The Washington times., 1895-02-24
WANTED TO HEAR "FAUST"
Melba, as Marguerite, Charmed the
Largest Audience of the Season.
sybil sanderson Scores an Artistic Triumph
as Manon in Massenets New
Opera Of II ut Name.

With the possible exception of the Maple
SON season years ago, never has Washington
witnessed such grand opera audience as as
sembled yesterday afternoon at the Allen
Grand Opera House. The fashionable. pro-
fessional, political, and business sides Of the
most cosmopolitan of cities were all repre-
sented, and hundreds were turned away.
The overflow of those who had secured ad-
mission, but were unable to secure seats,
filed every inch OF standing room in the
rear aisles.
A card prominently displayed In the foyer
was a keen disappointment to those who
happened to see it. 1t announced that Jean
De Reszke was too Ill to sing Faust. This
followed on the heels of Friday nights an
nouncement that Edouard De ResZke was in
disposed and that NJ. Plancon would be SUBJ
stituted as Me phstopheles in the Faust cast.
The audience lost little through NJ.
Edouard De Reszke's absence, for dner
devil, lyrically and dramatically, than that
OF III. Plancon could scarcely be conjured.
Sig. Russitano's Faust, however, was keen
disappointment to those who had looked for
ward to Jean De Reszke's Interpretation OF
| the title role.
In fact. every singer, except Mme Melba,
! could have stayed away and the audience
would have been satisfied. Her tonRl quail
| ity and vocal method seem the very epitome
| of the singers art. The Jewel Song and
window duet were given as never Washing
| ton heard them before. The trills and en-
bellishments were perfect in technique and
yet rendered without apparent effort.
Dramatically. Melba is great Marguerite.
The very perfume and flower OF innocent
| girlhood are in her impersonation during
the period covered by the first three acts,
and the later anguish OF suffering noble
woman is none the less perfectly pictured.
The Mephistopheles of III. Plancon is above
critiscism. His stature and physical bearing
are admirably suited TO the part, and his
! bass is magnificent in volume and quality.
He played the character with dramatic fire
and tinesse that would have carried II through
without the lyric element.
Washington is familiar with Nine. Scalehi
as Siebel. 1t is her best-known part, and,
perhaps. there is no one living who is more
satisfactory than she as the faithful lover.
Mile. Bauermeisters Martha was an effi-
cient creation.
in fact, the whole performance would have
been ideal, except for the absence of Jean
De Reszke.
syBIL sASDERsoN IN "MANoE."
Massenet's latest production, "Manon, :"
was heard for the first time in Washington
last night. II is composition regarding
the details of which it is not easy TO
form q judgment upon first acquaint-
ance. AS whole 1t may be said to cloy
upon the musical palate so sweet Is
it throughout. 1t is dainty, sensuous,
but elusive. 1t lacks nervous force.
Its form may delight the trained musician.
but it will hardly suit the popular taste.
| Here and there one hears something that
touches the heartstrings, as, for instance,
Mamon's solo In the third act, List, It's the
voice of YOUTH" the duet Of Des Grieux and
his father, and Des Grieux's solo, in the
same act, but these and the convent scene
between Manon and her lover are the ex-
ceptions. 1t is a succession of harmonies,
with but few melodies.
Not only was there new opera, however,
but new prima donna also, and an Amer
lean at that. SybH SanderSon Is rarely
gifted as lyric artist. Hers is pure,
high, bell-like soprano, ample in compass
and abundant in volume. Her voice ls so
perfectly trained that the most exacting de-
mands made upon it are responded to with
out any apparent effort. 1t is most pleasing,
perhaps. in the middle register, bEt some
of her high upper notes are as clear and
sweet as the Z string on the violin. Besides.
Miss Sanderson is very handsome and has q
fine figure, thus being endowed with all the
attributes to serure popularity. She was
frequently and literally applauded and called
before the curtain. and was loaded down
with magnificent floral tributes. Miss San
derson's gowns were maryels of the dress
makers art.
Tho tenor of the evening was Mauguierre.
Neither his voice nor his method is particu-
larry pleasing; in fact. it may be said that
what there is good in the former is spoiled
by the latter. Plancon's noble basso had
but narrow scope in the small part assigned
him, and the other members Of the cast filled
too Insignificant parts to require specia
mention. Chorus and orchestra were ex-
ce lent. and no one could have conducted
more acceptably than Sig. Bevignani.
socIETY's CONTINGENT.
Society was out again in fairly good force
last night, but the house was only well filled
down stairs, though all the boxes were occu
pied. Among those noticed in the thront
were: Secretary Herbert, Miss Herbert, ars
Micon, Mrs. Lamont, Mr.. John r. Mclean
Miss Mclean, MISS Letter. Senator and Mrs
Brice, Marquis Imperiali, Senator and Mrs
Allison, Senator and Mrs. Davis, Representa-
tative and Mrs. Den,on, Representative ail'
Mrs. Bailey, Senator Gibson, Mrs. Dor
Cameron, Mrs. Hit, Senor Mendonca, th
Brazilian minister, and Mrs. Menconca, Mis-
Belknap. Admiral and Mrs. Upshur. AS
sistant Secretary of the Treasury and Mrs
Hamlin, Representative White, of Ohio; Mrs
and Miss White. Miss Wheeler, Mr.. and Mrs
Henry E. Searles, Mrs. Whittemore, Mr.. AM
Mrs. Devine. OF the Shoreham; Mr.. and Mrs
T. e. Roessle. DR.. Smith, Miss Smith, Mrs
Gibson. Miss Newlands, Mr.. George ii. El
|, | bridge, Commissioner and Mrs. Ross, MI
Mrc oytn