The Portland daily press., 1889-02-26
MUSIC AND DRAMA.

The American Opera Company, formed
from the great National Opera Company
which went to pieces some time ago, made
its first appearance in Portland, at City Hall,
In the Stockbridge course last evening, be-
fore an audience that fully tested the capac
ity Of the auditorium. The desire to hear
the opera was so great that not only were all
the regular seats filed but every place where
chair was allowed was occupied and all
standing room was taken
Donizetti's Lucia is one of the most
pleasing Of all the grand operas The or
chestration is an admirable work Of art and
is almost as enjoyable as the yocalzation, il
not fully SO. What is not SO often the
case with modern operas happens in
Lucia, that the Instrumental and vocal fea-
lures are so interviewer that they are entire-
ly dependent the one ON the other. The
story OF the opera is also effective. 1t is
founded on Sir Walter SCOTS Bride of
Lammermoore." AS will be remembered
Sir Henry Ashton has become involved in
governmental plots and to save himself.
would marry his sister Lucia to Sir Arthur
Bucklaw, but she has fallen in love with her
brothers enemy, Sir Edgar of Ravenswood,
VIM hCSipAoCotCo tnO pdoSlOu. n lOTBcQ leL-
ter is used by the brother to break off the
engagement As result Sir Edgar upbraids
her and tramples upon the engagement ring.
Lucia afterwards marries Sir Arthur, goes
mad. and kills her husband and herself.
Hearing the news Sir Edgar goes to the
tombs OF his ancestors, stabs himself and
dies. Other characters incidental to the
story and opera, are Raymond, Lucia's tutor,
Norman, retainer and Alice, attendant on
Lucia.
Louise Natal, who assumed the role of
Lucia, last evening, has sweet, tuneful
voice of considerable brilliancy and excellent
compass. In the Like a Rose Mid Tenn
pest Bending" she took ID fiat an octave
above the note demanded with great accura-
cy. In "Oh Day Of Rapture" her brduura
singing was marked with facility, ease and
accuracy, while her rendering of the mad
scene with the ford execution required, at
the close OF the third act, not only showed
all the best qualities of her voice to the great
est extent but it also raised her audience to
the highest pitch of enthusiasm, and they
called the curtain.
Mr.. Bassett as Edgar, Mr.. Stoddard as Sir
Henry Ashton and Mr.. Frank Vetta as Ray
mond, all gave pleasure, and the latter not
only displayed powerful bass voice, but
acted with considerable power. The or
chestra was good although at times the bras
ses preponderated. The chorus showed a
good body OF voices singing in tune, with
good precision of attack. They were as mo-
tioniess almost as mummies, but perhaps
that was due to their confined quarters on the
stage. The grand sextette-a quintette in
this caSe-and ensemble at the end of the
second act was well given. The costumes
were fair, the scenery, especially the scene
among the tombs OF the Rayenswooods, very
amusing.
This afternoon the Daughter Of the Regi-
ment will be given. and tonight Trovatore in
the Popular course.
DIR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE.
Tonight the well known English dramatist
and actor, Mr.. George M. Wood will appear
in his own version of Mr.. Stevenson's thrill
ling story az Portland Theatre, supported by
Miss Marguerite st. John. The Chicago
Inter Ocean says: Mr.. Wood has made a
consistent and a!rational play, an effective
drama. He has shown better judgment than
did Mr.Sullivan In the introduction of the love
element. He makes the heroine of the play the |
oaughter OF DIR. Jekyll, and shows in Jekyll |
the affection, tenderness, sympathy, and So |
ilcltude OF paternai affection. This not only |
enhances interest but increases probability |
as WELL Mr.. Wood has a yerv good NAV
For the acting of the dual roles It must be |
SAID MIR. Wood has earnestness His ,Jekyll |
mas IN It dignited intelligence and quiet |
he acts the part with intensity. From a |
moral standpoint, also, Mr.. Woods perform.
ance Is cOmmendabs ]
Grimmer's orchestra will render the follow
ing selections:
Waltz-From the Realms of Sound. -. -. Faust |
Medley-Ihe London (by request Len De Witt |
Oalop-Mete0r new King
Waltz-Loye's Dreamland.. Roeder |
HARRY wEBB's CONCERT.
Friday evening the grand testimonial con-
cert to Harry Webb will take place at City
Hall. There will be a concert by the First |
Regiment Band, assisted by the the Orpheus |
a hop.
THE LoNGFELLow CONCERT
Inc tickets for this concert by the Bow
dom students for the benefit of the statue
association are selling well, and the house
DDS falr to be crowded. The concert ia one
which should interest every citizen of Port
land, as the club has won a reputation
which entities it to full house. The cluh
will be accompanied by some of the Bowdoip
students and there is no doubt that the
young people of Portland, as well as the old
ones, will give them a hearty welcome.
Tickets should be secured at once for this
notable occasion, the birthday of the King
Of American poets.
NOTES.
Miss Efie Shannon for the past two seas
pms member Of Mr.. Days company, has
been engaged for the part of Rose in Robert
An engagement for a comedy
part in "Elsmere" has been offered by cable
% w. K. Piggott who is in London.
C0quelin and HadiDg read at private re-
,eption OF Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt in
New York last week, the former receiving
800 and the latter $500 for half hours SER
ice each.
Nelson's Flyers.