Seguin English Opera: Bohemian Girl

“The summer season of English opera was inaugurated on Monday night at the cosey little theatre of Bryant’s Opera House under sufficiently favorable auspices. The house was well filled and the audience inclined to be very appreciative, or we should rather say demonstrative. It is not to be expected that the performance should be perfect, and it is not, but those who are not too exacting may pass a pleasant evening. The laurels, such as they were, were carried off by Miss Emma Howson, who sang in the rôle of Arline. This lady has a voice of much sweetness, but it evidently lacks cultivation. Mr. Brookhouse Bowler’s singing of the rôle of Thaddeus was scarcely satisfactory, and his rendering of the ‘Fair Land of Poland’ must be pronounced a failure, notwithstanding the applause of his friends. Mr. Henri Drayton filled the character of Count Arnheim acceptably. Mrs. Zelda Seguin as the Gypsy Queen, secured the approbation of the audience. The remaining rôles were filled as follows [see above]. The concerted pieces were given with much spirit and ensemble, and, if we may accept the audience as a representative one, the performance is likely to give satisfaction to the public.”

“The summer season of English opera, undertaken by Mr. Wm. Seguin, at Bryant’s Theater, opened auspiciously on Monday evening with a bright and pleasant performance of ‘The Bohemian Girl;’ and if the cordiality of the audience may be taken as an indication, the enterprise of the manager in this somewhat novel venture is likely to be rewarded with abundant popular support. There ought to be, at this season of the year, some place of resort where lovers of good music may be amused with light works like this of Balfe’s, which charm the fancy without overtaxing the tired intellect, and for such performances both the theater and the company in the present instance are very well adapted. Bryant’s little opera house is pretty and comfortable. The voices sound well in it. The scenery is good and sufficiently varied. The stage, though small, answers well enough for small operas; and if there is room for neither a grand orchestra nor a monster chorus we may satisfy ourselves with the reflection that a few musicians in such a place can make a great deal of noise. The soprano of the company is Miss Emma Howson, who has been heard before in New-York, but is likely in her present position to make a much better reputation than she has made hitherto. She sang the music of Arline simply and sweetly, showed the possession of an excellent voice, and was liberally applauded. A cordial welcome was extended to that charming artist Mrs. Zelda Seguin, who took the part of the Gypsy Queen, and made a decided impression in the few numbers which gave her an opportunity; and no little favor was extended also to Mr. Henri Drayton’s picturesque Count Arnheim. The other leading parts were acceptably filled by Mr. Brookhouse Bowler, Mr. Edward Seguin, and Mr. Chatterson. The chorus was good, and the orchestra, directed by Mr. Reiff, wanted nothing but either a little more moderation or a little bigger room. No doubt however it will soon accommodate itself better to the size of the theater.”

“A season of English opera was begun Monday evening at Bryant’s Opera House. Balfe’s ‘Bohemian Girl,’ which has already long outlived many a better work, was presented.

“The performance, without being at all remarkable, was a creditable and pleasing one. Light operas and light voices adapt themselves fittingly to the little opera house. The words are better heard, and the music is better appreciated from the closer contact between audience and singers.

‘The company is a good one, numbering many old favorites, foremost among them being Mrs. Zelda Seguin. Miss Emma Howson, Mr. Brookhouse Bowler, Mr. Drayton, and Mr. Seguin filled the principal characters, Mrs. Seguin taking the part of the Gypsy Queen, and singing with admirable taste and execution an interpolated song written by Balfe, but not for this opera.”

“To English opera the ‘Bohemian Girl’ is much what the ‘Trovatore’ is to Italian opera. Everybody exclaims at its richness, and delights to listen to it. You hear no one express satisfaction when it is put up, and yet when it is to be sung you find the house crowded. Familiarity may breed contempt, but it breeds affection, too. We may express ever so much aversion to the hackneyed strains, and still we find ourselves listening to them with pleasure, and sympathizing with the audience to whom they are as household words. The truth is, there is a contemplated fulfillment here, a result long and carefully and anxiously prepared. No lyrical puddings were ever more elaborately stuffed with plums. Never were the senses and the tastes that speak clearest to average sentiment more adroitly kept in view and catered for. And so, with a generally ingenious, if frequently commonplace, use of voice and orchestra, the ‘Bohemian Girl’ and the ‘Trovatore’ come down to us with perennial bloom and pass on, as fresh as roses, to draw the throng again next season. The ‘Bohemian Girl’ was sung in very fair style on Monday at Bryant’s Opera-house. There was a respectable cast, Miss Emma Howson being the Arline, Mrs. Zelda Seguin the Gipsy Queen, Mr. Brookhouse Bowler Thaddeus, Mr. Henry Drayton Count Arnheim, and Mr. Edward Seguin Devilshoof. All of those artists are favorably known here in connection with the parts they assumed. Most of the favorite numbers were warmly received; and this was especially the case with the songs of the soprano and the tenor, the baritone and the basso. Perhaps, however, the heartiest encore of the evening was won by Mrs. Seguin in the second act. If the chorus was less numerous than at the Academy, it was quite sufficient for the smaller house; and although the conductor is hardly up to leading opera, his efforts in a work that pretty nearly sings itself were not often prejudicial. The first night of the Summer season may be said to have been attended by prosperous results, and the applause at the ends of the acts seemed to attach to the experiment the seal of public approval.”