The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-09-24
MUSIC AND D1AMR.
THE BOSTONIANS.

1t has been SO long time since the
Bostonians have favored Portland with
visit that one could not help indulging
last evening \ in memories of the orga-
nization, from the time it started. out as
the Ideals, and never let season go py
without giving a series of operas IN olty
hall Thers was Marie Stone, Adeialoe
Phillips, lille de Lusan, Alice huhelhg-
ton, Juliet Gordon, VIM H. Fessenoen'
Tom Karl, Eugene Cowles sand many
others whose names became household
words, besides the principal members OF
the present company, several OF whom
are also indelibly linked to It's name.
TT can honestly be said that If the per-
forn,ance of the Serenade as given last
night affords one OF the Best opportunl"
tics to Judge of the Bostonians, then
tbera is little doubt that their reputation
is kent fully up to the old standard. 1t
,s certain that IL many respects we have
neyer heard the company present an
opera SO we'll as the Serenade was given.
The ohoruses are large. of excellent
quality, we'll balanced, and MIR. Studley's
drill has been of inestimable value. This
drill can be instsnced by the perfection
with which the chorus Of monks gave
the serenade in the second act. It gained,
as 1t deserved, double encore. Then
again the principals all appear to be well
suited to their roles, and the Work OF
the orchestra, of some fourteen or twen-
ty pieces, was admirable. Taken all In
all the opera was given with zest that
was delightful and extremely magnetlo.
The applause was constant, and encores
were the rule.
The scene of the opera Is laid in Spain
without any attempt at fixing upon any
special period. A syndicate OF bandits,
Romero, president. has its main office In
the mountains near a haunted castle,
which belongs to the Duke OF Santa
Cruz. The Duke brings his ward Dolores
to the castle in order TO separate her from
her admirer. Alvarado, baritone OF the
Madrid Opera. Alvnrado has won Dolores
by serenade which he has addressed to
her from the stage. The Duke can identi-
fly Alvardo only by this serenade. Aivar-
do learns of the Dukes journey with
Dolores and takes the place Of postillion,
afterward engaged as chef at the castle
in order to be near her. A broken down
tenor and stage-struck tailor, who have
been INDUCING in the self-same serenade,
are captured by the Dukes minions and
he, Smistaking the tenor for Alvarado, has
him placed in durance vile. The appear
ance of the tenor in tower, supposed
to be haunted. frightens the natives and
an attack by brigands adds to the general
excitement. Meanwhile the Duke has
his ward conveyed to a convent which
adjoins the grounds of the monastery.
At this juncture Alvarado appears upon
the scene and, fleeing from former adj
mirer, Yyonne, and by stratagem learns
that Dolores is in the adjoining garden.
The Duke appearing on the scene again
is driven to frenzy by hearing the
monks singing the seyenade and with a
detachment of his guards. breaks into the
grounds of the monastery where Dolores
has reiterated disguised as q boy. Many.
ludicrous scenes follow aud all ends hap!
PLY.
These were the principal members of
the cast:
Duke of Santa Cruz, H. G. Rarnabee
C arlos K. Alvarado, W. H. Mcdonald
Romero, VIM. FREDERICK
Lopez, w. E. Philip
Gomez, the tailor, G. B. rockingham
Colombo, the tenor, Harry brown
Yyonne. Helen Bertram
Mother Superior, Josephine Bartlett
Juana. Belle Chamberlain
Mercedes, Ida 6utler
Isabella, Alice hadcliHe
Corona, Eunice Drake
Eel Cato VIM. Ii. Mcdonald
The Abbot, j. II. Miller
Fra. Anselmo, larry Dale
Fra Timoteo, A. Yarmouth
ManueIo. Bertha Loyejoy
Dolores, Jessie Bartlett Davis
The opera is in three acts, the first
representing the main Office of the
Brigandage association near a castle in
the mountain; the second the garden of
the monastery of st. Benedict adjoining
the convent school OF St. Ursula, and the
third the same as that of the first act.
The opera was we'll costumed. the vari-
Gus scenes were beautifully painted and
very picturesque. The stage groupings
were exquisite blending of color set off in
admira BILE fashion by the lime light. The
dialogue was very funny and many good
hits presented on the follies of the day.
OF the opera itself it can be said that
the music. is extremely tuneful and
shows the work of master hand. Vic
tor Herbert, the composer, is one OF the
finest solo violincellists I'M the world,
and for a time after Gilmore's death,
led his famous band. The principal
airs include Romere's spirited song of
the Carbineer the amusing chorus We are
the Dukes Body guard; Alvardo's song,
For Hes jolly Postillion; the serenade,
I Love Thee, I Adore Thee, sung by
Dolores and Alvardo; the bolero In Gay
Andalusia, by Yvonne and the monks;
The Monk and the Maid by Romero and
chorus; The Angelus, by Dolores and
chours; Yvonne's waltz song Cupid and
[; the monks chant of the serenade:
Don Jose of Sevilla by MIR. Mcdonald,
Mrs Davis and chorus; Dreaming, by