DOI issue:
July 9, 1892
DOI Page / Citation link: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.17694#0018
12 PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI. [July 9, 1892.
OPERATIC NOTES.
Monday.—Lohengrin. House full to hear Brother John and
Madame Melba. "Please, Sir, Mr. Johnnie de Risky ain't here,"
blurts out the pale and trembling call-boy.
Sir Augustus calm, impassible. Crisis. If no one turned up, he
would act the part himself, and, it bein? Wagnerian music, the
orchestra would play what of the part had to be played. At that
moment lounged in Monsieur Van DrcK, just to see how things were
going on without him. " I'm a little hoarse to-ni?ht," quoth Van
Dyck. pleasantly. "Nonsense!" cries Sir Deueiolanus, cheerily,
'• a ' Van' can never be a little hoarse." Much merriment. "Dyck,
my boy," continues Sir D., "you've come in the very nick of time
—quite a Devil's Dyke, you are,"—the accomplished vocalist was
in ecstasies at his Manager's joke.-—"and you shall distinguish
yourself to-night as Lohengrin! " Oh, what a surprise! No sooner
said than done. Armour for one ordered immediately. Isaac of
York Street goes to work, and—presto!—Van Dyck is "ready in
case." "Now," asks Drueiolanus, " what are we waiting for ? "
" Please, Sir, Madame Melba isn't here ! "
"Melba not here to play Elsa!" exclaims Sir Druriolanus,
immediately adding, with that wit which is always, like the British
Tar, ' Ready, aye ready ! '—" then we must get somebody Else Sir ! "
and scarcely had the words escaped his lips, than Madame Nordica,
who happened to be passing by, sang out in an extempore recitative,
" Me voici! " " Bravissima ! " cried Sir Drueiolanus. " Saved !
Saved ! " General dance of joy.
So the Curtain was rung up and the Opera, with Madame Nordica
[vice Melba) as Elsa, and Van Dyck {vice Little Johnnie the
Risky) as Lohengrin, made a big success. House crowded. All's
well that ends as well as this.
Tuesday with Mozart.—What a good starting idea for a Comic
Opera would be the notion of making those two types of knaves,
Leporello and Figaro, meet as counter-plotters. Monsieur Maubel
suggests a step in this direction, when one night he impsrsonates the
gay Spanish Don, and on another he appears as the roguish Italian
barber, no longer an intriguing bachelor but a jealous bridegroom.
Merry Melodious Mozart ! Old-fashioned he may be, like not a few of
the best melodies and the best stories. Elegant Countess is Madame
Emma Eames. Can she possibly ever have been Rosina, Dr. Bar-
tola's tricky ward ! What a change matrimony makes in some folks!
Old Dr. Bartolo bears not much resemblance to the other Dr. Bar-
tolo, and Don Basilio, a kind of Ecclesiastical lawyer, is quite a rol-
licking wag as compared with the Basilio of the Barber of Seville.
Nothing could be better than the Susanna of Mile. Teleki, or
sweeter than the duet, heartily encored,
between her and the Countess. Edouard
be Reszke is a magnificent representa-
tive of the gloomily-jealous Count, who,
Cherubino takes the'Chair'at a small Meeting. A De Risky situation.'
having once been the "gayest of the gay,! still retains"something of
his old sly-boots character in private. He is always going wrong, and
always being in the wrong when found out: a Count quite at a dis-
count, for whom there will perhaps be no rest until he is "'par." with a
family. Needless to say, the part was well acted and sung by Brother
Ned, whom a gentleman near me. who " knew all about it," mistook
for his brother John, and criticised accordingly. As Cherubino, Mile.
Sigrid Arnoldson is a delightfully boyish scapegrace, giving us just
that soupcon of natural awkwardness which a spoilt sunny Southern
lad of sixteen, brought up in such mixed society as is represented by
Count Almaviva's household, would occasionally show when more
than usually " spoony." Mile. Arnoldson sings Mozart pure and
simple, without interpolating cadenzas, roulades, nourishes, or exer-
cises of musical fireworks, and the
audience rewarded her artistically
simple rendering of " Voi che sa-
pete " with an encore, which was as
hearty as it was well - deserved.
Capital House. Parliamentary mu-
sicians conspicuous by their absence.
Ex-M.P.'s represented in a body
by Sir H-nry Edw-rds the ever-
green.
It was reported in the House—
the Opera House—that Sir Drueio-
lanus was standing ; but for what
Constituency, was not mentioned.
The rumour was justified by his
appearing at the Stall entrance,
where he stood for some time, but
as he finely observed, "I am not
in search of a seat—in Parliament. Slr Druriolanus, M.P.(ressario)
No! Let who will make the for Govent Garden,
people's laws, give me the bringing out for them of their Operas and
Pantomimes." So saying, he bowed gracefully to nobody in parti-
cular (who happened to be talking to him), and, with a refreshing
wave of the hand, Sir Drueiolanus was wafted away into the offing,
and "lost to sight." while still "to memory dear."
Trumpet Note in advance. —The Trompeter of Sakkingen is an-
nounced as "in active preparation." Needless to say more, as, of
course, he blows his own trumpet for himself. The question is, will
it be a big trump in the hand of Sir Druriolanus P
Saturday.—Elaine changed her mind, and wouldn't come out
to-night.
New Rendering of " Consule Planco"—"Consult Plan-
chette."—If "Planchette" can give such accurate information as
it appears to have done at Mr. Charles Wyndham's supper-party,
and elsewhere, as recounted in the D<rily Telegraph, why is it not at
once put into e-eneral requisition ? Why is there any Parliamentary
debating? Why not use "Planchette?"
Why run any chance of $J$^\ losing on a race,
but simply "ask Plan- W \ chette?" Only,
by the way, if this were '«# universal, and if
everyone is to win, who is to lose ? Thus Planchette would put an
end to nearly all speculation. Planchette would inaugurate a new
era of complete and unqualified success. No doubt Mr. Chaeles
Wyndham consulted Planchette before producing The Fringe of
Society, and is in consequence being amply rewarded for placing his
trust in Planchette. Eailure would be impossible except to the
obstinate few who should persistently refuse to pin their faith on
the utterances of "Planchette." But, suppose after doing enough
to establish her reputation, " Planchette," being feminine and there-
fore " varium et mutabile semper," should suddenly deceive her
followers, as did Zamiel's seventh charmed bullet (which ought
always to have been kept up Caspar's sleeve—but Caspar was an
idiot), and the Weird but Larky Sisters who captivated Macbeth ?
"Trust her not, she's fooling thee. Beware ! Beware ! " and Plan-
chette, the little plank, will make more of her followers "plank
down " than pick up gold and silver.
" Dearest Chuck ! "—Shakspeare.
" Mr. G." {to the Ardent Female Supporter, henceforth to be his-
torically known as " The Gingerbread-nut- Chucker ") .•—
'Twas all very well to dissemble your love,
But why chuck the nut in my eye ?
[Mr. Gr. is aware that the Divine Williams has spoken of ginger
as 11 hot in the mouth," but Mr. Gr. says "he got it un-
commonly hot in the eye."}
u i
The Return of the Prodigal."—Lord Randolph in again
for South Paddington. The First to arrive.
{£3* tfOTlOB,—Bijeotefi Communications m Contributions, whether MB., Printed Matter, Drawings, or Pictures of any description, win
ifi M «ftle h* fettimadj ildt <Mm Whfeh afecbnt^nied by a Stamped and Addressed Envelope, Cover, or Wr*tpp°r. To this role
there will be H6 extension.
OPERATIC NOTES.
Monday.—Lohengrin. House full to hear Brother John and
Madame Melba. "Please, Sir, Mr. Johnnie de Risky ain't here,"
blurts out the pale and trembling call-boy.
Sir Augustus calm, impassible. Crisis. If no one turned up, he
would act the part himself, and, it bein? Wagnerian music, the
orchestra would play what of the part had to be played. At that
moment lounged in Monsieur Van DrcK, just to see how things were
going on without him. " I'm a little hoarse to-ni?ht," quoth Van
Dyck. pleasantly. "Nonsense!" cries Sir Deueiolanus, cheerily,
'• a ' Van' can never be a little hoarse." Much merriment. "Dyck,
my boy," continues Sir D., "you've come in the very nick of time
—quite a Devil's Dyke, you are,"—the accomplished vocalist was
in ecstasies at his Manager's joke.-—"and you shall distinguish
yourself to-night as Lohengrin! " Oh, what a surprise! No sooner
said than done. Armour for one ordered immediately. Isaac of
York Street goes to work, and—presto!—Van Dyck is "ready in
case." "Now," asks Drueiolanus, " what are we waiting for ? "
" Please, Sir, Madame Melba isn't here ! "
"Melba not here to play Elsa!" exclaims Sir Druriolanus,
immediately adding, with that wit which is always, like the British
Tar, ' Ready, aye ready ! '—" then we must get somebody Else Sir ! "
and scarcely had the words escaped his lips, than Madame Nordica,
who happened to be passing by, sang out in an extempore recitative,
" Me voici! " " Bravissima ! " cried Sir Drueiolanus. " Saved !
Saved ! " General dance of joy.
So the Curtain was rung up and the Opera, with Madame Nordica
[vice Melba) as Elsa, and Van Dyck {vice Little Johnnie the
Risky) as Lohengrin, made a big success. House crowded. All's
well that ends as well as this.
Tuesday with Mozart.—What a good starting idea for a Comic
Opera would be the notion of making those two types of knaves,
Leporello and Figaro, meet as counter-plotters. Monsieur Maubel
suggests a step in this direction, when one night he impsrsonates the
gay Spanish Don, and on another he appears as the roguish Italian
barber, no longer an intriguing bachelor but a jealous bridegroom.
Merry Melodious Mozart ! Old-fashioned he may be, like not a few of
the best melodies and the best stories. Elegant Countess is Madame
Emma Eames. Can she possibly ever have been Rosina, Dr. Bar-
tola's tricky ward ! What a change matrimony makes in some folks!
Old Dr. Bartolo bears not much resemblance to the other Dr. Bar-
tolo, and Don Basilio, a kind of Ecclesiastical lawyer, is quite a rol-
licking wag as compared with the Basilio of the Barber of Seville.
Nothing could be better than the Susanna of Mile. Teleki, or
sweeter than the duet, heartily encored,
between her and the Countess. Edouard
be Reszke is a magnificent representa-
tive of the gloomily-jealous Count, who,
Cherubino takes the'Chair'at a small Meeting. A De Risky situation.'
having once been the "gayest of the gay,! still retains"something of
his old sly-boots character in private. He is always going wrong, and
always being in the wrong when found out: a Count quite at a dis-
count, for whom there will perhaps be no rest until he is "'par." with a
family. Needless to say, the part was well acted and sung by Brother
Ned, whom a gentleman near me. who " knew all about it," mistook
for his brother John, and criticised accordingly. As Cherubino, Mile.
Sigrid Arnoldson is a delightfully boyish scapegrace, giving us just
that soupcon of natural awkwardness which a spoilt sunny Southern
lad of sixteen, brought up in such mixed society as is represented by
Count Almaviva's household, would occasionally show when more
than usually " spoony." Mile. Arnoldson sings Mozart pure and
simple, without interpolating cadenzas, roulades, nourishes, or exer-
cises of musical fireworks, and the
audience rewarded her artistically
simple rendering of " Voi che sa-
pete " with an encore, which was as
hearty as it was well - deserved.
Capital House. Parliamentary mu-
sicians conspicuous by their absence.
Ex-M.P.'s represented in a body
by Sir H-nry Edw-rds the ever-
green.
It was reported in the House—
the Opera House—that Sir Drueio-
lanus was standing ; but for what
Constituency, was not mentioned.
The rumour was justified by his
appearing at the Stall entrance,
where he stood for some time, but
as he finely observed, "I am not
in search of a seat—in Parliament. Slr Druriolanus, M.P.(ressario)
No! Let who will make the for Govent Garden,
people's laws, give me the bringing out for them of their Operas and
Pantomimes." So saying, he bowed gracefully to nobody in parti-
cular (who happened to be talking to him), and, with a refreshing
wave of the hand, Sir Drueiolanus was wafted away into the offing,
and "lost to sight." while still "to memory dear."
Trumpet Note in advance. —The Trompeter of Sakkingen is an-
nounced as "in active preparation." Needless to say more, as, of
course, he blows his own trumpet for himself. The question is, will
it be a big trump in the hand of Sir Druriolanus P
Saturday.—Elaine changed her mind, and wouldn't come out
to-night.
New Rendering of " Consule Planco"—"Consult Plan-
chette."—If "Planchette" can give such accurate information as
it appears to have done at Mr. Charles Wyndham's supper-party,
and elsewhere, as recounted in the D<rily Telegraph, why is it not at
once put into e-eneral requisition ? Why is there any Parliamentary
debating? Why not use "Planchette?"
Why run any chance of $J$^\ losing on a race,
but simply "ask Plan- W \ chette?" Only,
by the way, if this were '«# universal, and if
everyone is to win, who is to lose ? Thus Planchette would put an
end to nearly all speculation. Planchette would inaugurate a new
era of complete and unqualified success. No doubt Mr. Chaeles
Wyndham consulted Planchette before producing The Fringe of
Society, and is in consequence being amply rewarded for placing his
trust in Planchette. Eailure would be impossible except to the
obstinate few who should persistently refuse to pin their faith on
the utterances of "Planchette." But, suppose after doing enough
to establish her reputation, " Planchette," being feminine and there-
fore " varium et mutabile semper," should suddenly deceive her
followers, as did Zamiel's seventh charmed bullet (which ought
always to have been kept up Caspar's sleeve—but Caspar was an
idiot), and the Weird but Larky Sisters who captivated Macbeth ?
"Trust her not, she's fooling thee. Beware ! Beware ! " and Plan-
chette, the little plank, will make more of her followers "plank
down " than pick up gold and silver.
" Dearest Chuck ! "—Shakspeare.
" Mr. G." {to the Ardent Female Supporter, henceforth to be his-
torically known as " The Gingerbread-nut- Chucker ") .•—
'Twas all very well to dissemble your love,
But why chuck the nut in my eye ?
[Mr. Gr. is aware that the Divine Williams has spoken of ginger
as 11 hot in the mouth," but Mr. Gr. says "he got it un-
commonly hot in the eye."}
u i
The Return of the Prodigal."—Lord Randolph in again
for South Paddington. The First to arrive.
{£3* tfOTlOB,—Bijeotefi Communications m Contributions, whether MB., Printed Matter, Drawings, or Pictures of any description, win
ifi M «ftle h* fettimadj ildt <Mm Whfeh afecbnt^nied by a Stamped and Addressed Envelope, Cover, or Wr*tpp°r. To this role
there will be H6 extension.