The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-02-04
MUSIC AND DRAMA.


Stockbridge Popular course was given at
City Hall last evening by the Lillian
Durell Opera Company, who presented
Ambrose Thomas's beautiful opera of
'sMignon" which has not been heard
| here since it was produced by the Bos
tonians several seasons ago with Juliette
| Gordon in the title role.
Last evening Miss Lillian Durell as
sumed the character of Mignon, sup
ported by. several well known Boston
singers in the principal roles, chorus of
some sixteen voices, and a small orches-
ira, with Mr.. N. D. Jones as conductor
The scenery was good, if not elaborate,
and the costumes appropriate.
Miss Durell possesses a soprano voice
of good power, excellent compass and
fexibility, and evidently has had the
benefit of the best masters. She has
considerable knowledge of the stage and
acted with spirit. In ''Knowst thou the
land'' in the first act and ''Once a
Maiden in the second act she was heard
at her best, receiving hearty encore for
the brilliancy of her rendering of the
latter number. In her duet with
Lothorio, ''Swift flying swallows" she
was very happy.
Miss Wagner as Filena, displayed
clear flexible soprano, and sang the
famous polonaise with considerable ex
ecution. Mr.. Bartletts sweet tenor
gave the music of Wilhelm with much
beauty and expression, and DR.. Clarks
powerful bass was heard to particular
advantage as Lothorio. Miss Bosley ex-
hibited clear, rich, well cultivated con-
tralto, and a pleasing figure as Frederic,
and Messrs. Dodd and Elmeslie's voices
were well fitted to the characters of
Laertes and Giarno. The favorite
sextette and chorus in the first act was
well received and much applauded. The
choruses were well drilled and had good
voices.
One of the drawbacks of the evening
was owing to the fact that the director
was SO occupied in piano accompani-
ments that his foot had to take the place
of baton, and the raising of the piano
lid, with the arrangement of the music
stand of the double bass, cut off the
view of the actors below the waist from
the spectators, so that they seemed to
move about by invisible means. Another
drawback was the way the settees were
crowded together. This is an outrage
!: Il !, hoI 70
have six seats on settees that can accom-
modate only five comfortably without
having the knees jammed into the
throat. There was crowded house.
The opera will be repeated tonight.
Lucky Ranch.
At the Portland Theatre, for the bal
ance of the week, commencing
today, LUCKY RANCH will be
presented by Paige's Amusement Com
pany as farewell offering, as their en-
gagement closes on Saturday evening,
Feb. 9th. For over two weeks this COM
pany has held the stage of the Portland
Theatre Arriving here Jan. goth ,ln-
known to Portland theatre-goers, they
have steadily won favors and patronage,
and will doubtless have no reasan to
regret their extended stay in Portland.
'Lucky Ranch with the addition of
specialties, will be rousing bill, and
one in which all the favorites will be
seen at their best.
The Messiah Course.
The Church of. the Messiah course of
four entertainments includes an organ
recital by MI. Carter, organist at st.
Luke's; the Lilhatansu Quartette of Mil
ford, Mass. Rev. Mr.. Hamilton's illus
trated lecture on Pompeii; and lecture
on London by Rev. Mr.. Rogers of Salem,
Mass. The organ recital will be given
Monday next.
Paderewski.
The tickets for Paderewski are selling
fast at Stockbridge's and many will be
disappointed who wait till the last mo-
ment before purchasing. The Boston
papers say:
Paderewski is tremendously adj
vertised artist; and doubtless Boston's
interest in the brilliant Pole, first
aroused by little Otto Hegner's exquisite
performance of the now famous "Menuet
a pAntique," and since constantly kept
warm by the reports that have been free
ly circulated concerning his astonishing
triumphs in Europe, had not little to
do with his reception. But this interest,
bordering ON curiosity, was not the real
cause of his success. Paderewski is I'M
deniably genius; there could have been
few out of the vast audience that filled
every seat and every foot of standing
room ON Friday afternoon who were not
strongly impressed with this fact.
Notes.
The second of the recitals by the Ros-
SIM Club will take place at Kotzschmar
Hall today Thursday at II o'clock.
The next entertainment in the Pops
will be the Tableaux dart, Feb. 10th,
and the next in the Regular Stockbridge
course the concert by Mary Howe and
others Feb. 10th.
Stuart Robson played to 1880 at the
St. Louis Grand last week, with Jeffer-
son as the counter attraction.
Mr. and Mrs. Stuart Robson are on
i, 10 Do Il