of the Barber of Seville. Nothing could be better
than the
Susanna of
Mlle. TELEKI, or sweeter
than the duet, heartily encored, between her and the
Countess. EDOUARD DE RESZKE is a magnificent
representative of the gloomily-jealous Count, who,
having once been the gayest of the gay, still retains
something of his old sly-boots character in private.
He is always going wrong, and always being in the
wrong when found out: a Count quite at a discount,
for whom there will perhaps be no rest until he is
“par.” with a family. Needless to
say, the part was well acted and sung by Brother NED,
whom a gentleman near me, who “knew all about
it,” mistook for his brother JOHN, and criticised
accordingly. As
Cherubino,
Mlle. SIGRID
ARNOLDSON is a delightfully boyish scapegrace, giving
us just that
soupcon of natural awkwardness
which a spoilt sunny Southern lad of sixteen, brought
up in such mixed society as is represented by
Count
Almaviva’s household, would occasionally
show when more than usually “spoony.”
Mlle. ARNOLDSON sings MOZART pure and simple,
without interpolating cadenzas, roulades, nourishes,
or exercises of musical fireworks, and the audience
rewarded her artistically simple rendering of “
Voi
che sapete” with an
encore, which
was as hearty as it was well-deserved. Capital
House. Parliamentary musicians conspicuous by
their absence. Ex-M.P.’s represented in
a body by Sir H-NRY EDW-RDS the evergreen.
It was reported in the House—the Opera
House—that Sir DRURIOLANUS was standing;
but for what Constituency, was not mentioned.
The rumour was justified by his appearing at the Stall
entrance, where he stood for some time, but as he
finely observed, “I am not in search of a seat—in
Parliament. No! Let who will make the people’s
laws, give me the bringing out for them of their Operas
and Pantomimes.” So saying, he bowed gracefully
to nobody in particular (who happened to be talking
to him), and, with a refreshing wave of the hand, Sir
DRURIOLANUS was wafted away into the offing, and “lost
to sight,” while still “to memory dear.”
Trumpet Note in advance.—The
Trompeter of Sakkingen is announced as “in
active preparation.” Needless to say more,
as, of course, he blows his own trumpet for himself.
The question is, will it be a big trump in the hand
of Sir DRURIOLANUS?
Saturday.—Elaine changed
her mind, and wouldn’t come out to-night.
* * * *
*
[Illustration]
NEW RENDERING OF “CONSULE PLANCO”—“CONSULT
PLANCHETTE.”—If “Planchette”
can give such accurate information as it appears to
have done at Mr. CHARLES WYNDHAM’s supper-party,
and elsewhere, as recounted in the Daily Telegraph,
why is it not at once put into general requisition?
Why is there any Parliamentary debating? Why not
use “Planchette?” Why run any chance of
losing on a race, but simply “ask Planchette?”