OPERATIC NOTES.
Opening of Opera. Monday, May 13.—Crowded house. Grand Otello Co. unlimited. The Orchestra has been sunk four feet, thus giving Stalls clear view of stage. Druriolanus proposes a puzzler "Orchestra lowered," he says, "yet all performers in it hired!" Royal Highnesses present. Druriolanus, taking happy musical publishers' points of view, looks towards Royal Box and murmurs "'Royalties' on music." Albani surpasses herself as Desdemona: quite wonder that Otello-Tamagno has the heart to smother her with pillow after her song about the willow. Signor Pessina as Iago: rather a ponderous villain. Pecuniary operatic prospects exceptionally good: at all events, possessing Jean de Reszke, Tamagno, and Bertran, Druriolanus has "three tenners" in hand to start with.
Vocal and Orchestral. Marguerite and Strauss.
Tuesday.—Boïto's Mefistofele. "An opera that 'grows on you,'" says Lounger in the Lobby. "If there were a probability of many such growing on you, my dear Lounger," quoth Sir Druriolanus, with satirical affability, "you would be worth cultivating." The advantage of a long opera, with disconnected acts, is, that you can "pick 'em where you like," as the coster says of the walnuts, and come in anywhere for something good. Maggie Macintyre is "getting a big girl now." Charming as Margherita and La belle Hélène. Signor de Lucia a rather timorous and bashful Faust, with one eye for Maggie and the other for Nelli (short for Mancinelli), as if praying the latter to conduct him safely and keep him from temptation to go wrong. Faust in situation of Toole in The Houseboat, when he used to exclaim, "Sarah! I'm slipping!" Plançon equally good as Jupiter or Mefistofele; this time it is Mefisto.
Wednesday.—Le Prophète. In spite of name, unprofitable opera. Signor Tamagno (or familiarly Tam Agno), as Jean of Leyden, rather over-laden, but bearing burthen bravely. Tam receives big encore in Star-spangled Banner Hymn. The two Corsis and Castelmary ably represent Liberator Firm of Jonas, Zaccaria, Mathisen & Co., always ready to draw on their false prophet in order to save their own credit. Two Corsis and dessert to follow. Beaming Bevignani conducts invisible orchestra.
Thursday.—Sudden change from summer to winter. Comparatively thin house. Ladies as wrapperees in furs. Everyone welcoming Pagliacci, or the Mummers, as pantomime suitable to season. In spite of this, warm welcome to Pagliacci and to Madame Fanny Moody as Nedda. She is quite the character: Moody yet lively. Ancona and De Lucia good and dramatic as ever as Tonio and Canio. Début of Miss Marie Engle, who, whether German or French, will be a favourite with the Engle-ish, starting uncommonly well as Little Bo-Peep-Baucis. King Jove-Plançon and Vulcan-Castelmary, the limping Olympian, excellent as usual. Everyone suffering from wintry blasts in stalls envies Vulcan rubbing his hands and warming himself at Bonnard-Philémon's fire. Such a night in May is enough to knock any piece to shivers. The conductors of the operatic 'bus were, for the first journey, Soothing Seppilli; and for the second, Beaming Bevignani.
Friday.—Still wintry. Italian-German opera Lohengrin, with Cosmopolitan Caste, going stronger than ever. House full and fully satisfied. Hard to please if it had not been so, with Albani as Elsa,—(says Wagstaff, affecting a drawl, "Nobody else-a can touch her in this"),—Jupiter-Plançon as a King, not of gods but men, and Bertran, from La Scala, as a First-Knight Lohengrin. As to intruder Ortruda and Terrible Telramonda, these heavy weights are lifted by Mlle. Olitzka and Signor Ancona. Monarchical Mancinelli treats Time like a dusty carpet, beating it strongly.
Saturday.—Crowded house to welcome old friend Trovatore. Pessina as the wicked nobleman; and Tamagno—now known as "Tam"—in splendid voice for the Trovatore himself. "Tam" doubly encored after "Di quella pira." Julia Ravogli not quite the Azucena. Mlle. Bauermeister's first appearance this season: as heroine's sympathetic companion Bauermeister combines the "utile" with the "dulce." Maggie Macintyre vocally good, dramatically puzzling. House happy: Druriolanus delighted. Fine finish to first week.