The times., 1897-11-28
THE SEASON OF OPERA.

The season OF grand opera, which will
ne given at the Lafayette Square Opera
House, BY tie Damrosch and Ellis Opera
Company, on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday
and Friday on the evenings OF Deceuber 13,
IA, I6 ard II, promises to be one Of tie
most brilliantshort seasons that Washington
has ever had.
The boxes are nearly all sold, and the
subscription for seats will open on
Wednesday next at the box office OF the
theater. Tile company is in some respects
the same as last year, containing, as It
does, Nine. Gadski, Herr Kraus and Herr
Fischer. but has been largely increased
by the engagement OF French artists for
the production of operas in French and
Italian. Nine. Melba, who last year sa Is
with the company as guest, is now
regular member, and viii be heard twice,
first on the opening night in The Barber
OF Seville" and again in Faust"
OF the new artists, Bouduuresque, the
new basso, is more than usually singer
by Inheritance. Not only was bis father
an eminent ba $50, but he has been his sons
only teacher in the art of song, and in op
cratic acting. He has enjoyed also the
advantages Of the teachings and the dis
cipine of the Opera Comique at Paris,
where he first appeared, in 1889, and
where be sang with success for three years
Subsequently he has appeared in many
European cities, notably in the admirabl3
companies that Jehin gathers each winte
at Monte Carlo. His ardent southern tenn
pearment gives warmth to his acting,
and the training OF SO esteemed singer
as his father, and the opera Conique, sug
gests his skill in singing. In appearance
he is tall, well-built and OF q fine car
mage.
M.SaligDac.thoughhe he has hithertosungbut
one winter in the United States and taen
mainly in New York, left an enduring
recollection of lis merits as a dramatic
singer. In Carmen his Jose was we'll
nigh match in passion for Nine Calves
gypsy, and had the audience been prepared
for it, it would have made almost equal
impression The final sceue, indeed, he
fairly divided witt her. AS Romeo also
in Goanod's opera, he showed the same
intensity, variety, and felicity of style,
alike as singer and actor. His long tram
ing on the admirable sta ge OF the Opara
Comique in Paris has taught him me
worth OF detail in song and in action;
while tie sweetness and charm jf lis
voice admirably suit 1t TO lyric pa ssa ges.
CdEL!lle Seygerd, soprano new TO Wash
ington, is a FIenchwoman of most attrac-
tive presence and with voice that is
pure, agreeable and flexible. She studied
in Paris ard made her first appearance
in opera OF Covent Garden in 1888 as Ter.
lima in Don Giovanni" A few months
later, under the name of Marcolina, she
appeared at the Opera Comique, Paris, as
Rosina in Rossinis Barber Of Seville"
where she found favcr and appeared In
other parts. She has sung since In
all the larger cities of Europe. She
came to this country last year when
as a member of the Damrosch Opera Com
pany, she appeared as Carmen In Boston,
Cincinnati and st. Louis. Like most sing
ers trained in the French fashion, she is
skilled in significant details in her phras
Ing an her action, and she has the finish
that work at the Opera Comique usually
imparts.
Herr Staudigl is scarcely newcomer,
but when he last sang in A merica in SSt-
'S5, when he was member 9f the com
pany Of the Metropolitan opera House he
went little outside of New York. There he
sang in important baritone parts, and his
repertory is by no means limited to Wag-
ner's operas and music dramas. His YER
satility indeed is one Of his chief eha-ac-
teristics. He is no less skillful and ap-