[Illustration: _Poor little Zelie (beseechingly)._ O Mr. Randegger,
_do_ let me have my bouquets!]
_Monday._--_Don Giovanni._ RAVELLI the Reliable an excellent _Don
Ottavio_, vocally; considered dramatically, he does as much as can be
expected of a man of his inches. _Zerlina_ and _Masetto_ so pleased
with his singing that they stop on the stage all through the _tessoro_
song, for which he takes a hearty _encore_, whereupon _Zerlina_ and
_Mazetto_ run off quickly. Having had enough of it, however, they do
not return for the _encore_. Rather rude this. DAN DRADY too sinister
for gay _Don Giovanni_; and there is a villanous determination
about his gallantry which would have frightened away the coquettish
_Zerlina_, and have warned the more mature ladies of the world, _Donna
Anna_ and _Donna Elvira_, in time to prevent them from falling victims
to his wiles. Otherwise a highly satisfactory _Don_. Signor PLUNKETTO
GREENO as the unfortunate _Commendatore_, who is first killed, and
then executed in stone, as a statue to his own memory, was heard and
seen to the best advantage. ZELIE DE LUSSAN, too Carmenish as flighty
little _Zerlina_, but evidently a match for the sardonic Don DAN
DRADY. Madame TAVARY has done well to quit the Hofoperahaus, Munich,
and come to Covengardenhaus as _Donna Anna_,--a trying part that not
_Anna_-body can play and sing as well as Madame TAVARY. This lady
and LILIAN NORDICA (pretty name LILIAN) as _Donna Elvira_ render the
characters so charmingly, that they cease to be the funereal bores I
have generally considered them. _Ottavio_, _Anna_, and _Elvira_, the
trio with a grievance, are, usually, about as cheerful as the three
Anabaptists in _Le Prophete. Mais on a change tout cela_. PALLADINO,
as the dancing guest--she is always small and early in every Opera
now--delights everyone, and so does Conductor RANDEGGER, who is
determined that poor little ZELIE DE LUSSAN shall not receive the big
bouquets which a mysterious man has brought to the orchestra; then one
of the instrumentalists handed them to the leader, who, in order
to take them, has been compelled to put down his violin, and, after
looking about in a helpless and puzzled manner, holds them until
further orders from his chief. Not receiving further orders, he
occupies his time by sniffing at the flowers and making remarks _sotto
voce_ to his companion violinist on the botanical beauties of the
_flora_. Conductor RANDEGGER, apparently unaware of what has been
taking place behind his back, turns round abruptly to inquire why
leader is taking a few bars' rest. Leading violinist exhibits bouquet,
and appeals in dumb show to conductor. The conductor's eye in fine
frenzy rolling, says as clearly as fine frenzied rolling eye can say
anything, "Remove that bauble!"--(RANDEGGER would make up remarkably
well as _Cromwell_)--and the leader, with a sympathetic and apologetic
glance at ZELIE as implying, "You should have had 'em if _I_ could
have managed it, but you see how I'm situated. RANDEGGER'S a hard
man"--puts the bouquets on the floor of the orchestra, and, dismissing
them by a supreme effort from his thoughts, betakes himself to his
musical Paganinic duties. What becomes of the flowers that bloom in
the orchestra, _tra la!_ I don't know, I wish that ZELIE may get them.
Remembering the example set by "Practical JOHN" at the Gaiety, of
placarding up everywhere in the theatre "No Fees," DRURIOLANUS, at
the suggestion of Conductor RANDEGGER, might "hang out a banner on
the outer wall" of the orchestra, with the letters inscribed on it
"N.B.--No Bouquets."
_Tuesday._--The grandest night of the Season up to now, dear boys.
_Romeo_ JEAN DE RESZKE, and MELBA _Juliette_. What can you wish for
more? EDOUARD DE RESZKE as the _Frere Laurent_ a magnificent Friar,
belonging to some one of the theatrical "Orders" "not admitted
after seven." The talented Mlle. BAUERMEISTER'S _Gertrude_ hardly a
companion picture to her _Martha_ in _Faust_. Signor PLUNKETTO GREENO
not quite every inch a Duke: about one inch in three Duke and the rest
Democrat. When he has been _Duke of Verona_ long enough, he'll be all
right, and most likely
He'll be, this Mister PLUNKET GREENE,
The Dukiest Duke that ever was seen.
A word to the wise. Whenever this Season _Romeo and Juliette_ is
played with this cast, go and see it. Don't hesitate. It's memorable.
A feast for ear and eye. _Ite ad astra-operatica._ And at the same
time, don't forget to honourably mention the founder of the feast,
AUGUSTUS DRURIOLANUS.
_Wednesday._--Extra. _Carmen._ Derby Day. I have been at the Derby.
Glad to get back again. As to "back again," I don't "back again"
anything for a long time. But, _a nos moutons_. _Toreador_ evidently
has had his money on _Sainfoin_. Never sang better. Glad to see
the simple Scotch lassie, MAGGIE MCINTYRE, once more as the village
maiden. Charming. ZELIE DE LUSSAN as wickedly attractive as ever.
What a collection such a gipsy would make on a Derby Day--a fine Derby
Day--among the "pretty gentlemen" whose fortunes she would tell. Extra
night this, and extra good.
_Thursday._--A WAGNER Night. Crowded to see JEAN DE RESZKE as another
Wagner Knight. NEDDIE DE RESZKE as the _King Henry_--every inch a
King, and something to spare. Freddy Telramondo suits DAN DRADY
better than _Don Giovanni_. Madame FURSCH-MADI as the wicked
_Ortruda_,--("Never saw ought ruder than her conduct to Elsa,"
observes the irrepressible Mr. WAGSTAFF,)--And MAGGIE MACINTYRE as the
virtuous but unhappy _Elsa_. The stranger in the land of WAGNER begins
to wonder at the continuous flow of the melody, not one tiny cupful
of which can he take away with him, until with joy he hears the Bridal
Chorus at the commencement of the Third Act, and for a few moments he
rests _dans un pays de connaissance_.
_Friday._--_Lucia di Lammermoor._ Great night for Madame MELBA.
Recalled three times before Curtain after each Act. Living
illustration of once popular romance, "_Called Back_." Great night,
too, for Harpist and Flutist. Both gentlemen highly applauded, and
would have been recalled, but for the fact of their not having quitted
the orchestra. Harper plays solo from _Harper's Miscellany_, arranged
by DONIZETTI. RAVELLI the Reliable recalled also.
_Saturday._--Brilliant house. Royal Highnesses early to come and last
to go. Magnificent performance of _Die Meistersinger_. M. ISNARDON
very comic as _Beckmesser_, LASSALLE a noble Hans Sachs ("the
shoemaker who sings a sole-o," says Mr. WAGSTAFF), JEAN DE RESZKE a
grand young _Walther_, MONTARIOL (as before) a capital silly idiot
_David_, Mlle. BAUERMEISTERSINGER very lively as _Magdalena_, and
Madame TAVARY a skittish young chit in the somewhat trying and rather
thankless part of _Eva_. The tenor's song to her ought to be, "EVA, of
thee I'm fondly dreaming," if WAGNER had only thought of it. Opera too
long; but Wagnerites don't complain, and certainly to-night they get
their money's worth and something over, from 7.30 till past midnight.
* * * * *