The Portland daily press., 1895-03-06


vance sale of seats for the performance
of Hoyt's "A Black Sheep" at the Port
land Theatre next Tuedaay and Wednes-
day evenings, will commence at the box
Office. This comedy is Mr.. Hoyt's latest
success. and will be presented here by
the original company.
The NIelba Concert
Last evening will never be forgotten
by anyone in the magnificent audience
that welcomed Nine. Melba to City Hall.
Many of them had heard the great prima
donna in the Mechanics Building, Bos-
ton, but under conditions that were not
calculated to do the singer justice.
Last night, however, she made her
first appearance in Portland-for years
the. home sof Gary and Eames--in a hall
whose acoustic properties are unexcelled
by any in the country, where the faint
est information can be distinctly heard in
the farthest corner. and the result was
triumph that's any cantatrice could be
proud of. 1t was a superb audience.
From all over the state were gathered
men and women prominent in the pro-
LESSONS, in music and art, and they
packed the great hall to overlooking.
Hundreds stood throughout the concert
When Nine. Melba made her first APP
pearance on the stage she was warmly
received. She was gowned in magnif-
cent pink silk, trimmed with red, and
wore magnificent diamonds. She has
a commanding stage presence, and "A
at i.re- fraa fIfat tiof rtcf 1ncf
effectively. Her first number was the
celebrated mad seine from" Lucia, with
flute obligato by Mons. Mole. Nothing
could have been selected by her better
calculated to show the wonderful capa-
bilities of her voice. The runs and triIis
were bird-like. At times it was difficult
to tell which was the instrument and
which the voice. None of the resources
of the greatest of singers are beyond the
capabilities OF this great artist. Such
colorlng as she throws into her own Won
derful execution cannot be equalled by
any OF the great prima donnas of the
day. Sucn perfect lntonation as she
displayed, such purity and clearness of
tone, and such range as she exhl blted,
are heard rarely in a lifetime. 1t was
also great advantage Nine. Melba POS
sessed in that she had for accompanist
SO great an artist as Mons. Mole. When
Nine. Media finished the scene, the
storm of applause that swept through
the bouse was like whirlwind in in
tensity. -Four times was she recalled,
and she was compelled to repeat the
fual staccato runs OF the mad scene..
Aud again and again that tempest of
appli use ragged, and the great singer re-
appeared and bowed and smiled, and was
presented huge basket of magnificent
roses. She sang the famous "Caro
Nome" with indescrihable grace, delica-
Y eli a ri
ty of tone, the clearness and exactness of
every note, the charming tenderness and
expression she threw into it, will ever
live in the brains of those who heard it.
The Arditi waltz song was especially
calculated to display all the brilliant
execution of this remarkable singer, but
when, on recall, MIR. Zach, the accompa-
anist, struck the first notes of "Good-
bye Summer" the applause was deafen-
Ing, and she sang the simple, pathetic
song with sentiment that deeply affect
ed her hearers. 1t seemed as if the con-
cert should have ended here. lit was
difficult to reconcile one's ear to listen
ing to anything, however good, after
wards. Nine. Melba has earned the
thanks of the musical public of this
great state for the opportunity she has
given them to listen to her voice, and
she will always receive a grand welcome
when she chooses to visit us again.
MISS Edmands sang as usual with eXr
cellent taste and voice. She was present.
ed very handsome cluster of long
stemmed Boston roses.
Mr.. Watkins Mills, the English bari
tone. made his first appearance here. He
has noble voice, and he sang with
great spirit. His rendering of the
Handelian air "Ruddier an a cherry"
exhibited a breadth of style, dignity
OF expression, that brought forth