Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 93, July 9, 1887.
I went on Saturday to hear the three operatic novelties so liberally provided for us on the same night by Messrs. Mapleson, Lago and Harris. I do not mix my liquors, and I endeavour, as a rule, to keep to the same lyrical drama throughout the evening; nor is it my fault if a good dose of strong Beethoven, sweetened with Gounod and flavoured with Meyerbeer had, on the occasion in question, a somewhat confusing effect on my brain. At Her Majesty's, Lilli Lehmann was all right as Leonora : not Leonora of La Favorita , but Leonora the favourite wife of Manrico —no, not of Manrico , but of another personage who, like the unfortunate Trovatore , has to be rescued by his loving spouse from the tyranny of a powerful baritone; whether Verdi's Count di Luna or Sheridan's Pizarro , I cannot just now call to mind. Mlle. Lehmann is not only a fine singer, but also a serious dramatic artist; and the public was deeply impressed by her performance. She is a Lehmann with all the earnestness of a good clergyman; not that she had taken orders as I (Box No. 70) had done.
From Her Majesty's Theatre, I drove in a rapid Hansom to Drury Lane. I had told the cabman to take me to the Royal Italian Opera, and I was about to remonstrate with him for conveying me to the wrong house, when he promptly explained that there were now two Royal Italian Operas, one at Covent Garden, the other at Drury Lane. New source of confusion! Confusion worse confounded! as Milton observes.
How far have they got? I inquired as I entered the theatre.
Valentine's death scene, replied my friend.
Valentine does not die, my dear fellow; Valentine only faints, I answered, I was thinking of course, of the new dramatic soprano, Mlle. Sandra, in Les Huguenots .
You are evidently not an Opera-goer, I continued, or you would know that no one dies in this work, except, of course, in the last Act. But that is always left out.
Wrong again! exclaimed Jones, with an amused look. Augustus Harris restores the last Act. See his prospectus.
Various
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VOLUME 93.
July 9, 1887.
OPERATIC CONFUSION.
THE LATEST FROM LORD'S.
WHAT OUR ARTIST HAS TO PUT UP WITH.
TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING.
FLOREAT MASCHERA!
ROYALTY AT THE PALACE.
JILLS IN OFFICE.
How's That?
THE BARD AT HENLEY.
GARDEN, LANE, AND MARKET.
"LONG EXPECTED COME AT LAST!"
GETTING ONE'S MONEY'S WORTH.
THE NEW, AND BAD, "HATCH."
RALEIGH TOO BAD.
A Hard-worked Official.
THE NEW "HATCH."
THE LAST VISIT (BUT ONE) TO THE ACADEMY.
HIBERNIA TO THE QUEEN.
GOG AND MAGOG AT THE BALL.
ROBERT AT THE AMERICAN EXHIBITION.
Robert Tobogganing.
A Little Indian Rubber.
The Children's Nautical Festival.
ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.
EXTRACTED FROM
THE DIARY OF TOBY, M.P.
"HOME, SWEET HOME!"
CRICKET AT LORD'S.