The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-03-22
MUSIC AND DRAMH%
JAxoN OPERA COMPANY.

The nraises of the Jazon Opera COM
many that have been sounded by the press
wherever the company has appeared,
hava not been exaggerated in the least.
If has been the fortune of the writer to
have heard almost every grand opera
troupe that has appeared in this country
for the last forty years, and there has
been many time when he has paid
g.. SC for an orch estra chair when the
opera has been sung much less effective
" and with poorer singers than by the
Jaxon company at 80 cents. This com
pany is fortunate in the possession OF
prima donna. Mile. Diard, who has a
soprano of great brilliancy, fiexlblhty
and power, and what is of especial I'M
portance in an opera like Lucia, OF
much sweetness. But to these qualities
must be added the intelligence, the
phrasing. that comes only with the best
instruction, and the ability that enables
the singer to understand and appreciate
the composer. The company also boasts
in the person of Mr.. Payne Clarke,
strong, vibrant tenor, and who has also
a style that Is far superior to most OF the
operatic tenors of the day. The chorus
Is excellently trained, the voices of large
volume and good quality and in the en-
sembles there is no attempt to make
slrieking take the place Of singing. The
orchestra also, augmented by the regu-
lar theatre orchestra, is thoroughly under
the control of Mr. McQuinn, and their
accomplishments were striking feature
of the performance.
The operas last night were Lucia
and FCavalleria Rusticana. The form
er opera was cut so as to condense it into
two hours of representation, but the work
was done so well that the principal
scenes and most noted musical numbers
were left intact, and so connected as to
make an understandable story. From
the opening of the first act Mile Diard
struck responsive chord in her audience
She was magnetic, 81 good actress, as well
as a fine vocalist. In this act the scene
where Lucia and Fdgar pledge their
VOWS, was rendered with a sincerity
worthy of high praise, and their singing
of the grand duo ''When the shadows of
twilight lower" evoked a storm of ap-
plause that would not be Quieted until a
repetition was given. In the second act
the great sextette and chorus gave Mile.
Diard the opportunity to show the effect
of the training she had received from the
great Partisan teacher, Nine. Marchesl.
How she took that high O and held it,,
making such a glorious climax to the
great volume of harmonious sound. OF
course the sextette had to be repeated.
In the third act came one ofithe greatest
seer in grand opera, the celebrated
mad scene. We do not pretend to say
that Mile. Diard;s singing and acting
reached the pinnacle obtained by Nine.
Calye in the mad scene from Hamlet, -
but we do mean to say that it was a fine
piece of acting, while her singing of the
famous aria, with flute oblfgato, was
something not often heard on any stage.
Mr.. Clarke as Edgar, ably seconded
Mile Diard. He acted with much force
and feeling and sang the music allotted
to him with skill and taste. HIS death
scene was strong. He was warmly ap-
plauded.
The other characters were well taken.
Mr.. Wiefred Golf as Sir Henry, Mr. Q.
III. Holly as Sir Arthur, Mr.. W. 2.
Carleton as "Bide-the- Bent" Mr.. Britton
Stevens as Norman, Miss Cora Deane as
Alice were all entitled to praise. The
opera was well costumed and well staged,
the stage settings belonging to the thea
TIRE. I he curtain was called after every
a.u. The evening closed with "Cavalleria
Rusticana," in two scenes, Mile. Diard
taking the role of Santuzza, and MIR.
Clarke that of Twidden. Mr.. Clarke
gained next honors in the role he assumed
while Mile. Diard was fully as dramatic,
if not more SO, as Santuzza than as
Lucia, and both received hearty recognit-
ion.
The audience last evening was splen-
did one in its personelle as well as its
numbers. 1t filled all the orchestra and
balcony seats and there was a good at
tendance in the galleries. Tonight
"Chimes of Normandy" will be the opera.