Evening star., 1898-01-19
AMUSEMENTs.
BOSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA


the Boston Symphony Orchestra concert at
the Lafayette Square Opera House yester-
day afternoon, when compared with the
gatherings that have listened to the or
chestra at night performances, demon
strates that not only are the matinee per-
formances Of this most excellent organiza-
tion more successful from a purely finan-
cial point Of view, but that the attendance
in the afternoon is largely made up of true
music lovers and musicians. who do not go
for the social features, but for the magnifi-
cent music itself. The house yesterday was
thronged to the doors and could not but
be enthusiastic over the work of the splen-
did body Of musicians that visits this city
monthly during the season. All things con-
sidered, the program presented yesterday
was not the most successful one that the
Boston Symphony has been heard in here.
In the first place. the orchestra had but
three numbers. and three selections are
hardly sufficient to satisfy a Washington
audience. The numbers were Smetana's
overture to 1.-The Sold Bride Beethoven's
seventh symphony and Wagner's ''The EN-
peror's March," THE Sold Bride was the
only novelty on the program, and while it
did not compare with some Of the works Of
the same description that have been pre-
sented by the Boston Symphony here, and
seemed to lack motive at times, 1t was en-
joyable and merited the applause that was
bestowed upon Mr.. Paur for it. Beet
-hoven's symphony is a beautiful creation. 1t
called the apotheosis of the dance, because
Of the peculiar rhythms that are to be
found in each one of the four movements.
The themes are melodious and the figures,
while strong and at times dramatic, are
simple, this simplicity being a strong char
acteristic of the whole work. The Wagner
march was Of course tumultuOuS, and In
this respect majestic, but it pleased all. and
Mr.. Paur's audience would have been con-
tent to listen to two or three of Wagners
creations could the orchestra have been de-
tained. 1t is unnecessary to say that the
orchestra, under Mr. Paurs careful and
magnetic baton, made the most out of the
program that was possible to do. The light
and shade in the symphony. the dramatic
passages, the delicate touches that come
only under the hand Of a master. and the
strong, stormy measures that were found
in the Wagner number were all given with
that subtle touch of art and grand intelli-
gence that characterizes the work OF this
magnificent organization. There is abso-
lutely no criticism that can be made on the
technical work of this orchestra. 1t is as
perfect as it is possible for any similar
body of musicians to be- The soloist of the
concert was Miss Lillian Blauvelt. who
sang here some years ago with the Choral
Society, and also with the same organza-
ton with which she appeared yesterday.
Miss Blauvelt sang the aria "Voi Che
Sapete," from Mozart's Marriage of Figa-
ro," and an aria from Gounods "Mirella.
Miss Blauvelt displayed sweetness and
grace in the former selection and an ad-
velt's voice is well known here. 1t is
pure soprano. musical, full Of that one
quality which can either make or break a
voice-expression-an she received enthusl-
aStic demonstrations of approval for her
efforts.
DIR. STAFFORD ON HAMLET.-At the
request Of many citizens, Rev. DR.. Stafford
will deliver his celebrated lecture on Ham,
let at the Columbia Theater Sunday even
ing next. Wherever DIR. Stafford breaches
it is almost impossible TO get into st.
Patrick's Church, and when ne lectures the
house is equally crowded. His lectures
have begun to be feature of winter life
in Washington, and one looked for eagerly
by the best class of Washington people.
The demand for seats for Sunday night
already assures him a large audience.
RHEA.-Theater goers of Washington,
with whom Mile Rhea has always been a
great favorite, will have an opportunity TO
see this clever artistic in her new play, The
Empress of France; which she will pre-
sent at the Columbia Theatei' for one week
CON mencing Monday next. Mile Rhea is
for many reasons one of the most interest
ing figures upon the American stage today.
Her dominating personality. her defiant
self-cCnfidcnce, her originality OF dramatlc
conception have forced the attention Of
critics even on her most trivial presenta-
tions. She has stubbornly worked her way
to the front despite adverse criticisms and
has persistently adhered to studying. pro-
ducing, creating. hesitating at nothing
which stood between her and the goal of
fer art. She possesses necessarily with
these characteristics an intensely sensi-
tive nature, keenly sympathetic. marks of
the artistic temperament. She is student
and thinker as well a woman of imag
nation. She observes herself and others
intently. She watches her own experiences
as closely as she does those of others and
utiliZes their lessons of pathos, tragedy
and comedy. In the Empress of France
she has OpnOrtuQity for the exhibi-
ton Of her undispCted talents. There is a
much better chance for stronger acting
than in the title role of Josephine, which
she produced here some years ago, and she
uses it with the usual calm and grace. The
cast is a large one and includes such well
known actors and actresses as VIM. Har-
rs. Frederick Vroom, E. c. Gillespie
Lauren Rees Walter Lennox, Fred c.
Hoey, Robert Whittier, James Dunn, Jane
Lennox, Rachael Crothers Mignon Fulton,
Ellen Fulton and Catherine Sheridan.
Thursday afternoon a special matinee of
Camille will be given, with Mile. Rhea
in the title role.
CHARLES FROHMAN's NEVER
AGA1N."-It is now nearing the first an
niversary of the production of Charles
Frohman's character comedy, Never
Again" in this country. The original
French play, lie True de Seraphin." from
which Henry Guy Carleton adopted Never
Again" has already entered upon its
second year at the Vaudeville. Paris. In
London, also at the Vaudeville Theater,
with an American company in part
Charles Frohman has again shown our
English brethren what Yankee players
can do in a comedy way, for Never Again
has won glorious triumph in the way of
laughter-making in the British capital
Never Again" is not farce-comedy; it is
legitimate play built on broad comedy
lines, however. and especially bright in it's
development of types of Gallo character
such at least is the general description of
1t from the critics of many cities BY
Charles Frohman's own declaration 1t is
superior play In the way Of fun-making to
any of his former presentations such as
"Charley's Aunt" TOO Much Johnson"
etc. The corps of players which will inter
pret Never Again" at the New National
next week will contain. among others of
almost equal note, such distinguished play
ers as f. M. Holland, Hugo Tolland, Sam
uel Reed. George Marion, James Kearney
Charles Eldredge, Joseph Mckeever Grace
Kimball, Maggie Holloway Fisher, Marie
Derickson, Anita Rothe. each and all hold
ing places of foremost rank in the comedy
class of the dramatic world.
"GAYEST MANHATTAN."-The great
success of last season at Roster & BiaPs
New York Music Hall. "GayeSt Manhattan"