The Portland daily press., 1897-03-08
MUSIC AND DRAMA,
wilbur Opera Company.

Wilbur Opera Company.
Nothing more than the bare announce
ment that this favorite organization VIII
play an engagement at the Portland
theatre, this week. is necessary for the
Inhabitants of Portland with whom tne
Wilhurs have long been the most popular
opera company that visits us. IheV come
this year stronger than ever, seVerai
additions having been made 70 thelr al
ready extensive repertoire, and number
of new and startling features.
The manner In which this company
mounts and stages their productions is
well known, and this year they have
collapsed all past records in this respect.
One hundred and seventy.fvs trunks of
wardrobe are carried, filling an entire
car complete, and separate mountings
are used for each opera, and patrons may
attend every performance during the en-
gagement, and not see the same costume
worn in any two of them.
Manager Wilbur is pleased to an
nounoe that he has revived this season,
upon magnificent and elaborate scale,
tho celebrated marches and special dances
which met with such favor in the past.
An entire new ret of march costumes has
been provided.
A notable addition has been made to
the production of the company this fea-
son in the shape of a sumptuous revival
of number of the favorite operas of long
ago, including Martha" "Maritaua, =
"Faust, and many others, and the sue
cess with which they have been received
throaghout the country certainly proves
that the public are as fond of the old
familiar strains, which have not even
yet lost their power to charm. Several
of tho old operas viii be given here in
conjunction with full quota OF the ia
vorite comic operas of the day.
As for Manager Wjlbur's browning
triumph, the high art living pictures,
they are better this year than ever. A
new mechanical effect has been added to
the extensive plant carried by the COM
pany, which will enable the. manage
ment to present the pictures in more
realistic manner than ever before. A
number of new subjects have been pro-
vided, and it is safe to say that no such
pictures have before been or probably
ever Will be seen in this city.
The rest of the company is practically
unchanged, and contains all the old fa
vorites we are SO glad to welcome every
year, including Hattie Richardson,
Maud Daniel, B. A. Clark, J. E. Con ly
Earnest Drew, j. Clarence Harvey and
sixty others. The music is still under
the able supervision of Il. U. Darling. g
The selection of operas for the week
will be as follows: Monday evening
and Tueiay matinee, Two Vaganonds;
Tuesday evening and Wednesday matt
nee. Olivette; Wednesday evening and
Thursday matinee, Boccacoio; Thursday
evening and Friday matinee, Dorothy !;
Friday evening and Saturday matinee,
Mariana; Saturday evening, Grand
Duchess.
Miss NIorrison's Concert.
The concert given by Alice Pelle Morri-
son was one that Portland people would
like to Elisten ito more frequently. The
Schubert Male Quartette is one OF the
finest in the State, and did good work.
Mrs. Alice Gushing Uunham read twice
in style never to be forgotten, and
was warmly applauded. Mrs. Horgan is
one of Portland's best and favorite sing
ers, and as usual, was Enthusiastically
received. Mr.. lies and Mr.. Wiley sang
solos, and delighted their friends. They
have bright future before them. Miss
Fiies's voice in the duet was listened to
with much enjoyment and elbows great
range and sweetness. Miss Ida M. How,
deserves praise for the very efficient man
merlin which she accompanied and her
solo was marked feature. Although
Miss How is q young player she bids fair
to rank with our best pianists. 1t was
one of the most fashionable and select
audiences ever gathered In Mystic hall,
and shows the esteem felt for Miss Nor
rison.
Tho Creation Festival.
1t must he apparent at this time that
Mrs. Fellows's undertaking of producing
standard oratorio in Portland, with
orchestra and accomplished soloists, is
to be great success. No musical at
traction that was ever given in this city
where the sale of more than half the
house was guaranteed before the opening
of the box Office was anything but sue
cessful. For three weeks this lady has
labored earnestly aud conscientiously to