The Portland daily press., 1889-10-19
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
sUZETTE.

the Bostonians, at City Hall, last evening.
was a most brilliant success, an earnest of
what may be expected the remainder Of the
season. The weather was beautiful and, in
consequence, the auditorium was packed to
its utmost capacity.
"Suzette," an opera by Latour, was the
work selected by the Bostonians for their
opening performance. 1t is light, tuneful
opera. abounding in pretty dance measures,
and @ nSs3eS65f nv e ns hot
scrupled to borrow from any source that he
thought would add to the effectiveness of bis
work. neither has he attempted to disguise
what he has taken. In these days, when
comic opera is so popular, and almost all
those which have gained repute abroad are
placed on the boards here, the general public
quickly notices any borrowing of one COM
poser from another. In the second act of
Suzette we might mention the partial use of
the leading air from the Mascotte, and also
the chorus from the Black Hussar. Still,
these thefts, if they do not reflect much
credit on Latour. are nevertheless enjoyable.
There is negro melody, sung by Domingo
and chorus, that is familiar to all frequent
ers of old time minstrel shows, but it is Just
as delightful in the opera as it used to be in
the concert hall. The orchestral parts are
we'll written and well arranged, and the or.
chestra, under Mr.. Studley's efficient baton,
is most agreeable feature of the opera.
The story of the opera we have already
given to the public. If, at times, the libretto
by Oscar We'll borders little on the coarse
and suggestive it is on the whole so
much more spicy and pointed than is usually
met with that it may be pardoned little
roughness. You cannot expect tomboy
of the pleasant class to be any too refined, and
when that peasant imaglnes herself a mar
quise, and French marquise at that, the po-
lite society of the age is supposed to allow
her considerable leeway.
The audience was evidently much pleased
with the play-leaving the music entirely out
of consideration-and Miss Marie Stone as
sumed the character Of Suzette-tomboy and
marquis-with dash and spirit that carried
the opera. She sang also, with all the old
fire, and when she gave the florid music, that
occasionally marked her role. she was re-
warded with great applause. This was es-
pecially the case in her duet with Renee in
the second act.
Mrs. Jessie Bartlett Davis made herIdebut
in Portland in the part of Diane. She is not
only very pretty, attractive woman, but she
possesses glorious contralto voice, rich and
melOdious, of admirable compass, and train
ed in an excellent school. Her song, "But
yesterday your love you told me-" was the
gem of the opera, and she sang it with pas
sion that was delightful. Mr.. Mcdonald
han
branche, and his voice was heard to great
advantage, especially in "Your valet l am
proud to be-" the duet with Mrs. Davis, "At
last at last" with its delightful waltz move
ment was encored Mr.. Hoff was suffering
from cold but he sang "Like dream" with
much feeling and sweetness. Mr.. Frothing-
ham was amusing as Vieubec and Mr..
Nichols as Domingo. One of the prettiest
numbers in the opera, and 1t was encored,
was the quartette by Suzette, Diane, Octave
and Renee, "If we are really lovers true"
The choruseS were all well given. and the
ensembles presented with marked finish.
The slight scenic effects, that could be put
ON the stage, were good.
This afternoon the Poachers will be given
at the matinee, which will begin at 2.30 o.
clock, and "Pygmalion and Galatea" in the
evening.
HERMINIE.
There was good advance sale of seats
yesterday for the Redmond-Barry perform
ances of "Herminie," to take place at Port
land theatre next Monday and Tuesday. The
New York Sun says:
The leading roles were admirably filled
and the whole play was pronounced go" A
new feature and an entertaining one was the
cOlored stereopticon views thrown on the
drop curtain between the acts. The novelty
was in the fact that the views exhibited
scenes in the development of the plot, the ac-
tion of which was not presented In the play.
They were tastefully and artistically execu-
ted, and added materially to the entertain
ment and enlightenment of the audience.
STAR COURSE.
Get seats at the Y. NJ. c. A. rooms now for
the Star Course entertainments Next Wed
| nesday evening the Boston Symphony Or
chessral Club will open the course. The
artists are De Seve. violin virtuoso; Joseph
Lapini, violinist; Richard Stoelze. viola and
viola d'amour; Otto Langey, cello; Fred
Lax, flute and fiageolet; ]. Fashanfr, contra
bass, with the celebrated Swedish prima
donna, Mile. Ohrstrom, vocalist
NOTES.
Ryan'S complimentary concert, to be given