OPERATIC NOTES.
Tuesday.—Madame Melba as Juliette! Bless her heart, she must have had a very large one, being a decidedly fine girl for her age, which I believe was fifteen; while Romeo was about nineteen, or thereabouts. Mons. Alvarez, it is needless to add, looked quite "thereabouts." Both singing and acting in first-rate style. Jupiter-Plançon, converted, appears as Frère Laurent, which, sounding like "Law-wrong," is a name rather descriptive of this worthy Friar's somewhat underhand proceedings Friar Law-wrong-Plain-song excellent. Full house night before the Derby. If omens go for anything, the gentleman who was making a book in the lobby, and who overheard some one speak of the opera as Rosebery and Juliette, might have made a small fortune. The slip was a tip.
Some people say, "Why orchestra in 'well' below stage?" But Sir Druriolanus, with experience of general advantage to sound and sight, says, "Shan't touch 'em. 'Leave well alone' is my motto." Exit Sir D. merrily.
Saturday.—Strange case of Rigoletto & Co.—"Co." being Melba at her best, Bauermeister and clever Julia Ravogli, with De Lucia as the Gay Dook, Ancona as the Fool, suggestive of the Pagliacci mummer with a court appointment. "House full." Maurel is coming. To Falstaff and Don Giovani he will give a "high Maurel tone."