The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-12-21
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
Susie Kirwin.

Susie Kirwin and her opera company
will be at Portland theatre all this week.
The admirers of Miss Susie Kirwin, -
and she has scores of them-will be glad
to know that their bright little favorlte
will return to them this season. MISS
Kirwin claims she cannot live without
the pladits Of the public. "GiVe me my
dear stage" she says, "and l am
happy" she will return to this Guy,
where she has always been strohg
fayorite in royal style at the head OF hef
own organization, The Susie hlrWin
Opera Company, managed by her former
patron, A. l.. Wilbur of the famous Will
bur Opera Company. The clever lady
has SO many brilliant qualities that IT is
difficult to say in what particular role
she will achieve the greater Success. she
is enthusiastic over all, and VINO would
not be proud OF repertoire tnst Will
include the dainty Mignon, he Queens
Lace Handkerchief, Madame Favaft, and
Bizet IS wonderful creation, the ascinat-
ing Inflated Carmen? Her dramatic and
vocal versatility will have wide scope.
Besides all the study these difficult roles
involve she has taken upon herself the
personal supervision of every detail OF
costuming, scenery, and the all import
ant question Of selecting q suitable COM
pany. With remarkable tact, she has ao-
complished all these things, and when
the curtain rises, It will be on perfect
production, from the petite star, to the
Hallest detail of stage management, in
GLIDING as it will a fine company, beau
tiful scenery, truly gorgeous costC mes,
large and competent chorus and all other
accessories which Mies Kirwin's fertile
imagination may suggest. Popular price,
will be the rule for the week, and the
repertoire will be as follows:
Monday evening. Nine. Fayart; Tues
flav, matinee and evening, bohemian
Girl, Wednesday, matinee and evening,
Carmen; Thursday, matinee, Mignop,
evening, tbs Queens Lace Handkerchief
Friday, matinee and evening. Two
Vagabonds; Saturday matinee, Carmen
evening, Nine. Favarf.
AIbani.
The Elijah performance at the re.
cent October Bristol Musical Festival,
called for the following praise for the
Canadian prima donna, Madame Albani.
who took therein the leading part:
Madame AlbRni, was in her usual good
health and genial spirits, and sang the
famous solo, Hear ye Israel, with her
well-known beauty of voice, style and
fervcr, which invested the number with
additional charm. How thoroughly she
appreciates and feels the quality and ma
ture of Mendelssohn' music. was shown
by the zeal she displayed in everything
she accomplished, whether an important
solo, such as that with which the SECOND
part of the oratoIio opens. or connected
recitatives and phrases. 1t issthus the
true musician maintains her supremacy
in tho realm Of art.
Madame Albani will appear in this
city at City Hall on December Esd, sup
ported BY strong company and th g
tickets are on sale at Stockbridge
Robert MantelI.
1t was the late John Mccullough who
frat offered RobertSMantell an American
engagement. Mr.. Mccullough saw
Manten while he was playing at the Sur
rey theatre in London, and was 30 well
pleased with his work that he offered
him 500 week to Support him in this
country. Although this was just four
times as much as Mr.. Mantell was get
ting, he was obliged to refuse this offer
as he was under contract for the follow
ing season. Mr.. Mantell will be at
Portland theatre, December 2S ana 30.
st. Lawrence Aid Course.
Tickets should be secured at Stock
be given in the st. Lawrence Ladies
Aid course, at City hall on Friday night.
II will be an English ballad concert at
which Miss S. Martha Crafts, the young
soprano who is now singing at Congress
SQUARE church, Miss PhilErook, ons of
the best pianists in the country and the
Albion Male Quartette will take part.
Mime. Nordica's Concert.
The announcement that Madam Lillian
Nordica foremost of the worlds dramatic
sopranos has included this city in the
list of places ia which she will appear
during her coming tour must be received
with delight by all lovers Of that which
is best and no blest In music. No singer
with the possible exception of Adelina
Patti has struck SO affeetionate and re-
sponsiye chords in the hearts of Ameri-
oans, as has this beautiful woman and
great artist. The fact is now almost
generally conceded hat she is practically
without rival in her chosen work, and
when it is remembered that she is an
American girl, tho fact is al the more
interesting. At the last Beyreuth festival
Madam Nordica far SUI passed the German
prime donnas with whom she came n
competition. During her present tour
VIII CHI is very limited, she will be heard
in operatic concerts, surrounded by the
very best company of operatio soloists
available She will be heard at Portland
theatre December 30th.
Old Lavender.
Old Lavender, Mr.. Edward Harrigan's
most successful play, will be produced at
the City hall this evening. Old Lavender
is MIR. Harrigan' S greatest creation. Other
types of fertile Imagination, such as Dan
Mulligan, the rollicking good hearted
IrishInan, and the simple old Southern
darby, Pete, together with the demented
tempest tossed Italian sailor, Joe Cor
nello, ard many Others that we cannot
call to mind at present, but all so human
and true to nature as conceived and en-
bodied on the stage by Mr.. Edward Har
Iigan-al of these characters must bow
to his n asterwork, Old Lavender. Mr..
Harrigan has surrounded himself with
an excellent mpsny Of players among
whom are Dave Braham, Jr., Harry
Fisher George Merritt, Hattie Moore,
James Cassidy, Jane Busby, Joseph
Williamson, Michael kearney and
Charles Coffey. Tickets at Chandler
Music Store.
Miss Bertha Galland appeared at the
matinee and evening performance III
Portland theatre Saturday to small audi
enoes In the evening a scene from
OrtheIIo was given in addition to the
other features of the programme. and
NJ ISIS Galland pleased as Desdemona,
xrhiIo tho GtneIIo and TaoO yvera YER