The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-12-08
b
MHL0PoIHA'S SUCCESS.
A Thoroughly Artistic Con.
cert Given Last Night
at Hasbreuck Hall
MRS. DEAN THE SoLoIST.
Miss TOffsy Makes a Great Success
in the Role Of Marta
Social News.

It seemed curious for the attendant
upon the Melopoiea last night TO wait for
an uptown instead of a downtown car
the expression ''wait for" Is used ad-
yiseaiy-and still! more curious to sac tina
usual collection Of carriages drawn up in
line. not before the old First Baptist
Church GU Grove street, but along Cras-
ceut avenue In front OF the New Has
brouek Hall. 1t might have been this
changs which surprised the weather
authorities into Sc naing a clear night,
something quite unh card of in connec-
ton with either OF III choral societies.
There were more new features than
this. however, the most radical inuova-
ton being the production of Sir Henry
Smart's cantata. "King Reue's Daugh-
ter.n as almost the only choral work of
the evening. do not see how there Is
room TO disagree with the verdict that
last night the society presented by far the
best work that 1t has ever put before a
becoming-is already-a power In serious
musical advancement in this city-let us
trust that this season will go on as IL has
begun.
Though the charm of familiarity may
attach ITSELF TO the downtown church, tne
Stays VI uAsuF0uC& Hall uRkSs u mucH
more effective setting for the chorus. For
one reason. the ARRANGEMENT Vt the lights ;
for another. tbs background. Thu chorus
opened the evening with the familiar
"NYmph's Song" from q NsapolItal air,
h~armoaizsd by Ress. Tue balance of tbs
chorus WAS excellent. owing to The fact
that the contraltos did not assume undue
Dromfusncs. This was noticeable In ali
the part songs
The strong orchestra with Mr.. Dress
Ter at the organ and Mrs. HunTsr Brown
az the piano, played y ssrsuads of Saint
Saens. and the strings alone tbs Audan te
c~antaUlfef from a gu irtstta OF TScnaikow-
sky. so far their work was ad tni-aole,
especially 10 the latte, which received
an unexpected amoun OF applause.
KING RENE'S DAUGHTER.
The copyiSt VINO prepared the orc le5-
trail parts 10. king Rsns'A Daughte"
made such d poor piece Of work. lie Ayiag
out Whole nie aud putting In ua-
comfortable errors. tnat II Mr.. Baier
had not gUne over it note oY uose the
night before, Proyid .nce ouly knows
THAT it would nave sounded like. AS It
was. the yiolins squeakel ontrageously in
the overture. In the opening CHORUS of
yiutagers, the Interest W IS we'll sustained
by the Dhras NJ al 1 sh litnx. Fhs srzu-
ment of tue cantaLa read-:-Io!authe.
daughter OF King R,ue, C,aat OF Pos
vencr, has beea patnrothed IN infaicy TO
the sou of the Count of Vdndemont.
Stricken with blindness wnel bd5 a Year
old, she has been reared with all know
ledge of The faculty Of sight withheld
from her. A lsech or m lgician has pro.
mised to restore her sight, by means OF
an amulet he has given her. on condition
that she IL Informed of the missi n & ssuss;
but the king has refused permission.
L1lanthe's betrothed, wandering rs a
troubadour. lignrs upon her abode IN the
valley Of VaucIuse. Without knowing
her-forSa territorial f4ud has Kept tnsir
lives apart-tne t~roubadour knlght 10 en-
thraIled By her beauty. he does not
know that she is blind, aud his words
reveal to her the faculty OF which she has
been kept in ignorance; he thus unwit-
tIugly aids the magician's ART, aud
Iolanthe is restored 10 sight.
The ~soloists were:-Mrs. j.. Fl. Gilmore
as Iolanthe; Miss jennie r. roffs AS
Marta. and Mrs. frederic Dean as
BeStrice.
OF these Miss Toffay was easily the
star. Ii is surprising what a marked im-
provement her voice SHOWS from even
one Year ago. 1t is full, sweet, clear.
true. Best of all, it has the in vincibls
charm OF youth. Her phrasing IL iutsiii
gent, her voice delivery easy. aud her
conception OF the part thoughtful. From
her first solo. There is a Fair Maid" TO
tee eud. she held the audience delighted.
Her best work was in the recitalive aud
arietLa, From ner B ,wer." fer which
she was forced to bow her aekuowledx-
ments again and again.
As ~Iolsnthe, Mrs. Gilmore's voice was
inadequate to the part. Mrs Dams part ,