people who cannot go out at night, to
strangers from the country and to chill
dren, while in the evening many persons |
can spend pleasant time at moderate ex
pense and return home at comparatively |
early hour.
"'Tis true, tits pity and pity It's, tits |
true,' that Mr.. Abbey, to whom the public |
owes so much, has at this late hour made |
an investment in tights. They have sue
ceeded Booth and Modjeska at the Broad
way, and are silly enough for the silliest."
FooTLIGHT FLASHES
Hattie Delaro has been divorced from |
William S. Barnes.
"a Texas Steer" is the name of Charles |
Hoyt's newest play.
Nellie McHenry has made a big hit |
with "For Sweet Charity's Sake" at New |
Orleans.
Boston's theatrical censors rate Mr.. |
heuudl dS HOL any UelleF tndH HTSt-
class walking gentleman" and Mrs. Ken
dal "ss not so good, or SO artistic, as either |
Agnes Booth or Annie Clark"
David Henderson has signed with |
DOyley Carte for the production OF ''The
Gondoliers," Gilbert & Sullivan's opera,
for the territory bounded by the east side |
Of Pittsburg and the Pacific coast.
Miss Bertha Foy's lecture on "How to |
Keep Husband at Home" which is in
cluded in the clever performance at Tony |
Pastors Theater, New York, is one of the |
brightest things offered thester-goe
Miss Clara Thropp, the charming little
soubrette of "The County Fair" still con-
tinues to delight the large audiences that
nightly crowd the Union Square Theater, |
by her exquisite impersonation of Taggs. |
A French dramatic organization has |
been established in New York under the |
patronage of the best French citizens
Performances will be given every fortnight |
at some prominent place of entertainment. |
Frank Mckee. who is managing "The |