The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-01-26
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
FANNY RICE.

Fanny Rice was born in Lowell, Mass.
and was brought up and educated in
Boston. Her professional career has
Usen remarkably successful and partic-
ularly interesting. When less than 16
years of age she first attra cred public
attention by her singing ana recitations
IN church concerts in boston, Mass.
Her fine voice and pleasing pers0nali-
ty soon attracted the attention 0i I,a1-
ayers Of opera, and she ras engaged
TO sing second roles with a leading ap-
era company. This engagement proved
the foundation for her ultimate sue
ceS.
At the time when the New York Cas-
mao was the home Of cJnic opera in
this country, the manager OF that in
stitution saw in Miss Rice remark
ably clever codedienne, and secured her
10 play the principal roles N some of
his most important productions. Her
success in New York was Immediate
and she became a great mct"Ofoitsn "a
vorite. For nearly three years Miss
Rice remained in New York, appearing
during that time in many widely differ
ent characters and always with success.
But her greatest hit was probably made
In "Nadjy," and she played the title
role in that opera for nearly fuur nun
dred consecutive times Her first tour
as star was made in "a Jolly Sur
prise" 1t was a very good vehicle for
Miss Rice to show her versatility Srd
wonderful powers of nnimlcry, ana prov
ed a great financial SUCCESS.
A jolly Surprise" ran for three years
with excellent success. Last season
Miss Rice produced several new rlays.
among them an adaptation Il a Great
Success. entitled, AT the French Ball"
and this has proven even a greater SIC
ress than The Jolly Surprise" The
critics are unanimous IN pronouncing
1t the best thing Miss Rice has ever
done. II will be presented here W eSr es-
day night. Seats are on sale at Mos
bacher's.
Manager Purdy. Of ''At the French
BALI company has made quite a de-
parture from the usual method Of man
ayers of musical comedies. He not only
gives his patrons an exceedingly clever
performancelef the play "At the French
Ballj by carefully selected company
OF actors. singers. comedians and dam
GERS. headed by that inimitable artist
Fanny Rice, but he introduces as nov
elites in the French Ball scene several
of the greatest and most extensive En-
roPean novelties that ever came to this
country.
ELLEN BEACH YAw.
The date Of Miss Ellen Beach Yaw's
Wichita appearance will be February .
Hfer wonderful voice has never been
more accurately described than in the
words of the dramatic critic of the Chi
cage 1nter-Ocean. who said after one of
per recent appearances in that city:
! Yaw's voice is remarks BILE in that its
COMPASS, Of even purity and tone. ex-
TENDS over three and one-half octaves
from q below the treble clef 10 d sbarn
In alussimo. The great range in itself
marks the voice as being wonderful. for
1t exceeds the compass of that of any
singer, living or dead. of which record
has been preserved. OF Ajugari, a cele.
brated soprano OF the last century. Mo-
cart says: a lovely voice. a flexible
throat and an incredibly high range
This and more can be said of Miss Yaw,
with additions, for Ajguari sang in the
passage which Mozart quoted in support
OF his comment to c altisSimo. while
MISS Yaw sings 10 D sharp above with
precision and purity. Her low limit OF
u extends considerably under that OF
.AJusar1, which was middle c. Her Sc
iec'ions are various enough to show her
capaoiiities OF expression. She has stu
died dramatic music roles. the Characters
81 Ophelia and Lucia being particularly
Lived By ner. Grieg's songs ara favor
lies in her repertoire. In braVura pas-
sages Miss Yaw's voice and method are
comparable only with the work of the
greatest artists. This fine singer live,
Tor her art, and finds her chief pleasure |
In following it. She has the natural gift
of music so strongly developed that ge-
Illus is the proper name wehreby 20 call |
II Her improvisationS Of delicacy too |
subtle for public performance, prove her |
gifts natural as well as the ability 10 |
Unite good harmony TO her melodies, al |
though she is not taught in the mathe- |
mates Of music.
VITASCOPE TO REMAIN.
As announced in Sundays Eagle, Edi-
sons wonderful invention. the Vitaseopt,
WIZ De seen here again az the Auiitori-
UNI next Friday night and Saturday after |
noon.
The managers have severed their con-
nection with Fords Merry Players and |
promise rare treat 10 those attending. |
the performances as d fine musical pro- !
gram has been arranged to take the 1
place OF the dramatic company.
Speaking of the Vitascope views the !
Evening News OF Joplin, No, in which |
city the Eitascope was shown just be- /
fore coming here, says:
THE Haven opera house was packed TO |
the doors last night notwithstanding
that there has been an overabundance
Of repertoire shows at thai house within |
the past two months. Edison's Vita
scope. so extensively advertised, proved
! great drawing card. This is the frs; |