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June 5th, il
THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
333
STAFF CORRESPONDENCE
the stage of the opera festival, to the living, mov-
ing, and breathing scenery which now became a
part of the stage and its scenery, was most refresh-
ing and delightful.
EXCITEMENT AT THE SAN FRANCISCO MIN-
At 7:40, promptly, Thomas appeared, leading
STRELS.
Materna, who, although personally a stranger to
Cincinnati audiences, was known to them by
r i "^HERE was an extraodinary hubbub at the San
CINCINNATI, O., May 21.
JL Francisco Minstrels the other evening. Peo- T^HE event to which Cincinnati and the Missis- reputation, and her reception was warm and
ple in the audience wondered what it was all about, X sippi Valley in general, and the six hundred hearty.
and for a time the general curiosity was intense.
members of the chorus in particular, have been After her came Cary and Whitney. These were
Their fears were allayed, however, in glancing looking forward, has come and gone, and is now a received as old friends are, with every demonstra-
at the programmes, on which was printed in auda- thing of the past, to look back to with feelings of tion of welcome and delight at the renewal of ac-
cious letters, "All at Sea."
satisfaction and pride. Satisfaction that it passed quaintance. Next followed Candidus, who was
It gradually became apparent that the manage- off so successfully, and pride that all have indi- greeted with a hearty welcome. The soloists
ment amused itself by calling the entertainment a vidually and collectively contributed to its tri- seated, Thomas mounted the rostrum, tapped on
the stand, waved his baton, and the festival had
"musical comedy," and that there was no riot on umphs.
the stage. The excitement arose simply from the For some days prior to the opening evening, begun, with Mozart's "Requiem" as the opening
endeavors of a number of persons to play the rain had fallen in almost unprecedented quanti- attraction.
piece.
ties, and everything "was wet and muddy. The Mozart, as you know, when he composed the
When this fact was clearly settled, it was de- Ohio was running bank full, and still rain fell. "Requiem," stated that he was writing his own
cided not to call in the police. It was suggested, To this add an intensified small-pox scare, which dirge, and his spirit and fire show and breathe
however, by several persons with generous im- spread all over the country tributary to Cincin- all through it, and the chorus and soloists seemed
to be actuated by the feelings which animated his
pulses, that the services of an ambulance surgeon nati.
should be obtained, and that the suffering actors All these untoward circumstances presaged an bosom, and sang with a tenderness, an abandon,
and actresses should at once be put out of their unsuccessful festival, and disastrous failure so far a fury, if I may use the expression, which thrilled
misery, which was only equalized by that of the as pertains to attendance. Failure in rendition of the audience through every fibre of their being.
The chorus sang with dash, brilliancy, swing,
audience at the sight of such unhappy objects.
the programme, in part or in whole, was, from the
The truth was, that everything was "at sea," nature and perseverance in study on the part of and power heretofore unsurpassed; yet it is true
musical comedy, company, orchestra, and scenery, the chorus, an impossibility; yet there were many that in some of the high notes there was an uncer-
and there was a general but silent pi'ayer uncon- gloomy forebodings, the would-be prophets pre- tain quaver and lack ef fullness and confidence.
Taken all in all, the chorus was, however, excel-
sciously uttered that the whole concern would be dicting, with many wise wags of their heads, that
lent. Their attack was firm and the tons well sus-
foundered or swamped before the agony was over. all would be a failure.
tained and pure.
But, alas for the vanity of hope ! Kate Castleton
Others said opera and musical festival could not In "Dies Irae," the work was fine, indicative
meandered over the boards with the vivacity of a exist
together.
This
last
statement
seemed
to
have
frozen mummy; Mr. Maflin made two or three some foundation, judging from existing circum- of vengeance on the part of the Judge and terror
on the part of the judged. In
very small boys smile, and Miss Eeynolds flew
around like a Madison Park sparrow about lunch stances.
When we consider that the Opera Festival took
time.
$100,000 out of the pockets of the people only
MATERNA
The only alleviating feature of this sad affair, three short months before, it did seem like at-
which it becomes our painful duty to chronicle, tempting the impossible to give a May Musical I was disappointed for a moment, yet in the end
was some variety business by Frank Bush. No Festival, and make it a success.
much pleased and delighted with her singing.
money was demanded back at the box-office, so far There are certain things which constitute suc- was
In her opening notes, and, indeed, occasionally
as could be learned, as it was really one of the cess in any undertaking, and the omission of any throughout
the festival, there was apparent a per-
funniest things of the season.
one of them renders it imperative that the re- ceptible flatting, and a great lack of that fine
mainder should be operated to an extraordinary vocalization characteristic of Gerster and Patti.
degree to compensate for such omission.
As an interpreter of emotions, however, I think
CAMPANINI'S CONCERT.
One of the most important elements of success she is without a peer. In other words, she is a
E grand concert, as it was called, was given in an undertaking like the Musical Festival, and dramatic soprano par excellence, and in that field
J_ under the auspices of Signor Campanini for one which the management of the Opera Festival facile vocalization is not imperative. Indeed, I
the benefit of Italian charitable institutions in pushed to its utmost capacity, was a liberal use of think it would detract from the portrayal.
New York, at Steinway Hall, on May 8th, before printer's ink and its judicious distribution. This Candidus created a very favorable impression.
more than anything else contributed to the suoeess His is a pure, fine tenor voice, and capable of
a large and enthusiastic audience.
The artists that assisted Signor Campanini were of that enterprise.
great performances, as his rendition of the Evang-
Mile. Rossini, Mile. Bettini, Mme. Imogene In this field the management of the May Fes- elist in the "Passion Music" later in the week dem-
Brown, Mme. Galassi, Mme. Lablache, Mile. Juch, tival failed to properly operate, and as a conse- onstrated.
Signor Candidus, Signor Tagliapietra, Signor quence their financial returns were not as great as Mr. Toedt is an acceptable artist and gave a
Galassi, Signor Corsini; a chorus and orchestra of they would otherwise have been. As it was, very conscientious rendition of his part. I do
sixty under Signori Rasori and Moderati.
however, such is the appetite for classical music not like Mr. Remmertz's singing. It is seldom
The chief numbers of the programme consisted among the inhabitants of this valley, that they clear, having a thick and choked sound that is
of selections from Italian operas, among which responded nobly, and the result, while not what it unpleasant. Mr. Whitney and Miss Cary were
the sextette from "Lucia" and the finale from might have been, was still better than that of the themselves, and that is all that could be said of
"Ernani" were received with the greatest favors. last festival, as the following figures show:
them.
Campanini was in better voice than at any time
1880
1882 The "Requiem" was followed by Beethoven's
within the last month, and sang 0 tu che in seno, Soloists
8
14 Eighth Symphony, by the orchestra, and it seemed
from Verdi's "Forza del Destino," and the "Salve Orchestra
150
160 as if it were impossible that it could ever before
dimora" from Faust.
56,950
$9,740 have been «[o well rendered.
As the artists assisted in a charitable purpose, Paid soloists
After the Symphony came Materna in the aria
$21,500 from "Fidelio." Although her first singing was
it requires a charitable spirit in order to overlook Balance at end of Festival. .$20,000
More of this later.
many of their shortcomings. A large amount of
in a measure unsatisfactory, owing doubtless to
money was secured, which was to be distributed Despite the unfavorable indications, Tuesday her first appearance before a Cincinnati audience,
opened, up promisingly, and the evening witnessed in this aria she forgot everything biit her part,
among the various institutions.
a continuous stream of people—afoot, in buggies, and thrilled the audience by such singing as they
in carriages, and in all sorts and styles of convey- never heard before. At the close she was recalled
ances—converging toward one common centre,
" IL TROVATORE " AT THE ACADEMY.
the rostrum five times.
all appearing as solicitous of reaching the Mecca to From
that moment she and Cincinnati were old
* ' TX TROVATORE " was given on May 10th at of their pilgrimage—Music Hall—as were the friends, and
she appeared later, she was
X the Academy of Music, the occasion being devotees of old, in their religious enthusiasm, welcomed as whenever
is Cary or Whitney.
Mr. Charles Mapleson's benefit. The audience was determined to reach the sacred shrine and die.
very large and attractive, overburdening the solo- The devotees wending their way to Music Hall The "Te Deum" elosed the first evening's per-
ists with floral offerings and applauding at every did not expect to die, but, like Elijah of old, be formance, and the audience dispersed with a con-
viction that the chorus had never been better, and
opportunity.
translated to the heaven of music.
The soloists were Signora Rossini as Leonora; Arriving at the Music Hall, a picture was pre- that the soloists could hardly be excelled.
Signora Lablache, Azucena; Signor Campanini, sented differing in some respects from that wit-
Manrico, and Signor Galassi, Count di Luna.
nessed during the Opera Festival. The same au-
THE FIRST MATINEE
The chorus was rather diminutive, but the dience was there, but the darker and more sombre
orchestra, conducted by Signor Rasori, did admir- shades appropriate to winter toilets -were absent, consisted of Mozart's "La Nozze Di Figaro," in
able work.
and in their stead bright colors, pale tints, white which appeared Materna, Cary, and Remmertz,
The performance was not characterized by any dresses and bonnets, and blue and pink costumes, and
was followed by Beethoven's Seventh Sym-
extraordinary merits of any of the artists, it being adorned with a wealth of laces and diamonds, the phony.
an average "II Trovatore," such as we have heard tout ensemble being that of a hot bed of bright and After an intermission followed an overture,
here again and again.
beautiful flowers. Many ladies were in full even- "Genoveva," Schumann; an aria, "Penelope Weav-
ing toilets, with uncovered heads, and the ma- ing a Garment," Bruch, by Miss Cranch, a Cin-
The Urbana Choral Society gave a performance jority of the gentlemen present were in full dress. cinnati lady; "Am Mur," Schubert, by Remmertz;
of Schumann's cantata, "Paradise and the Peri," Taken all in all, it was a festival occasion and a a duo, from Mendelssohn, Materna and Cary, and
at Bennett's Opera House, Urbana, O., on May 26. festival audience.
the Ball Scene from Berlioz's Symphony, "Romeo
The role of the Peri was assumed by Miss Belle
and Juliet."
Eichelberger. The members of the society are:
Remmertz sang in better voice than on the
THE
CSOBtTS
Rev. Frank Sewall, president; Mr. J. Herman
previous evening, and shows he possesses a fine
McLain, secretary, and Mr. W. H. Crane, treasu- in its component parts made a beautiful contrast, organ when he opens his mouth and does not
rer. The executive committee consists of Mrs. C. the ladies being attired almost without exception choke the sound. Cary sang as she always sings,
G. Smith, Miss McLain, Mr. Henrv Helps, and in white, and the gentlemen in black. The change and gave no evidence of a cold in her singing,
Mr. Walter Small.
from the painted scenery and boxes, which adorned although still a little hoarse in conversation.
PERFORMANCES
The Cincinnati Festival.