The Portland daily press., 1890-04-22
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
ERNANI.

Last ettHlDB lHt EluNd ADUOIJ Op6ld
Company closed the Stockbridge regular
season with "Ernani," the first time the
opera has had a representation here since
1867, when, under the management of the
Mercantile Library Association it was pro-
duced at City hall, with Nine. La Grange.
Isabelle McCulloch, Brignoli, and Susini in
the cast On the present occasion the City
hall was packed to its utmost capacity, and
this was the cast:
Eivira. .,......'.............:M Miss Emma Abbott
2loNdnud' Miss Emma Broderick
hnI Michaelena
Don p Io ~ VIM Pruette
Ion Ion huy oe Silva................Wm VIM. Frederick
The action of the opera takes place in
Aragon, in 1919. Elvira, noble Spanish
lady, Is on the eve of marriage with the aged
Don Gomez de Silva, a grandee of Spain,
when Ernani, the outlaw, appears, and re-
quests the aid of the mountaineers and re-
bells to carry off Elvira, to whom he Is fondlly
attached, and who returns his love. While
Elvira is receiving the presents and congrat-
ulations of her friends upon her marriage
Don Carlos, King of Spain, enters her apart,
ment, declares his passion for her, and tries
to force her from the castle. She calls for
help, and Ernani, entering from. a secret
door, protects her and defies the king. Sill
va, coming to visit the bride, finds his two
rivals, and declares he will avenge the insult
with his sword. The arrival of Don Ricardo
the royal armor-be bearer, reveals to Silva that
it is the king he has challenged. and, kneel-
ing to him, he begs for pardon, which Is
granted. In the second act, when the nup-
tials of Elvira and Silva are about to be SOL
emnized, Ernani, disguised as a pilgrim, is
announced, when, thinking that Elvira is
false to him, he throws off his disguise, de-
clares his followers are dispersed, and de-
mands to be given up to the king, This Sill:
a noble to betray. guest; but afterwards,
finding that ErnaDi and Elvira are still faith
full to each other, he determines on ven
geance. The king arrives, and demands
that either Ernani or Silva shall be placed
under arrest. Elvira pleads for mercy, and
the king carries her off as hostage of the
faith of Silva. On the departure of Elvira,
Silva challenges Ernani, who refuses to fight
with one who has saved his life, but declares
he is ready to die, and only begs to see Elvi-
has been taken as hostage for Silva, Ernani
tells him that the king is also a rival, and
promises, If he may share in his vengeance,
that he will give up his life when called on,
and presents him with horn to sound when
the promise is to be kept In the third act
the king is concealed in the Catac0mbs in
Aquisgrana, knowing that a meeting of con-
spirat0rs is to take place there. The right
OF killing the king falls on Ernani. AT that
moment Don Carlos appears, and, announc-
Ing himself as the Emperor Charles the
Fifth, condemns the plebeans TO prisoI, and
the mobiles to the block. Ernani demands to
be sent with the mobiles, as he is himself a
duke prescribed by the king of CASTLE.
Charles, wishing to reign by love, rather
than fear, pardons the conspiratOrs and
uniteS the lovers, Ernani and Elvira. The
fourth act opens with their marriage, but in
the midst of their rejoicing Don Silva enters,
masked, and, determined on revenge, sounds
the horn, when Ernani, faithful to his prom
Use, stabs himself.
The opera of "Ernani," as is we'll known
is grand opera, and it is a heavy opera. The
music is to great degree sombre, and there
is abundance of recitative. The Abbott
company gave it last evening with excellent
effect and precision. If the voices of the
principals lack some in quality, they make
up for the defect in the earnestness and con.
scientiousness of their singing. The Choir
uses were given with great fire and spirit.
The opening chorus met with the favor Of
the audiedce, and that favor was made mani
fest thereafter especially in the ensembles
and fnGLeS The grand sextette and chorus
at the close of the third act caused call OF
the curtain, and the finale of the first act
was equally favored.
Miss Abbott's pecularities of style and
voice are so we'll known they call for no rep
itition here. Her rendering of the famous
aria "Ern0ni IN ami" in the first act, with
its runs and trills, was encored, and the lady
repeated portion of it. Her costumes were
elegant. as the ladies in the audience will all
admit, and her diamond earrings and brace
let. superb. Mr.. Michelena sang the music
of Ernani with fervor. He has a strong
ten0re robustO. Mr.. Pruette's baritone was
we'll fitted to the part of Dan Carlos, and
Mr.. Broderick-heard here as Sir Despard in
"Ruddygore" dignifed and effective
Don Silva.
The orchestra is well balanced and trained,
but much of its effect was lost under the
stage, as the orchestral platform was not
used. This afternoon Martha; tonight
"Faust."
GILMORE FESTIVAL.
Next Friday and Saturday, afternoon and
evening of each day, Gilmore's matchless
band will be at City hall. They will present
an entirely different programme at each per-
fermance They will perform many CLASH
cal pieces as well as the more spirited and
popular selections.