The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-03-24
OPERA IN NEW ORLEANS.
MUSIC WITH 4 HISTORY OF MORE
THAN 100 YEARS.

or Grand opera.
New Orleans. La, March BIN the
heart Of the French quarter. there up
rears a building that has the closest iden.
tificatiOn with the life Of New Orleans.
One Of the first local prades Of the cid-
zens Of this city. is the French opera
house and its traditions OF Partisan prime
dome. its legends Of ovations TO famous
tenors, all its memories of musical glory.
which with dts deeply scared and worn
exterior give it the dignity and the SOL
emnity OF a volume of history.
The approach to the opera house is
through those quaint and narrow streets
which are in themselves SO graphic OF ira
dition. Then suddenly appears among the
low roofs taller edihce. grey and white
and leaden with age. The pillars Of the
portico align the outer curb Of the side
walk.
In the evening the little street before
the building Is gay with people. The cleo
trio light at the corner chooses its own
time for illumination and takes occa-
sional suffering vacations. The diverging
streets, too, present, for the most part,
the assassin-like gloom of some Euro
pean cities. But under the old portico there
is a wealth Of light, and the blithe and
joyous clatter of many tongues. In the
yellow rays from the adjacent cafes.
move innumerable figures.
Grand opera in New Orleans has his
tory Of a hundred years. Davis French
refugee from San Domingo, came here in
1880, and, with the true spirit Of his nation,
it was no trouble at all for him to change
at once from participant in the bloody
scuf1ing at San Domingo. to a conductor
of grand opera. In 1914. the Orleans thea
ter was built at the corner of Orleans
and Bourbon streets Madame Devries
was singing the role of Fides in The Pro-
phet" at this theater when she conceived
the idea of naming her daughter after the
title Of her part and this sudden inspiration
is responsible for the name of the present
famous Partisan singer Nine Whitman,
Nine. Colson. NJ Du Luc, NJ. De La Grave,
NJ. lie Croix, NJ Cramebade and NJ. Jeni-
brel were all imported from Paris to this
house to satisfy the vast enthusiams of the
French New Orleans public.
This house was the heart of the SOC
ial life Of the city. All the existance of
the old Creole artistocracy was centerd
in the opera. The spirited and earnest
gentlemen of the day exchanged cards
with a magnificent frequence in this
building. In fact, it is said, that more
duels were arranged there than in any
other building in the world. And GER
tain great feature were the 'loges grill
aes'-latticed boxes-where families in
mourning could listen to the opera with
out being observed by the spectators.
In 1853 the present opera house was
erected. The Orleans had become too
small Gradually. the opera had ac-
quired a patronage that comprised the
wealthy classes of both-the French and
all he
masses Of the people. Matthew and Tou-
nier were the two tenors who, at this
time, sored to brilliant nights of popu-
Iarity. Adelna Patti was the star Of 1860
This was before she began her farewell
tours; in fact, 1t was her American de-
but. Singer appeared in 1881, Gerster in
1882. De Murska in 1885. Martinez in 1883.
There are, Of course, veterans in open at
tendance who love to tell of the memorable
events of the past and their favorite
theme is Of the time when Devoyod, the
famous baritone, was fairly overwhelmed
at his benefit in 1874, with flowers, kisses,
jewelry devotion, alteration. Men stood
on each others backs In the parquet and
the management was obliged to remove
the negroes out of the fourth tier in or
der to make room.
New Orleans is the only city in the
United States that supports continual
and elaborate production of grand opera
And as mentioned New Orleans has done
so for quite a hundred years. In New
York it is. perhaps, always something
of a venture. From time to time a man
ager acquires sufficient courage. He spec
ulates long and deeply, and then after
ward he wears the pious air Of man
who has dared everything for the sake
of a beloved art. And he is altogether
entitled to wear this air of piety.
Here the opera Is supported by the
entire populace. The lights of the COM
pany are the deities of the masses. Their
adherents wrangle over their merits.
There is a vast and elemental interest
and enthusiasm.
Above all, the prices are arranged so
that building sites do not have to be
exchanged for tickets. AS a matter of fact
the opera can be seen for ten cents. The
best seats in the house are purchased
for one dollar and fifty cents. This does
not make taste for grand opera 10
be thrones in the flesh Of a small ven
dor of olives or matches.
Perhaps these things adjust them
selves 1t may be that it is only when
a public attains the cultivation of New
Orleans public that cheap opera can be
given it. Perhaps it is necessary to charge
a man the price of a schooner yacht in
order to instruct him.
The company this year is headed by
Madame Laville. She is soprano who
sings WlLn a dramatic COMPREHENSION lHdI
Is unusual. She renders the principal roles
in all the weighter operas given, with
an impressive emotional sincerity. Her
fine voice and her artistic earnestness
have caused her to be immensely popu-
lar. Anasty, the tenor, and Chavaroach.
the basso, are usually associated with her
in the productions
The chorus IS commendable portion
of the company There is a distinct dash
and vigor in their singing and acting
which is not always observed in chorus
This air of spirit is more apparent in
the male part of the chorus than in the
female. For example, in the first act of
La Juive" there is a little terse quarrel
of peasants. enduring just few seconds,
which the men of the chorus render with
a sudden snap and intensity which is evil
IDENTIFY impossible to the usual chorus men
who conduct the same little vignette with
the fire and fervor Of a row Of lockwood
plants.
In all their Appearances, they are in
earnest. impressed in the opera.
The orchestra Is an organization of
eighty pieces. The leadership is per-
fectly capable and wise, and the orches-
ira plays we'll. animated by the single
Al