Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1891-05-28
Queen Rsthsr.

June, the beautiful oratoriO Of "Es-
Their" will be given at the Opera
House by a company of talented
amateurs under the supervision of
Mrs. Blanche O'BrIen, whose skill as
d musical director is ample guarantee
that the production will be of more
than ordinary excellence.
During the past year or two this
beautiful and attractive oratorio has
been presented in the North with
great success, drawing in Pittsburg,
Indianapolis, Columbus and other
cities houses that netted over two
thousand dollars, and our people may
well congratulate themselves on
having such musical treat in
store.
The oratorio, as the name indicates,
is founded on the beautiful and dra-
matte Bible story of Esther. The
scene opens in the palace of Alias
uerus in all the pOmp and glory OF
oriental splendor. Hannah, at the
very height of his power and AFRO
gance, is prime minister, and Esther,
the beautiful Jewess, is queen, deck
ed in barbaric pearl and gold, yet
bearing in her heart the secret of her
despised birth and nationality and
crushed by the anguish and persecu-
ton of her people. Mordecai refuses
to do honor to Hannah, who induces
the king to issue a decree for the
massacre of all the Jews throughout
the empire, and Mordecai goes to
Queen Esther in sackcloth and ashes
and his lament, "Woe, woe is me-"
and demands that she save her PEG
pie. Knowing the confession of her
own nationality and her espousal OF
the cause of the despised Jews
places her life in deadly peril, Esther
hesitates, with all a woman's shrink
ing from danger, but finally rising to
the heroism of The occasion, she con-
sents, and her "if l perish, / perish"
is fraught with all the self-abnega
ton of a martyr. This is the finest
passage in the oratorio, and is full OF
dramatic fervor. Mordecai's lament,
and Esther's invocation, "Irael, oh
Israeli" are grand and solemn
passages, as is also the petition, fast,
ye and pray for me-" and it is NJ
small praise to say that Miss Smith
and Mr.. Sehorn, who fill the roles OF
Esther and Mordecai, make the
most of the scene. Another fine
passage, finely acted and sung, is the
scene between Hannah and Zerish,
his wife. Mrs. John Macrae, who is
one of our cleverest amateurs, takes
the part of Zerish and renders mag
nificentIy, "Why should this He
brew vex my Lord "' There arealso
two quartettes, "He will keep thee
in perfect peace" and "Am / wake,
or do / dream ?'
The study of Esther's intercessio ion
for her people, of the coquetries by
which she won the king to her cause,
of her triumph and the overthrow
of her enemies are too familiar to
need repetition here, but they make
the silver chord on which the com
poser has strung a shining rosary OF
melodies.
The costuming of the 0ratorio is
very handsome, the oriental scene
giving scope for some novel and
striking stage effects, and in addition
there are a number of charming
marches and dances by Jewish and
Persian children.
The leading parts have been excep
tionally well filled. Miss Imogene
Smith, who takes the roll of Esther,
makes lovely and stately queen,
and sings her part with rare dramat
ic force and feeling, Miss Poston is
heard to advantage as the prophecies
and has most exquisite solo, 40!
DER the Wicked"
Mr., Pickering is handsome king,
while Malcolm Smiths fine Hannah,
and Mr.. Sehorn's Mordecai are wor-
thy of professionals in singing and
action. The entire cast, which in.
cludes nearly sixty people, is excel
lent, and it is safe to say that "Esth
er" will be presented far better than
by most of the professional troupes
"on the road" who come to CIarks
vile. That such an opera can be
sung in such a manner by our own
people is matter of pride to us all.
A part Of the proceeds will go to
the Methodist organ fund.
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The Cause OF Poor Health