The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1890-11-23

News.
A delightful week of English grand opera
has Just closed at the National Theatre. Grand
opera is so rarely heard in Washington that
season holding as its special attraction much
lesser light than Miss Emma Juch would call
forth the liberal patronage of the music-loving
people of the CITY, varied repertory was pre-
sented, comprising "The Huguenots," "Rigo-
letto" "Lohengrin," civilian Tell" "The
Flying Dutchman,'' "Faust," and "The Bohe-
mian Girl" 1t would not betrue to say that in
all of these difficult operas the company was
faultless but the imperfections of the more
minor parts and the occasional uncertain efforts
of the chorus were amply redeemed by the
splendid work of the principals. OF Miss Juch,
who appeared alternately with Miss Georgine
Won Januschowski, it is unnecessary to speak.
Her magnificent voice, which has so thoroughly
charmed the people of Washington before, has
gained in purity, power, and sweetness year by
year, until now it seems equal to the most
rigorous requirements of the composers pen.
But this is not ALL Her eracting is the peer of her
singing, and hand in hand they excite the high
est admiration of her auditors combination
of qualities wherein the artistic so strikingly
appears throughout the component parts of the
whole performance is rarity which has seldom
been seen on the stage of English grand opera,
and cannot fail to meet with exceptional com
mendation. Miss von Januschowsk the prima
donna alternate, also represents vocal material
of high order. Her voice shows unusual cul-
tivation and great power, but lacks somewhat
of the sympathetic quality which assists in re-
leving the heaviness of dramatic music. Miss
Carlotta Maconda is soprano whose place in
the company it would be difficult to fill to bet
ter advantage. Her voice is clear, pure, and
strong, and absolutely free from any tremolo
quality, and she sings with charming ease and
grace of manner Mr. Charles Hedmondt and
Mr. Payne Clark are the tenors. OF the latter
it can be said that his voice is one of much
sweetness, but of scarcely the necessary dramatic
power for the class of music he essays OF the
former it is not eXtravagant praise to say that
he is head and shoulders above any other tenor
of the English grand opera stage. His voice is
of exquisite quality and his shading is as true
as his acting is consistent throughout. Mr..
Otto Rathiens is another principal of excellent
abilities. When all has been said, however,
there is no member of the company whose work
shows the true artist in more eminent degree
than Mr.. Franz Vetta, whose noble voice has
captivated the tastes of the American public.
His style is truly grand, and his interpretations
never ONerSJep Ine DOuuuS Vi an luIclllSeuJ
judgment. There is other very good material
in the company, of which want of space
will forbid individual mention.
4 X 4
money Mad.n which made its appearance at
Albaugh's Grand Opera House last week, Gre
ated a revived interest in the meodrama among
Washington theatregoers. There is plenty of
old-tme excitement about the piece, but it is
aI nv thn M Vrio OH m n m
tirely distinctive as to free it more or less from
classification with the general run of melo-
dramas with which the country was flooded
some years back. 1t is an American play, and
this fact lends it additional interest. But aside
from the collateral merits Of the piece in the
way of scenery it admits in its production the
opportunity for some really artistic work on
the part of the members of the cast. The COM
pauy which presented ''Money Mad" last week
was ono of exceptional merit. Mr.. B. r.
Graham, who does the role of Cdrey HdSkinS,
the villain, was excellent. His acting was in
tensely interesting throughout, but in the last
act especially he developed dramatic powers of
unusual merit. Mr.. Mason Mitchell as John
Murray, Jr, the picturesque hero, was good,
but failed to apply the artistic touch to the part
to make it the leading role, rs it ought to be.
He was replaced last night in the company by
Mr., Charles b. Hanford, of this city, who for
the past two years has been playing Marc
Ant0ny and other leading roles with Booth and
Barrett. In Mr.. Hanfords hands the part last
night assumed its normal Importance and won
the hearty sympathy of the audience. Mr.. Ben
Hendricks as Slinkdid an excellent bit of char
acter acting Miss Margaret Bradford as Kate
O'NeW was easy and natural, and Miss Kate
Toucray as Grace Manning and Miss Gertie
Dawes as Gurtha Graham We're both well quail
fled for their respective roles The other mem
berS of the company were eXcellentlY chosen.
The scenery was very effective, especially
that representing the counterfeiters den
and the one showing the Clark street Bridge
in Chicago.
HThe Red Hussar" and Marie Tempest
Miss Marie Tempest in the comic opera of