The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-04-08
GRAND OPERA IN FRENCH
STELLAR BILL AT THE MEyTROPOT.-
ITAN OPERA HOUSE THIS
WEEK
NEW ORLEANS FAvoRITEs
Company Is Popular Success In
the south, Although Never
Having Visited the
Twin Cities.

The most interesting musical event of
the season, or, as 1t is likely to be. for
many seasons, is the engagement by
Manager L. N. Scott of the French Grand
Opera company, Of New Orleans. an
organization with which our musical peo-
PIE are familiar only by report or by
the testimony of those who have he'd the
privilege Of attending the New Orleans
performances. The reputation of the
company has been long established In the
former city. 1t is practically subsidized
by the citizens for four months every
year, November to February, and is
considered to be one of the greatest in
stitutions of the Southern metropolis as
indispensable as Mardi Gras or the
statue of Gen. Jackson. No one will
say that New Orleans people lack
musical culture; the truth is, they are
the best critics and most generous
patrons of the art in the country, and
the fact that they support company
yearly during protracted seasons would
seem to be pretty good proof of the
excellence of that company
The infrequent visits of the French
company to the North have been due to
the disastrous failure which occurred in
1888, when an engagement was filed at
McVicker's theater Chicago That com
pany, like the present, was composed
or splendid artists, and their performance
wed with the best ever given by the
Mapleson and other noted troupes. Yet
for some unaccountable reason the pub
lie failed to patronize the season 1t
was not until last year that the com
pany under the management of NJ
FRANCOIS Charley, again visited Chicago
The results, however, We're very differ
ent, the season, brief as 1t was being
one of the most satisfactory ever given
In that city. The third season, which
ended last Tuesday, covered three weeks
and an extra performance, the latter at
tracing one of the greatest and most
enthusiastic audiences ever seen at the
Auditorium
The Milwaukee engagement-the first Of
the company in that town-ended last
night with equal brilliancy With such
gratifying experiences, 1t is more than
probable that the New Orleans organiza-
ton will supplement It's Southern sea-
sons with a Northern tour yearly, and
that st. Paul and Minneapolis will be in
F. cluded In the itinerary
1t is said that the most conspicuous
quality in M Charleys combination is
the generally even excellence of its lead
ing artists. It's ensemble" If the word
sense.
strong, and the performances are given
with a uniformity that is most satisfying
to people Of musical culture and dispo-
sition. That bugbear of managers, the
off night" does not trouble the French
impressario nor the managers with whom
he makes contracts.
In the srepertory to be presented at the
Metropolitan this week eleven singers of
the first class will appear In roles to
yxyhi nh how Ao1so 1foIlx
Gauthier, Bonnard, Bouxmann, Zery,
Rossel and Layolle and Miles. Pacary,
Eta de Montjau, Clement, Jarrie and
Berthet. Miles. de COnsoli, Barriaux and
Misocchi are the leaders of the ballet a
strong feature in the company,s equip
ment
- La Juive," which will open the season
tomorrow evening, was chosen for the in
ttiatOry of the Auditorium season in Chi
cago and proved to be a good choice
Halevy's opera. though very old-it was
first given in 1885 In Paris-contains some
of the most beautiful music ever com
posed, and it is intensely dramatic In
plot. To those who are unfamiliar with
the work the following synopsis will be
interesting:
Rachel, the Jewess, Is beloved by a
young man, whom she supposes to be an
artist of her own nation, but who is really
Prince Leopold, husband of Eudoxie,
niece of the emperor This lady, to sur
prise and please Leopold on his return
from a military expedition, has procured
of Eleazer the Jew Geputed father of
RacheD a magnificent chain of Jewels
set in gold, and in the presence of the
emperor and court places it on her hus-
bands neck. This is no sooner done
than the chain is torn off by the indig-
nant Rachel, who denounces the prince
and accuses him of his crime before all
present. The double fault of neglecting
his wife and loving a Jewess is con-
sidered 80 heinous that he is excom-