Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1896-11-09
OPERA HOUSE OPENING.
Continued from 1st Page.

who has devoted such untlrlng
interest and refined taste to the
preparation of this exceedingly
beautiful place.
"My pleasant task would be but
imperfectly performed, were L TO
omit a record of our thanks to our
admired and esteemed sonsgtress,
now welcome back to her native
land-Miss Aunis Montague-and
to the accomplished company of
ladies and gentlemen whom she
has summoned round her, in
honor of the interesting inaugural
occasion, for the beautiful opera
tic performance of which we have
witnessed the first act.
81 hope, ladies and gentlemen,
that, however feebly, L may have
not unsuccessfully expressed your
feelings towards Mr.. and Mrs.
Irwin and their coadjutors in the
gift of this theater."
Mr.. Irwin arose in his box and,
after receiving rounds of applause,
replied rs follows to MIR. Walkers
remarks:
Ladies' and Gentlemen: When
the eventful evening came round
for the opening of this Opera
House. and [ had the pleasure OF
opening its doors to the people of
Honolulu, [ thought that my
labors were about completed. But
the enthusiasm and sentiment ofthe
audience induce me to return the
most cordial thanks, for Mrs.
Irwin and myself and for my
partners -Mr. J. ID. Spreckels
and Mr.. Adolph Spreckels-to
you for the kind words Of appre-
citation expressed on your behalf
by Mr.. Walker. If any Of you do
not know the trouble Of starting
theater, | should advise you to
try it, but for all the worry and
expense incurred | have been re
warded by the press and the
public in general. l must pard
cularly thank the ladies and
gentlemen who have spent many
weeks in preparing this beautiful
opera, l cannot say much more
than to thank you again, on be-
half of Mrs. Irwin and myself and
Messrs. Spreckels, for the kind
ovation with which you have
greeted the Inauguration Of this
place of anu ,ement." Loud
applause.)
In the second act Mrs. W. W.
Dimond makes her first appear
ance in this OPP IRA, her part being
Azucena, the gypsy woman. Her
makeup was a triumph in itself,
but the audience was completely
led captive when, in dulcet notes,
she sang her first song, upward
the Flames Roll" with the gypsy
band gathered around her. Mrs.
Dimond gave a splendid histrio.
mic exhibition, in the dialogue
held in the dungeon, between
Manrico and Azucena, when the
latter utters the frantic passage:
"One morning fierce crowds as.
sembled, seized my mother and
led her to torture" 1t could not
have been better acted and sung.
1t would be impossible, in the
space at disposal, to detail all the
good points of the company's per
Torrance. Miss Montague sim
ply put expectations back to the
small end of the telescope,
with such sustained vocal
strength and sweetness did
she carry to the last the arduous
part of Leonora. Her stage bust
ness was beyond criticism as that
of the accomplished artist who
can conceal art.
For an initial performance the
chorus--many of whom had never
faced q large audience before
is entitled to great praise. Prof.
Berger directed the orchestra in a
mastery manner, its work being
without discernible fault. Grand
opera, it is we'll shown, need not
he abandoned in Honolulu for
want Of orshe 'tral support.
After the curtain fell on the
third act the scenic artist was call.
ed to the footlights, and in res
ponse to hearty reception by the
audience Mr.. Porter delivered this
felicitous speech:
"Ladies and Gentlemen: 1T is,
/ hope, with pardonable feelings
of pride that l attempt a response
to your generous acceptance OF my
humble efforts to promote the in