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Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 101, July 25, 1891 By: Various |
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OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI. VOL. 101. July 25, 1891.
OPERATIC NOTES. [Illustration: Amonasro ( the Black King ). "I am your father. I've
kept myself dark so long that I've become quite black!" Aïda ( the White Maiden ). "Oh! go away, black man; don't come anigh
me!! You ought to be Otello to morrow night." Little Ravelli Radames ( aside ). "No matter what colour, I love
her!!"] [Illustration: Covent Garden Stars seen through the Harriscope.] Tuesday, July 14 . Madame NORDICA is not at her best as Aïda . It
lacks colour that is on the face and hands, where at least should
be shown some more "colourable pretence" for being the daughter of so
blackened a character as is her father Amonasro , played as a villain
of the deepest dye by M. DEVOYOD. When the celebrated march was
heard, the players didn't seem particularly strong in trumps, and the
trumpets giving a somewhat "uncertain sound," a trifle husky, as if
they'd caught cold, somewhat marred the usually thrilling effect.
Gorgeous scene; and RAVELLI the Reliable as Radames quite the
success of the evening. Mlle. GUERCIA as Amneris seemed to have
made up after an old steel plate in a bygone Book of Beauty. Where
are those Books of Beauty now! And The Keepsake ? Where the
pseudo Byronic poetry and the short stories by Mrs. NAMBY and Mr.
PAMBY? But this is only a marginal note, not in the Operatic score.
Signor ABRAMOFF was a powerful Ramphis , his make up suggesting
that his title would be more appropriately Rumfiz , which would
be an excellent Egyptian name. Very good House, but still suffering
from reaction after Imperial visit, and not to recover itself till
to morrow, Wednesday , when the House is crowded with a brilliant
audience to hear a brilliant performance of Otello. The Grand Otello
Co. Covent Garden, Limited . Thoroughly artistic performance of Iago
by M. MAUREL. His wicked "Credo" more diabolically malicious than
ever it was at the Lyceum; an uncanny but distinctly striking effect.
Then DRURIOLANUS ASTRONOMICUS gave us a scenic startler in the way
of imitation meteoric effect. 'Twas on this wise: of course, neither
DRURIOLANUS nor any other Manager can carry on an operatic season
without stars, and so they are here, a galaxy of 'em, up above, on
the "back cloth," as it is technically termed, shining brilliantly but
spasmodically, strange portents in the operatic sky. Pity Astronomer
Royal not here to see and note the fact. Next time Otello is given,
if this atmospheric effect is to be repeated, the attendants in the
lobbies might be permitted to supply powerful telescopes at a small
fixed charge. But the greatest star of all is Madame ALBANI as
Desdemona ; a triumph dramatically and operatically. Her song in the
last Act, the celebrated " Willow Song " which of course no cricketer
ought to miss hearing was most beautifully and touchingly rendered.
Those persons suffering from the heat of a crowded house, and dreading
the difficulty of finding their "keb or kerridge" in good time, and
who therefore quitted their seats before ALBANI sang the " Willow
Song ," must, perforce, sing the old refrain, " O Willow, we have
missed you! " and go back for it whenever this Opera is played again.
M. JEAN DE RESZKÉ was not, perhaps, quite up to his usual form, or his
usual former self; but, for all that, he justified his responsibility
as one of the largest shareholders in the Grand Otello Company,
Limited. All things considered, and the last best thing being
invariably quite the best, Otello, or Symphonies in Black and White ,
is about the biggest success of the season.
TO AMANDA. [Illustration] ( ACCOMPANYING A SET OF VERSES WHICH SHE BADE ME WRITE. ) Only a trifle, though, i' faith, 'tis smart,
A jeu d'esprit , not art concealing art,
Fruition of a moment's fantasy,
Mere mental bubbles, verbal filagree. But, though thy lightest wish I would not thwart,
I prithee bid me play some other part
Another time, and I will give thee carte
Blanche to dictate; in truth aught else will be
Only a trifle,
Compared with versifying... Continue reading book >>
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