The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-03-23
THE B0STONIANS.
" Robin Hood" Presented to q Large and
Enthusiastic Audience

"Robin Hood" Presented to q Large and
Enthusiastic Audience.
The Baldwin auditorium had all the people
last evening it could comfortably contain to
welcome this fayorite English opera troupe.
and enjoy the popular DeKoven-Smth work.
Robin HoOd,' with which the name of the
company is now everywhere associated. It
Is rarely. we venture to say, that any organ
iZation Of singers is faced by such mass OF
enthusiastic listeners as assembled at the
Baldwin Theater on this opening night. ALI
the old artists-H. C. Barnabee. particularly
were wildly greeted, and all the members
received from three TO four encores, By
means of which the performance was ex-
tended to more than usual length. We find
no ehange In the vocal capacity of the ind-
vIdual members of the troupe; we find q
great improvement in the chorus and en-
semble music.
THE NEW PRIMA DONNA,
Camille d Arvilie. who assumed the role Of
Maid Marian, captivated the audlen CO at
once by her graceful and vivacous action
Her voice Is not great one; it is even and
quite up to the demands of the score. Her
fresh and handsome face, 1.-the and at the
same time compact figure, were quite as
good Cards of introduction to the favor of
her auditors as her vocal gifts. Some of her
solos" Meath the greenwood tree" in tho
second act, and the "Churning song" and
the duet with Robert, Though it was
within this hour we met" were applauded
ana encored. Flowers were flung to her
from the proscenium boxes. and altogether.
Miss d'Arville was the favorte of the hour.
MISS JESSIE BARTLETT-DAVIs
Had right royal welcome from her friends
and professional admirers, for she left many
behind her after her last visit to this coast
Her full, rich and true contralto was heard
to tine advantage in THE Promise" aria
which appears to be an introduced number,
and also in "The Bells of ST. SwitbiD"
Her acting was easy and full Of purpose az
Allan-a-Dale, one of Hoods outlaws in
love with the coquettish Annabel.
THE MALE SINGERS
Were Tom Karl as Rpb bin Hood, FL. C. Bar
nabee as the Sheriff of Nottingh ham, w. III.
Mcdonald as Little John. Eugene CowleS al
viii Scarlet, George b. rockingham an
Friar Tuck and Peter LING as Guy of Gis-
borne. There was no fault to be found
with any OF them. Each singer in his place
filled it admirably. II an exception in
point of excellence might be made il would
be in favor of Eugene Cowles, whose mag
niheent bass 1t was delight TO hear in ga
tailor then dwelt near old Sherwood's edge"
and the armorer's song. LET hammer on
anvil ring, ring, ring. with which tie third
and last act opens. The improvement In Mr.
COwles case is very marked since the last
time we heard him with the Bostonians. Then
he was spoken of as the legitimate Amerl
Cdu SuCCcSSul tO MyTOn w. w Dlln6y. H6
Is more than thatnow Whitney could never
voice the atmoreps song as COwles did
last evening. The song of Brown, Octo-
Der Ale" which w. II. Macdonald sings as
Little John in the forest scene of the second
act, was mastery piece of work, both in
the solo and chorus parts. This appears to
be special favorite. and was received wita
tempest OF applause. 1t was called for
three times and as the refrain died away
among the fruit trees. the gods in the gal
lsry made an effort 10 get the singers
back again for another round. The
comic business was in the hands of 81. G.
Barnabee, as the Sheriff. and besides pos
sessing Il pleasant singing voice, he proved
himself thoroughly acceptable low come
dlaa. Assisted by Josephine Bartlett as
Dame burden, he relieved the romantic
passages of the opera and kent the house in
roar. The tinkers' song and scene, "Tis
Merry Journeymen We Are" was irresisti-
bly, funny as he ed it, especially the dumb
chorus. This hit was honored with six re-
calls, and then the audience were not tired
OF 1t. Friar Tuck was we'll sustained by
George b. rockingham. Mr.. Tom Kari
Robin Hood had good deal Of vocal work
TO do, from the time he enters in tue FIRST ace
with In the leafy shades of the woodland
glades"; but his organ seemed more than
usually capable TO meet the responsibility.
Karl is singer who finishes better than he
begins. He is apt TO be a little close
thr0ated at the start, but AS he proceeds
breadth and teXlbllity are developed. The
best thing he did was the serenade in the
second act-"The troubadour sang 10 his
love-" Taken altogether, "Robn Hood"
was never better sung, we think, by the
Bostonians than it was last evening. Ala
the singers appeared to be on their mettle:
and there is probably reason for this. The
opera will be repeated this evening, with
Miss Carrie Hamilton MillZner in the rois
of Maid Marian. There will without doubt
be a crowded attendance.