The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-12-24

II it had been any other time than
Christmas week City hsll would have
Teen crowded last night by an audience,
all too small, to pay trihuts to q great
az Aist. As it wss there was q good at
tt adance Of the musical peopls of the city
ssiaes quite large delegations from out
II town. It was owing to the fact that
strangers were in the house and that the
departure CT their traips could not be de-
layed that there were number coiG-
PEELED to leave the bail at the end Of the
third act Of tFarst -
1t seemed impossible when listening tc
the great diva las evening that she was
the pyitna dcnna Of one OF the finest ope-
ratio trours on 5na stage of 20 years ago.
The brilliancy Of her voice. the wonder
full bird-like character of her trills, the
etaccato runs that dropped from her lips
clear and delicate IS crystal, the power
ana pathos il the garden scene with
Faust, seem to abide with her as fresh
and captivating now as then. AMI In
err personal appearance there is but little
change. Whether the latter is partly
=
women possess wonderful skill in These
rnatters-we cannot say. When she first
appeared in that great scene from La
Traviata, the 'Fors lui," she was
warmly received, but before she had halt
finished the delighted audience broke
into vehement applause and at its close
she was handed basket Of beautiful
roses. For encore, after being recalled
three times, she sang "Home Sweet
Home" 1t was, however, in the two
ac.s from Faust, the garden and prison
scenes that her audience saw her as she
should lie ssen, as actress and singer.
'The King of Thule" ths Jewell
Song" the great duet and the famous
quartette, all gave testimony to the YER
dies long since rendered by the greatest
musical audiences in the world. Let us
hope we shall still hear Nine. Albani
as some future day IN our new thsatre,
in grand opera. Nine. Albani's cos
TUNES were very rich and she biazed with
diamonds.
The artists in support of Nine. Albani
were all excellent. Mr.. Lempriere
Pringle has fine bass voice which was
heard to admirable advantage In the
Toreador's song from Carmen, and in
his encore the old German drinking
song. Mr. Braxton Smith has a pleasant,
sympathetic tenor which was heard to
especial advantage in "Salve Dinovah. -
Miss Beverley Robinson has an agreeable
voice, and Miss Beatrice Langley is a
yioliuist of great merit Besides her
own numbers in the concert part of the
programme she added greatly to the
Faust performance by her assistance to
Senior Seppiii in the accomplishments.
Gaazss Susie Kerwin.
Popular and charming Susie Kerwin
appeared at both the afternoon anc eve
ming performances yesterday in Carmen,
q part peculiarly adapted to this charm
ing lady. Her solos were encored at each
performance and the dainty charm with
which this clever woman invests every
character that she inpersonates was
most visibly noticeable. One feature
of the presentation of the.operas by the
Wilbur company are the costumes, which
are certainly the best and most lavish Of
any ever seen on the stage Of this thea
ire. The chorus also deserves special men
tian, their work being entitled to IN
qualified praise. Today both afternoon
and evening, Nine. Favart, the most pop