Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-10-29
OPERA BY AMATEURS
THE FESTIVAL OPENS UNDER MOST
FLATTERING AUSPICES.
La SOEEAMBULA is WELL SUNG.
All the Principals Acquit Them
selves CreditabIy, and the Chorus
work II ESceIIent-Miss Booker
and Del Papa.


TO say that ia sonnambula," the open
ing bill Of the opera festival, scored a
success upon its production is but to echo
the emphatic verdict Of last nights audi
ence at the Academy.
10 grapple with the difficulties Of Bel
hnis la Sonnambula" and 10 emerge
from the contest flushed and breathless
perhaps but still victorious, is a feat OF
which a band Of musical amateurs may
well be proud, and the highly creditabie
manner in which the opera was produced
under the auspices Of the Rosemary LII
brary entities the participants to hearty
cOmmendation.
Even the weather welcomed the open
ms OF the festival. The air was charged
with the ozone of success. Success was
everywhere-in the foyer. the corridors,
the orchestra. and 1t was not long after
the curtain had risen on the first act
that weatherwise theatrical prophets set
lied in their seats and said, 1--WE guess
this viii float the festival"-and it did.
There vas large and brilliant audience
present in a gladstone frame Of mind; the
music was followed with close attention,
and there was a steady growth in en-
thusiasm.
IMPROVED AS IT WENT.
when performance gives such an
amount of solid pleasure and legitimate
satisfaction as that Of la Sonnambula'
anorded to the audience which nearly
filled the Academy last night, a critic
who has thoroughly enjoyed himself is
sorely tempted TO scamp his work as
professional fault-hnder. In any case
the obvious flaws i'm the performance need
not detaln one long. The first act was by
far the weakest in execution, as 1t Is In /
Z dtably bound TO be. There was slight !
nervousness apparent but the opera
gathered force and fascination as II pro-
gressed, and hearty applause gave place TO
unuoIndcd enthusiasm.
Ihe stage pictures were constantly al
tractlve The grouping. the host Of pretty
girls. and the bright costumes We're
verltabie feast to the eye Nothing could
have exceeded the attention or the sym
pathy with which the performance was
followed. II Is particularly worthy Of no
tice that no one left before the close Of
the opera. and on the fall Of the curtain
the delight OF the audience was manifest
Cd with a spontaneity and Vigor that
must have rejoiced the hearts of Signor
I
associates. In the vestibule the writer fell
.n with a Phlistine who had attended
the performance because he had been
given a ticket. lie protested himself quite
ignorant Of music, has an a priOri bias
against grand opera, and looked forward I
10 TIE performance with an entire abb
seuee Of enthusiasm. When asked for his
verdict. he candidly declared mat he had
lot been bored at all; that he thought
la Sonnambula" a beautiful as well as
In interesting opera, and that he had
greatly enjoyed the singing of Miss BOOK ]
N and the other members Of the cast. I
MISS BOOKER AS ANNA. {
For her Amina, dainty and winning i
Miss Betty Booker, who sang with rare I
weetness and expression, was from the :
'utset immensely popular with the audi {
nee. Her chief charm Is most engaging 4
md unaffected simplicity both In her '
inging and her acting. We have been ac-
10 a rather emotional rendering
4 the part In which the trustful deyo-
ion and tender gentleness Of Amina's
haracter are rather lost sight OF. TINS Z
spect was most charmingly emphasized l
d Miss Boxers impersOnation. lt was I
ecded triumph, and Miss Booker sur ]
rsed even her friends. Her pretty voice S
as a very useful carrying quality; she Is
lmost invariably dead on the pitch, and
ever forces her voice.
Mrs. Walter G. Mercer. a very pretty Il
niger, was delightfully."- piquante as Lisa,
ma Interpreted her part delightfully."- q
Mrs. John Il. Durrett, who only has
nah part IN this opera, as she sings
aiding role in Martha" tonight, acted
ld sang with admirable taste and dis Il
elton. A
CHARMED WITH DEL PAPA. u
Del Papa, the little italian tenor sur ST
rised all as Elvino. He literally stood a
pom his native heath. and sang the pert .;
)r an he was worth. He was earnest ii
'amatically effective, and was frequent OF
: applauded. is
slgnor campobello, as Count Rudolfo, W
ave a forcibie interpretation considered IL
rom the operate point OF view. In the "a
.d-chamber scene he displays to srcat IN
vantage his strong dramatic sense, b.
ll bis fine voice. Mr.. Charles Eubank
lswered every requirement OF the part st
Alexis, and Mr.. J. T.. Tyler, Jr, Inade re
q most Of a small part as the notary. In
= ne chorus was remarkably fun and WI
fectlye. az
me mistake SO frequently made OF dc
Tagging an orchestra from some other
y Vas not repeated. and the advantage
hsYing an orchestra on the spot for =,
2lent rehearsals was very apparent. )
'f musicians gave a sound rendering Of &c
y COMPARTMENTS. and Mr.. Walter G,
1 g, conducted with unfailing IN
AN ASSURED SUCCESS. O
ma iadies Of the Rosemary IAbsary sG