The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-10-17

Ine array OIL DIOuSHdtIfS tltdi tAhC ~
curbing in front of the Metropolitan
opera hous= in New York on grand opera
nights, went their flashing pace the
past week and the crowds surged
through the fayers as of old. 1t was not
to hear Games, the de Rsszkes, Scalchi
and Lasselle in Gounods Faust" or
to have Ca1ve teach the meaning of
Carmen or to see the mad some in
LUCIA
1t was to hear the municipal band of
San Ssvero that Italy has sent to Amer
lean shores. In many of the play houses
in Italy opera is fIequsn tly the only
form of amusement offered, and every
town has a band that is under munich
pal decline. In such classic Amos
phere this band which numbers sixty
musicians is regarded as the representa-
tive italian organization Of today. 1t
has been called to Rome at all of the
great ceremonials, and has carried off
prizes al the musical festivals, when the
competitors embraced the best bands in
Southern Europe.
This famous band which is known as
the Banda Rpssa,'' is under the lead
eiship of Maestro Eugenio Larrentino..
Among the soloists is a vocalist, Mar
garette Won Vahse court singer to the
king of Saxony and the young violinist,
Carlotta Stubenrauch.
With such a galaxy of stars to open
the concert season, and the prospect OF
hearing Antoinette Trebelll in operate
arias, and Nine. Marcella Sembrich, to-
gether with the ssrieS of concerts to be
given in the ball room of the Astoria
hotel, the musical world as well as the
fashionable will have a great deal to
compensate it for the loss of grand
opera season.
The first series in the Astoria will be
orchestral concerts with Anton Seidl ana
his orchestra and soloists of distinction.
Seidl has given Americans greater
cause than ever for pride in being able
to claim him as theirs. 1t has been
SAID that the London critics were rather
loath to award him ths laurels he won
through his mas,erful interpretations OF
Wagner, but as a matter of fact Seldi
conquered London through Wagner,
then went to Bayrenth and continued to
conquer.
The other series is to be under the
auspices of thu Society of Musical Arts,
and the price for a season ticket is $50.
The season in this casa includes eight
entertainments. The general public,
writes a critic, will net be admitted
only those invited to subscribe may nave
the privilege of seeing performance
that probably will not be SO varied or
so good as Keith's continuous at 90
cents, and the entertainment schene will
be,nothing more or less than vaudeVlle
show, with snob trimmings, all or when
sounds lika Alan Dale, but for all that
it is rather ir,congruous to compare a
musical evening in the ball room of tale
Astoria to O. continuous vaudeville in
noisy snloke-filled music hail.
Among the plays that have been pro-
duce1 this season thlere is one that Is
worthy of consideration, IL for no other
reason than that Mr.. Ricfand Mansfield
HAS presented it to the public. The play
is called 1.-The DEVILS Disciple" and Is
from the pen of BERNARD Shaw. 1t is
pronounced n artistic II nd Mr.. Mans
field has a,lbed another masterpiece to
his hisitrionic gallery. The sc:n.ts are
Ia d in New England at period when
the country Is about to throw off the
yoke of King George. synopsis of the
play is to the effect that Dick Dudgeon,
a jovial young rebel, is looked upon as
the DEVILS disciple by his Puritanical
mother.
In the operdng act Dick returns to his
homie from a lfe of merry rossItering to
take possession of a greater part of the
fanny foftun. The mothsT, furious that
her husband has not dlsinheritei her
scapeglrace son, gives him her curse.
Anthony Anderson, a Presbyterian
minister, hearing that Dick is in danger
of being hanged as a rebel by the Brit
ish, invites him to his house to warn
him. During Dicks visit the minister Is
called away, and Dick is thus left to
enjoy a pleasant tete-a-tste with judith
Anderson, the minister's young wilelne
tete-a-tet1 is interrupted by the entrance
of King Georges Scgdters, who have
come to arrest the minister Dick is sit
ting in his shirt sleeves, ais his coat has
been hung up to dry by the fire. The
soldiers consequently mistake him fer
Anderson, and Dick, with dare devil
herosnl, puts on the minister's coat.
asks for a farewell kiss from Judith, and
CESS off to be hanged.
When the minister returns, instead of
rushing after Dick to rectify sthls mis-
take he takes the fastest horse to town
in ortler to save dlfs own neck. Judith
is disguised with 1nsr husbands coward
Iy conduct and proceeded to the prison
to SAWS the life of Dick. who has wen
her heart by his mobile s,elf-saorifioe in
contrast to the apparent cowandice OF
Anderson. Than ensues a pathstlc
scenic in THE prison within Judith tells
Dick of her love for him and THAT she
beseecfes him to live for hsr sake
Dicks better nature asserts its,lf, and
he boldly walks forth to be hanged. In
the trial scene before the military au-
thorities Judith exposes tnl dsceptio n.
but no heed is paid to hsr pleailing ard
the sentence of death Is passed.
Meanwhile the minister has enlisted
with ~trorg force of American ronps,
just in time to save Dick from being
hanged, and incidentally to vlnd.cate
himsslf in the eyes of his wife.
This dialogue Is brilliant and the plot
Is admirably constructed. Despite the
fact that tha anthcr ias fought SHY of
conventionality he has written play re-
plete with human interest
E. II. Sothern revived the past week
Bulwer-Lytton's romantic play, 1.-The
Lady Of Lyons" 1t was pronounced a
charming rendition Mr.. Sothern's i'm
personation of Claude Melnotte, while
in direct contrast with number of ro-
mantle actors. notably Charles Coghlan
and Robert Taber both of whom have
essayed the role. has at the same time
added to his reputation as an enectiye
romantic actor.
Virginia Harmed tMrs. Sothern), az
Pauline, looked the part of the proud
beauty to perfection and in the final act
the scene with Damas-she acted with
surprising grace and realism.
Wilson Barrett has made arrange
ments for final tour in Australia.
xr,;n Nd