The Washington herald., 1920-10-24
PAGES
TURNED BACK
Grand Opera Was Often
Presented in This City by
Leading Companies.

To anyone interested in musical
affairs of this city 1t Is rare treat
when they are permitted a glimpse
of the happenings along musical
lines in Washington over half GEN.
tury ago.
Grand opera in those far-distant
days was of no infrequent occur
renee. In 1855 Growers Grand Ger
man Opera Company was heard in
Don Giovanni" on the third of
March, Martha" on the 7th, Der
Freischutz" on the 9Th, The Jew
ess' on the 10th, "Stradella" on the
l1th, "Tannhaeuser" on the 14th,
The Magic Flute" on the 18th, Les
Huguenots" on the goth nd"Fidelio"
on the gath. Verdfs' "Ernani" was
presented on March 20 of that year
by Max Maretzek's Grand Italian
Opera Company at Ford's New
theater, Tenth street above L. The
next evening Miss Kellogg appear
ed as "Amina" in La Sonnambula."
In 1856 Growers German opera
Troupe was heard in Martha" on
February 5, followed by Faust" on
the 9Th, Robert LIE Diable" on the
7th and Fra Diavolo" on the 10th,
These events occurred at Growers
Theater in Pennsylvania avenue
near Willard's Hotel. The latter
opera marked the debut Of Mile. Ell
yira Naddie. On the fourteenth Of
March william Tell" was pre-
sented. Riching's Grand English
Opera Troupe was heard in the
Daughter of the Regiment" on Oc-
tober 81 of that year. Norma" was
given by Maretzek's Italian Opera
Company on December 2S, 1856 at
Growers Theater. Two days later
"L'Africaine" was rendered by the
same company.
On January 10, 1857. Maretzek's
company presented Fra Diavolo'
at the National Theater, of which
Spalding and Rapley were the pro-
prietors. Tampa" was given the
next evening. Fra Diavolo" was
also sung on May IL by Riching's $
Grand English Opera Co, which
presented THE Bohemian Girl" on
the 18th; The Crown Diamonds" on
the goth and Mariana" on the 2Sth
of that month.
Strakosch Grand italian Opera
Company, with Mime. Christine Nils
son, was heard in ''Mignon" on De-
cember 22, 1872, and on the follow
ing evening presented La Sonnam-
bula" with Mile. Ostava Torriani.
Mozart's THE Marriage of FL
garo" was given in English by THE
Celebrated Kellogg Troupe" on
January 8. 1874, with Miss Clara
Louise Kellogg as Susanna" C. d.
Hess and Maurice Grau were the
directors Of the company at that
time. The same organization pre-
sented The Bohemian Girl on
April 20, 1874, with Miss Kellogg as
airline" Strakosch Grand Italian
Opera Company was heard in Les
HuEuenots" with Nine. Christine
Nilsson as valentino" on April s,
1874. The following evening Nine.
Nilsson was presented as "Elvira"
in Don Giovanni"
The Kellogg company was heard
in Faust on January 26, 1875, with
Miss Kellogg as Mar rguerite; -
Madam Van Zandt was presented
'in the interesting role of Ely
O'Connor" in the opera OF Tho
Lilly of Killarney" and on April 10
OF the same year "Ernani' was
given.
The next year Miss Adelaide
Phillips was heard as "Rosina" in
LIE Barbiere de Seviglia" This
year marked the first performance
in Washington OF "Lohengrin" ana
The Flying Dutchman." Miss
Emile Melville sang in The Chimes
Of Normandy" at the National The
ater November IL. 1876. 1t is be-
lieved that she and the popular Co.
lumbia stock company player are
the same.
In 1873 the Hess Grand English
Opera Company produced Faust"
with Miss Emma Abbott as Mar
Euerite" and "Mignon" with this
star in the title role. It should be
understood that this sketch is but
very brief outline of the pleasure
enjoyed "once upon a time" by the
musicians of this city.