Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1910-08-05
SUMMER SESSION CONCERT.
" Martha or the Rich m ond Fair,
One of the Most Famous of
the Liqht Operas.

Inc SeCOnu 0CooiOh
concert will be given in the town hall,
Friday evening, August 18th. The
chorus will present the opera Martha,
or the Fair at Richmond" This opera
was composed by Friedrich Won Flotow
and was first produced in 1S47. Since
that time it has been sung in every
leading city of the world. 1t is a
comic romantic opera, the scene of
which is laid in England with the fol-
lowing
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Lady Harriet maid of Honor to
Queen Anne) Soprano
| Nancy cher friend) MeZZo Soprano
Sir Tristram Mickleford Nady
Harriet's cousin) Bass
Lionel Tenor
Plunkett Ia worthy farmer) Bass
The Sheriff of Richmond, Bass
Three servants of Lady Harriet,
Tenor and two Bases
Three servant maids,
Sopranos and Mezzos
Chorus of Ladies, Servants, Farmers,
Huntsmen and Huntresses, Pages,
Scene, first, in Lady Harriet's castle
then in Richmond and environs.
Some twelve or fourteen of the most
interesting and characteristic selections
will be given.
The plot of the opera has to do with
the escapade of a number of young
people of the upper class masquerading
as peasants at the Richmond Fair. The
full story will be told on the evening of
the concert before the singing begins.
1t is to be remembered that fair IN
England is not what we call fair IN
America, but rather a place where
things are bought and sold, from horses
and cattle to pins and ribbons. That is
the kind of thing that is meant in the
old song "Why is Johnnie so long at the
Fair. He promised to buy me bunch
of blue ribbon, ETC." The fairs are held
town, sometimes in an adjacent field,
booths and platforms being erected for
the purpose of displaying goods and
giving fakirs, Punch and Judy men and
players of all sorts chance to play
their parts. Also servants are hired at
these fairs by employers for the coming
year, and in many parts of England
this custom is still observed.
The music of this charming opera is
light and melodious and there are many
familiar airs in it. The greatest sing
ers, as Madam Patti, Madam Trebelli,
Chris tine Nilsson, Marzella Sembrich,
Srs. Guile, Del Puento and many
others, have been heard II this opera.
A musical authority says of Won
Flotow, "He must be esteemed the
most popular representative of lyric
and comic opera in Germany since
Kreutzer and LortZing. g.
Martha is Flotow's masterpiece and
few operas have been more frequently
performed.
The rehearsals have been going on
now for some time under the direction
of Mrs. Howard and the result is GER
tain to be excellent. President Thom-
as, DR.. Murk land, DR.. Hesselgrave,
DR.. Cunningham, Mr.. McGeehan, Mr..
Tuttle, Mr.. Stevens, Mrs. Collins, Mrs.
Dillon, Miss Shea, Miss Burnham and
Mrs. Howard will be heard in the lead
ing parts, supported by chorus of
many voices, Mr. Blanchard, accom-
PIANIST.
The price of admission has been placed
at 25c, popular price which will en-
able everyone, young and old, to at
tend. Tickets may be reserved at
Stern's drug store without additional
cost. The proceeds of the concert last
year were devoted to the musical inter-
ests of the college, and the proceeds of
this concert will be used for the same
purpose.