The morning call., 1890-12-05
4" MARTHA"
The Orpheum Crowded to Hear
Won Flotow's Opera.
Miss francesca Guthrie and Mr.. Albert Guile
Distinguish Themselves in the Principal
Roles-Mr. Albert Wilkie Tonight.

The Orpheum overlooked with people last
evening to hear Frederick Won Flotow's
charming comic opera, the only one of any
consequence, excepting "Alessandro Stra-
della" that he wrote. martha" seems to
have absorbed all the freshness Of style. of
melody and cheerfulness this composer had
at command, for his succeeding works give
no evidences of these characteristics. 1t is
but justice to say that the distribution of the
Hess Company brought out all the pleasing
features of this opera, and that it has
rarely been sung SO effectively in
this city as it was in the instance under
notice. In the concerted music the chorus
was strong, assertfve and reliant, making a
volume of sound that at the same time had
a due proportion of light and shade, and
was noticeable also for prompt attack and
correct tempo. The orchestra also lent
efficient and even brilliant aid to the oeca-
sion. Doubters at first no longer waver in
opinion of the complete equipment of the
Hess organization. From the first the COM
pany was a revelation to our lovers Of
music; now it is accepted as an uuQueStioned
exponent of the lyric art.
AS FOR THE PRINCIPALS
In last evenings performance they made a
record for themselves which will be long
remembered. AS Lady Henrietta (Martha)
Miss Francesca Guthrie riveted the attention
of the vast audience, when she was on the
stage, from the first scene with Nancy till
she reciprOcates the love of The young
Lionel in the finale of the last act She was
in perfect voice, and her acting had an
archneSs and riqu .ncy characteristic of the
French opera, from which Won Flotow is
said 10 have borrowed the outward form of
Rosa" under the familiar form of "The Last
Rose of Summer" the lady adopted
the Bishop method, simplicity and
sweetness, as becomes the number,
not overlooking it with vocal en-
bruidery. The artiSte's mother. an ac-
complished musician and generally well
educated, was born in Dublin, and the ma
tives of the city watered by the Liffey are
credited with speaking the purest and best
English in Great Britain. From this fact.
we suppose, came the beauty of her enun-
citation; the just-detected roll of the 81 in
the word rose" that fell on the ear like
soft trill. The audience rose to the singer
in this song especially, too impatient to wait
till the final cadenza.
MIR. ALBERT GUILE,
The tenor, also came in for an ample share
of applause and encomiums from the audi
ence. The tenor is favored all through the
opera, and lie can make lyric hero OF him
self If he has the voice to do it, as Guile
certainly has, especially in the aria. MAP
parl TUT Amor" He sang his music in the
iuN aCceptdDle uidilileI' Inc NOcluFne,
with Nancy. Plunkett and Martha, "Mezza-
matte" was delightful ending to the third
scene of the second act.
Miss Fannie Myers sang Nancy neatly,
and Mr.. William Hamilton as Piunkett dis
tinguisled himself, although his duet in the
fair scene with Lionel lacked compactness
and finish.
THIS EVENING
Mr.. Alfred Wikie, formerly a member of
Manager Hess lyric organizations will sing
the role of Lionel. MI Wiikie is a tenor di
grazia, with sweet, fluent voice that
ought to meet the demands of this part COM
pletely.