Richings English Opera: Fra Diavolo

“Last evening ‘Fra Diavolo’ was played to a large and interested house. The soloists were thoroughly good, and the chorus and orchestra were entirely up to the emergency of the occasion.”   

“English opera is steadily making its way at the Academy of Music. The attendance continues to improve, and is now animated, fashionable and remunerative. ‘La Somnambula,’ the ‘Bohemian Girl,’ and ‘Fra Diavolo,’ are the works that have been given during the past few days, and generally with much spirit and effect. The company undoubtedly contains the best material that has ever been brought together in this country for English opera, and it works with the rarest diligence. We do not perceive that the house is too large for the singers, although the strongest voice is naturally heard to the best advantage, as it is apt to be all the world over. But in truth there are some exceedingly good voices in the troupe, and none that can be called small. Miss Richings has her faults as an artiste, but quantity of voice is not one of them. It would be better if she would sing the intervals clearly instead of constantly slurring them. There is no musical effect by doing so, and it is destruction to the words. Mrs. Seguin has improved so much that she is certainly capable of singing in any house, and of singing most charmingly. Mr. Castle is an excellent tenor, and the grand voice of Mr. Campbell needs no special delivery to make itself potent. Mr. Seguin is an artist and knows precisely what he can do. He ‘makes up’ well, speaks plainly and acts better than any other member of the company. Mr. Pierre Bernard has an excellent voice, but his manner is somewhat boisterous. Indeed, these remarks are suggested by an obvious tendency on the part of all the company to sing too loud, as if they were fearful they could not otherwise be sufficiently heard. There is no danger of anything of the sort, and even if there were, a remedy could not be found by unduly straining the voice. For the rest we have only to say that the orchestra has deteriorated, while the chorus has improved.”