The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-11-18
EMMA ABBOTT IN ERNAN|
verdi's Great Opera Produced Before
Fine Audience at Ming's
Last Night.
An Admirable Rendition BY Miss
Abbott and An Excellent Com
pany Of SingerA
Balfe's Rose OF CASTLE win be Produced
This Evening-A Sketch Of
Louis XXI.
ERNAN1, an opera, in four acts 81

MISS LIuu6 ADDOGb Wa0 received last
evening by magnificent audience. The
house was filed long before the curtain
rose. Not a vacant seat could be found in
the parquet, while the gallery was all but
packed. The opening of the opera season
was something of q social event and the
society people we're there in numbers. 1t
was an occasion to be remembered in more
ways than one.
Verdis Ernani is one of the great au-
thor's best works. While trife heavy for
the appreciation Of the average audience, it
is, nevertheless, impressive, from the open
ing chorus to the finale. There are too few
solos and there is nothing to relieve the
too serious plot. But the choruses were
grandly impressive. As rendered last even
ing they were like the grand volumes OF
tone from a cathedral organ and were al
most reverential in their simple sweetness
of composition. While the opera was re-
ceived with unmistakable chilliness, it rapid
~ grew into the appreciation of the audience.
Before the finish the rendition was re-
warded with enthusiastic applause. The
story of the opera is briefly told. The &C
noble Spanish lady, ia in love with Er-
mani, an outlaw, though engaged to marry
Don Gomez De Silva, an aged Spanish
Rrandee. King Don Carlos appears, tells
his love and endeavors TO carry her away.
The three rivals meet and Silva challenges
the king, but afterwards discovers his
identity and is pardoned. The plot then
deals with the struggles of the three to win
the girl whose love for Ernani is never lost.
She is carried away by the king as host
age. They meet afterward in the cata-
combs in Aquisgrana. Tho king appears
and wishing to reign by love withdraws and
unites the lovers. The last act opens with
their marriage in the midst of which Don
Silva enters and sounds the horn for his re-
tanners. The plot suddenly ends with the
suicide of Ernani.
The general performance last evening was
excellent and much of the credit for this
belongs to the chorus. The voices were
marked by spirit and precision. There was
in addition general dramatic excellence
to the rendition. While the interest of the
evening naturally conferred about Miss
Abbott, she by no means claimed all of tbs
attention. Her appearance in the first act
which quickly died away with the first
notes. Her first number was perhaps the
most effective. II was plaintive song to
her lover beseeching him to fly with her. II
was rendered in way that fairly thrilled
the audience. The higher notes were exc
CuGeO WIFI the marvellous power tUdI u6S
made the name of Abbott SO famous in the
history of English opera. One of the more
noticeable features Of her singing is her app
probation of difficult notes. Miss Abbott's
gowns attracted much attention, particu-
Iarly in the second act when she appeared
in white silk embroidered with gold.
OF the male soloists Mr.. Pruette seemed
to draw the most favor. His rich baritone
was under admirable control at all times.
Many numbers fell to his part and they
were rendered with fine expression. His
Don Carlos was manly and pleasing char
actor, given with much dramatic force.
MIR. Broderick is one of the best bassos
ever heard in Helena,
Mlchelena's voice appeared somewhat out
of form. II was cold and unsympathetic.
His acting was marked by an absence of
ease and grace until the finale, which was
very we'll done. The other leading singers
had very little to do. The chorus was we'll
costumed, and would have appeared to
better advantage if the opera had been
properly staged. The orchestration under
the direction of Albert Krausse was be-
yond criticism. The Abbott engagement
will conclude this evening with the singing
of Balfe's Rose of CASTLE. q romantic opera
replete with beautiful airs.