Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-09
THURSDAY EVENING,
FRIDAY EVENING.

That curious conglomerate Of to-day, yclept
comic opera, was presented In its fairest guise
by the Aronson Opera Company at the Grand
last week. A stronger company in all depart
ments. richer costuming or more elaborate
Seene-settIng could not be asked.
Conductor Jesse Williams, who came on to
conduct at PittsbuFg (the baton hencerorth
falling to Mr.. Simonton, who played the piano
last week. deserves the lions share of whatever
purely musical credit can be awarded to the
performances. His handling OF the orchestra,
which was composed of good men but unused
to him and to each other. was quite beyond the
ordinary; 1t Is no easy task to get smooth and
tasteful and, especially, soft Accomplishments
under such conditions. The singing of the
chorus, particularly in unaccomDanied num-
per-, also bore strong witness to Mr.. WilliamS'
Among the feminine principals the one who
best nlled all requirements in each part she
undertook was unquestionably Miss George
DENIM. She constantly seemed the incarnate
spirit OF true opera comique, and her singing
where the part did not range too high, was ar
tistic and effective in the extreme. Miss Grace
Golden did the most elaborate singing Of all IN
the interpolated waltz-songs by Mattel and Ar
diti. She did them well. too; her use of the
portdne1lto being especially commendable.
Miss Pauline Hall never had much but her
looks to travel on, and there's almost too much
Of them now. Her voice is hard and cold, her
singing lazy and not always in tune and her ac-
ton rather phlegmatic. Miss Eva Davenport
did admirable service in less important roles
If Mr.. John Brand had not sung that pretty
duet in the second act of the "Dr1m Msjor' 50
surprisingly well, there would have been no
difdcultY in awarding the musical palm-as far
as the men are concerned-to Mr.. Edwin @.
Stevens, whose resonant baritone was well de-
livered and managed with much taste. Mr..
James 7. Powers showed in the role of Grave
Ietts that he could sing very credi.ably, as well
as originate and inimitably perpetrate some Of
the funniest business" gags and general
horse play that ever turnad comic opera into
farce. Messrs. MahIn, Ryse and Campbell
helped the general effect considerably.
But was all this really comic operar
No; it cannot be rightly called by that honor
able name. There were some elements Of opera
present much of the time; but they were kept
rigidly in the background for the most part.
Farce and buTlesque were the ruling elements.
1t was gags and legs that were depended on to
make things go. The costumer and scene
painter seemed next in point of respect.
Is it not curIous-eyen regretable, perhaps
that in theSe concededly splendid performances
of 'comic opera" as the term has lately come
to be understood, the musical elements should
have to apologize, as it were, for intruding
upon the comedians horse-play and the fem
mime display
The first concert Of the season by the Men
delssohn Club. Of the East End, will be given
at Orpheus Music Hall, Larimer avenue and
Auburn street, on Tuesday evening next, when
the following programme will be given, under
Mr.. ]. P. McCollum's direction:
PART FIRST.
4 soIo:-:Hione in the Desert;; I:manusi
Frank W. Bearl.
.. Sovenir de Posen. WeiniamsH
Mr.. Leo Oehmler.
Miss Jennie Gray.
5. Bridal Chorus--( "Rose Maiden'') CoWen
9. 'Tnconstant'' ............... Mattel
Miss Jennie Evans.
Mr.. Leo Oehmler.
8. 'tHybrias the Cretan'' Elliott
Mr.. Geo. T. Wagner.
PART SECOND.
Ninety-hfth Psalm ..............:Mendelssohn
2. Soprano solo and chorus--"Come, Let Us sipR,I
= Duet-.In his Hands Are All the Corners Of
5. Tenor solo and chorus 'sHenoeforth When Ys
soloists, Miss Jennie Evans. soprano; Miss Lizzie
The Importance of the new Roosevelt organ
in Carnegie Hail. as giving our community Its
first public organ, and in consequence its nrst
chance Of becoming at all acquainted with the
scope Of this department. OF music, has often
been alluded to in Chis column. Next Tuesday,
Wednesday and Thursday will see the begins
ming Of practical realization Of the hopeful
predictions made.
On the first two days the new buildings will
be open to all who come from to 10 P. NJ, and
the following schedule Of the organ playing
may assist some to decide what hours to select
for the inspection: Tuesday afternoon, 2:l5 to
S:l6 o'clock, Mr.. Relnhart Mayer viii be
organist; 8:l5 to AIS o'clock, Miss Kate Court
8 to 10, Mr.. Leonard Wales. Wednesday, 2i5
to SI5 P. NJ, Mr.. John Pritchard; BIS to 4i5
Miss s. II. Killikelly. Evening, SI5 to 9:l6
Mr.. Charles D. Carter; 915 to lois, Mr.. Joseph
H Cuttings.
On Thursday evening the invited guests will
hear the Mozart Club sing several standard
choruses, while Mr.. Mellor will probably play
the organ Just about as much as the time left
by the speeches Of President Harrison. Mr..
Carnegie es al will allow.