Richings English Opera: Bohemian Girl

“. . . with entire new scenery, dresses and appointments, grand marches, largely augmented orchestra and chorus, and with all its most pleasing and original music, introducing a GRAND BALLET . . .”

“English opera at the Grand Opera House has been exceedingly well patronized during the past week, which, in a great measure, is owing to the fact of the regular prices of admission which were established at this house some time ago being still adhered to, thereby enabling our music-loving citizens to enjoy the operas without being fleeced by exorbitant charges. In this Mrs. Richings-Bernard, under whose direction the present season of English opera is being given, has displayed much good sense, and appearances indicate that the remaining three weeks of the season will be as liberally patronized as was the first.”

“GRAND OPERA HOUSE.—It is a great hit when the spacious auditorium of the grand Opera House is so thoroughly filled as it was last night. But the delicious music and the pretty, romantic story of the ‘Bohemian Girl,’ given in any language, seldom fail to draw. The public, moreover, expected at this establishment that it would be produced in superior style, scenery, costumes, chorus, orchestra, ballet, as well as in the leading singers, and hence the populous assemblage on this occasion. Nor was the house in any point disappointed. The cast of Arnold as Count Arnheim, Haigh as Thaddeus of Warsaw, Peakes as Devilshoof, Mrs. Richings-Bernard as Arline, and Annie Mischka as the Gypsey Queen, was proved to be excellent. The favorite and widely familiar airs and choruses of this opera were given in a style and spirit which brought them a generous and spontaneous welcome without an exception. The ballet under Rita Sangalli and Mons. Van Hamme shared in the honor of a recall.

“If Mrs. Bernard, in detailing the dream of her ‘marble halls,’ reawakened among the audience a thousand pleasant memories; if Mr. Haigh, in his earnest injunction that ‘You’ll Remember Me,’ established himself in the memory of hundreds for years to come; if Mr. Arnold, in his melancholy declaration in mournful music, that ‘Memory is the Only Friend that Grief can Call its Own,’ had all the ladies among his believers, Mr. Peakes, as the leading gypsy, Devilshoof, was unmistakably the champion of the mountaineers against the field, and truly, in his impersonation of the daring but sentimental vagabond, he was admirable. We are gratified with the assured success of this English operatic season. It is a good sign of a wholesome reaction in matters theatrical and musical, although ‘variety is the spice of life that gives it all its flavor.’”

“The Grand Opera House was densely packed by a fashionable audience last evening to witness the initial performance this season of Balfe’s charming opera of the ‘Bohemian Girl,’ which was splendidly cast and placed on the stage with a conscientious regard to correct and elaborate details. The favorite airs with which the opera abounds were rapturously applauded in every instance, and several were re-demanded. Miss Richings, Mr. Peakes, Mr. Arnold and Mr. Henry Haigh were in excellent voice, and sang the music of their parts with power and effect; but the same meed of praise can hardly be awarded to Miss Annie Mischka, who played the Gypsy Queen. The action of the opera was very pleasantly supplemented by two striking dances by the excellent ballet troupe led by Sangalli and Van Hamme.”

“Partly, no doubt, because the Italian Opera House was closed, but chiefly because the Richings Troupe have gained a real and deserved hold upon public favor, the Grand Opera House was packed from floor to ceiling last night by a fashionable and delighted audience, to whom the hackneyed strains of the ‘Bohemian Girl’ seemed invested with all the charms of freshness and originality. The incredible action, the sonorous choruses and the ever-popular melodies were received with much satisfaction, and the efforts, in particular, of Mrs. BERNARD, Mr. HAIGH, Mr. DRAYTON and Mr. PEAKES provoked enthusiastic applause. Mlle. RITA SANGALLI, with several efficient assistants, improved the entertainment with an acceptable ballet, and the general effect of the opera was harmonious and pleasing. There are a few rather obstreperous voices in the chorus to temper this encomium, and the gentleman—his name was not printed in the cast—who acted Florestein may improve on that personation hereafter. On the whole, however, the ‘Bohemian Girl’ was remarkably well placed on the stage, and its repetition will doubtless attract several excellent houses.”

“Miss Howson, the young prima donna, made another favorable impression at the Grand Opera House last night by her pleasing singing and acting in the ‘Bohemian Girl,’ an opera which retains to a marvelious [sic] degree its old [popularity, and now proves as attractive in this city as it did twenty years ago. Miss Howson was well supported by Mr. Haigh and Mr. Peakes. Mr. Drayton has recovered from his illness, and sings each evening.“

“THE RICHINGS OPERA TROUPE continue at the Grand Opera House. During the past week ‘The Bohemian Girl’ was presented, the initial performance being on Nov. 22d, with Caroline Richings as Arline, H. Haigh as Thaddeus, James Arnold as Count Arnheim and H. Peakes as Devilshoof. The large auditorium was so densely crowded from orchestra to gallery that there was scarcely a spot for a standee to witness the performance after half past seven o’clock. The troupe have the elements of success in a good company of artists and handsome wardrobe, which has been well and expensively gotten up. Caroline Richings, as Arline, sang with her usual spirit, and executed the romanza, I Dreamt that I Dwelt in Marble Halls,’ with rare tenderness and beauty. The lady is a thorough artist. She has power, good execution, a fine trill and a voice of extended compass, in quality a mezzo soprano, and shows evidence of much cultivation and practice. Mr. Haigh was passable as Thaddeus. The ballad ‘You’ll Remember Me,’ and air, ‘The Fair Land of Poland,’ were given with decided spirit, and each received an encore. This gentleman is not a great success, however, for while he has a defective voice, he is by no means a good actor. His voice is thin and wiry, very little expression, pathos, or the true sentiment of either music or the situation. At times he sings well, but without any apparent feeling. Mr. Arnold is deserving of considerable praise for his careful and generally satisfactory interpretation of the role of Count Arnheim. He was loudly applauded for his singing of ‘The heart Bowed Down.’ Mr. Peakes over acted the part of Devilshoof. He is a good singer and is generally very good in his acting; but in this role he did not appear to great advantage. On Nov. 23d ‘The Bohemian Girl’ was repeated, with Mr. Brookhouse Bowler as Thaddeus, and he gave a more satisfactory performance of the role than did Mr. Haigh. The attendance was very large and demonstrative. Mr. Bowler possesses a fine person and a voice of power and of an agreeable quality. On Nov. 24 Emma Howson put in a second appearance, assuming the role of Arline. Her voice was in all its freshness and power. She is possessed of a good stage face and a symmetrical person, and sings with great earnestness. In purity, in cleanness, in invariable truth of intonation, in its graceful inflexibility and in its capacity for the expression of tenderness and pathetic emotion, she is most excellent. The manageress is deserving of all praise for the production of the several operas so far presented during the season, and although not faultless in the lyrical department, the scenic effects and stage business have been very fine. Everything has been done in an artistic and business like manner. The orchestra discourses fine music, and the choruses have been large and efficient.”