MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.

Evening Star, Issue 4033, 29 January 1876, Page 6 (Supplement)

MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.

Madame Arabella Goddard gets fair pay in America—Lso a night—for playing sixty nights at the Titiens concerts. Bulow gets L2OO a night and expenses. An actress is told by a critic that among the rudiments which she has yet to learn is that her nose is too pretty to be talked through. The_ Swedes are of the opinion that Christine Nilsson, the opera singer, is an angel descended from heaven, and as such they are anxious to have her in Sweeden and Norway. Unfortunately they haven’t got the wherewithal for that purpose. Mr Joseph Jefferson is acting in “ Rip Van Winkle” at the Princess’s Theatre, in London, where he has been enthusiastically received. Mr Sothern is going to Ireland, to play for a fortnight at Dublin and for a fortnight at Belfast,

The Williamsons appear to be a remarkable success in India. In Calcutta, “Struck Oil,” had a fortnight’s run, which is a remarkable thing for that City. They were to leave India for England at the beginning of the year. The accounts concerning Mr Allen’s Opera Company are conflicting. Tahite, in the ‘Australasian,’ is advised that they have quite established themselves in public favor ; but the ‘Age’ hears that the troupe has not met with the success anticipated. In Melbourne the pantomime still holds possession of the Royal, Fortunatus of the Opera-house, the Fakir of Oolu of St. George’s Hall, and Baby Benson of the Apollo Hall. Mr Lyster is advertising for a company to support Mr Emmett, during whose appearances, and those of Mr Sothem, the opera bouffe company will travel. Their tour, as at present arranged, comprises South Australia, N. S. Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, and New Zealand. Miss Melville will be prima donna, and the company will include—Clara Thompson, Jeauuie Winston, Hannah Fox, Alice Woolridge, Bessie Royal, Sara Ford, Henry Bracy, C. H. Templeton, George Leopold, A. H. Bell, G. A. Johnson, and John Forde, with Signor Zelman as chef d orchestre. Madame Fanny Simonseu is also in Melbourne endeavoring to organise an opera bouffe company for a tour of the Colonies.

The ‘ Australasian’s ’ American correspondence speaks of Titiens’ visit to the States as a most decided failure, though she was supported by Madame Arabella Goddard, Violetta Colville, Signor Orlandini, Tom Karl, and Alfred Wilkie, a new and popular tenor singer from Australia. It must certainly be confessed that there has been a ‘down,’ as it were, on all imported talent, which was shown in a most discreditable manner to Mr Barry Sullivan some few weeks back in New York. One of the leading journals complains that none of the firstclass artists of any kind condescend to visit the States until they have become either “passde or worn-out.” Great disappointment is experienced at the determination of the artiste not to appear iu opera iu the United States, and it is likely to lead to serious complications between her and the entrepreneur, Max Strakosch. In proof that her engagement has been a most complete fiasco it is mentioned that Madame Tietjens, who was announced to sing iu a second farewell concert at the Brooklyn Academy of Music on the 29th of October did not, for the reason that there was not fifty dollars worth of seats and admissions sold during the entire three days previous to the date mentioned. The academy was not opened, and the money was returned. The variety theatres all over the Union seem to be doing the best of all shows, and the number and varied talents of the people engaged is really something wonderful. Miss Lizzie Watson and Mr Harry Brabam (comique) have been doing very well; lately they have played engagements iu Philadelphia, in Washington, at the Theatre Comique, and are now (November 7) at the Front street Theatre, Baltimore. Miss Julia Matthews’s visit to America has not been by any means a pleasant one. The failure of her entrepreneurs, Messrs Colville aud Alex. Henderson, to carry out their contract after their short season at Philadelphia, aud the worry dependant thereon, brought on a short illness, from which she has nearly recovered. She has been engaged at a large salary to play shortly at the New Eagle Theatre, on Broadway, in “ The Irish Heiress.” At the Globe Theatre here the “ original ” Commodore Nutt is nightly holding his levies. Miss Minnie Warren has, with the General aud Mrs Tom Thumb, retired into private life. Mr Barry Sullivan’s tour has generally been very successful. Miss May Howard, after being in New York for some time, has left for Louisville, Kentucky, there to fulfil a starring engagement. Mr Louis Aldrich, at one time with the Marsh troupe of children iu Australia, is now leading man at Ford’s Opera-house, Baltimore, having left Boston to fill that position. Mr George Fawcett Rowe is making a professional tom- through Canada. At last date he was iu Toronto, Ontario. In his spare time he made a new dramatisation of “ Njcjxfcby ” fop Mr George Bplmore, the comedian ; but the latter died before it could be played.