The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-17
AMUSEM ENTS.

Lovers of grand opera will have an oppor-
tunity at Englishs tonight to hear Scalchi
and her excellent concert company. Seal
chfs contralto voice remains one of the
wonders of the lyric world Scalchi was
only sixteen years of age when her mother
consented, after much persuasion, to let her
make her first appearance in public. The
girls voice even then was considered some-
thing out of the common. and after her first
appearance she was engaged for the year.
At the age OF twenty-one she was engaged
by Colonel Mapleson to sing in London at
tie Drury Lane Theater, which was then
the Imperial Opera House. The London
critics at the time laughed at the colonel
for his promise to bring before them the
youngest and best contralto they had ever
heard. Scalchi made her first appearance
in London with Therese Tietjens and scored
an enormous success. The older artist had
to take the young girl before the curtain no
less than ten times, and for fifteen years
thereafter Scalchs was the prima donna
contralto of London, no matter who the
manager of the opera house was Scalchi
has FOR some years divided her time be-
tween London and New York. Owing to
the fact that there is to be no grand opera
in New York this season, we will be en-
abled to hear not alone the greatest con-
tralto, but also MTne Berneice Pasquali
who. at the head of the Mapleson forces
last year. created a sensation by her sing
ing, her beauty, youth and histrionic abil-
ity Mile. Marie bu Bedat, mezzo-soprano;
Albert. baritone. and Signor Onarro. m1usi-
cal director, are also members of the COM
pany. All of the artists will appear in a
fourth act of ''Il Trovatore and the second
act of Martha" in costume and with ap-
propriate scenery.
Richard MansheId's advance sale for his
night opens at English's this morning.
Mr. Mansfield has done more for the dig
nifty Of the American dramatic productions
than any other man. In fact, he has
achievements to his credit for which the
whole contemporary drama is indebted to
him. He has produced successfully not
only a larger number OF plays than any
other living actor. but they represent a
larger variety, and the color and pic
turesqueness and meaning he has given
them has induced the wonder of every
critic. He is great genius, who has not
only the soul of an artist and a technique
of an actor but he has generous hand
and an Incompatible taste, and the pro-
ductions made under his direction are al
ways faultless expressions of highest type
of stage management.
Robert Fulgora's Star Speciality Company
at the Park this afternoon and the rest of
the week. is another such organization as
Mr. Fulgora's famo"s TRANSFORMERS He
introduces biograph pictures of the Maine
leaving New York for Havana Souvenir
pictures OF the Maine win be presented TO
all women on the lower floor at each per-
Torrance. There are twenty people In this
company and eleven acts on the bill Mile
Aimee, the dancer. is one of the features.
Donnelly Girard. with their company
OF burlesquers. will give Joseph Herbert.s
trayesty, The Geezer, matinee and night
on Saturday al English's.
BELLE Archer Engaged.