The age-herald., 1900-08-20
LAST STRAINS OF
 SUMMER OPERA Elite Opera Company Closes Its
 Engagement. BADE THE PUBLIC ADlEU
Those Who Love Music Gave the Com pany Enthusiastic Support Man agers and Singers Are Meet
 ing With Congratulations

The Elite Opera Company has finished seven successful weeks of delightful sum- mer opera, the public bade the company a reluctant goodbye Saturday night. Bir- mingham has never had such a thoroughly successful summer entertainment, and the amusement loving public gave it their enthusiastic support. Chimes of Nor mandy" "Ermne'' "Olivette," Mas cot" ''Mokado," "Pinafore,n and week of repertoire made up the programme for the season, and each opera was a feature in itself
 The organization and packers of the ven- ture were E. b. Williams, Charles C. Washburn and Miss Minnie Vesey, and they have received a great number of con gratulations on their enterprise. It is pleasing fact that the season was fnan- cial well as an artistic success, not withstanding the bad weather that prevail ed three or four weeks of the season.
 The programme of the operatic concert with which the season was closed Satur- day night was a particularly pleasing one, and the advance sale of seats Saturday morning was one of the largest of the sea- son. The audience a crowded one, and thoroughly appreciative.
 The programme was opened by MT. Washburn with Song of Hybrias, The Creton,' and later on he sang a second number Schubert's "Erl King" in Ger man. MT Washburn has always been re- cognized as a baritone of the very best class, and this summer he has gained tOr ally in the portrayal of such characters as 'Deadeye" De Merrimac" and others.
 Miss Minnie Crudup Vesey sang the sec ond number on the programme, Fare well Ye Hills," from Tschaikowskys Maid of Orleans, very dramatic aria, and rem dered it in excellent style. As a second number she sang Heres to the Rose" (Krause), and Lullaby CMarks), and sponded to encore with the famous "Boat Song, her own composition. Miss Vesey is an artist and actress in the true sense of the words.
 Waiter F. Drennen sang "Daintie Daphne" (MarshalD, and the "Cradle Song' a composition of his own. MT. Dren- nen is recognized in Boston as one of the most promising young musicians now studying in that city; both to his voice and his ability as d composer.
 Dr. William F. McKenney, the popular tenor of the company, sang Leave Me Not" one of Denza's best songs He was in his usual clear, strong voice, and sang well. Dr. McKenney has been very con- scentious in his work this summer and both by his singing and his clever acting he has made himself very popular.
 Miss Martha L. Scruggs sang Where Blooms the Rose" (Johns). and May Morning" (Denza). and was compelled to respond to enthusiastic encore by re- beating May Morning." Miss Scruggs has undoubtedly been one of the most at tractive features of the Lakeview opera. In personal appearance and magnetism, in voice and in action, she is a charming young woman, and Birmingham wants to hear her again.
 Harry Lightwood sang three of Cheve- Hers famous English coster songs, en- titled Mrs. 'Enry 'Awkins" "The Little Nipper and Knocked Elm In the Old Kent Road" He did them in costume, and, of course, they took" MT. Iightwood never did anything that didn't take" He is one of the best operatic comedians in the business. His humor is original and thoroughly refined, and is enthusiastically successful-a comedians greatest recom- mendations. He has been stage manager and coach for the company, and it is due almost entirely to his untirng efforts that the season was an artistic success; though, of course, due allowance must be made for the exceptional ability of the perform CTS he had to train.
 As expected one of the features of the concert and hits of the evening was made by Lena Garland Snow the pianist. Her appearance as she walked across the stage to the piano was regal. She is not only a beautiful, but a queenlylooking, woman, and she had the audience with her before she struck the first note. Miss Snow per formed Florence" waltz by Emil Lieb- ling. This beautiful composition requires unusual strength and perfect technique. It was written for a concert number and the composer did not attempt to avoid diff faculties, but rather to make it a continu- ous round of technical tests, thereby pro- ducing one of the most brilliant of modern waltzes The movement is a perpetual one, in which rapid octave passages abound and no pianist without a perfect technique would dare attempt it. Miss Shows rem dition of the number was absolutely with out flaw. The audience was simply amazed at her wonderful execution of some of the difficult passages. She stamped herself a perfect and genuine artist of which the South may justly be proud As an encore she played "Serenade' by Pierre 
 GERALD CONVICTED