The Redpath Grand Opera Company

              1913
205
The Redpath
Grand Opera Company

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A LOVERS' QVARREL
as presented by
THE REDPATH GRAND OPERA COMPANY

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Synopsis of A Lovers' Quarrel
Florindo and Rosaura, son and daughter, respectively, of Don Fulgenzio and his sister Donna Angelica, are betrothed in childhood by their parents, according to an eighteenth century custom.  The arrangement is not happy, for now that they are grown, they do nothing but disagree.  They decide to part; but when their decision is announced such a storm ensues, that, fearing serious consequences, they conclude to feign being lovers.

Florindo now finds himself in love with Rosaura, and the latter, though pretending the utmost indifference, is also touched.  Florindo, exasperated by her coldness, plans at the same time to revenge himself and force a confession of her love.  Such is the situation when the curtain rises.  He is succeeding admirably by feigning a bored air and a wish to end the matter and has aroused her anxiety and anger, when the old people are heard approaching and they must play they are lovers.  The old people are deceived, but Rosaura, who sees nothing but the indifference of Florindo, plans to disillusion them and confesses the deception and the two leave the room.

The parents, left alone, plan a reconciliation.  Donna Angelica draws a confession of love from her son, which is overheard by Rosaura, concealed.  The latter decides to tease Florindo, so when he comes, by the advice of his mother, to tell his love, she informs him, that she really had been joking and had been laughing at his discomfiture, and is just now awaiting her true lover.  This is too much for Florindo and he leaves in anger, only to return and fall at her feet.

Rosaura now turns to him, radiant with happiness.  The parents find them thus, and all are happy.



Comment of The Music News, Chicago
Concerning the Recent Appearance of this Quartet at Gary, Ind., the Music News of Aug. 1, 1913, Says:

On the whole, a quartet of finer parts than Mabel Sherwood Cox, soprano; Esther Muenstermann, contralto; David Dunbar, tenor, and Hugh Anderson, basso, are not presented by the Redpath Lyceum Bureau at any time.  Isaac Van Grove at the piano formed an addition absolutely invaluable to the success of the company.

While allowances may easily be made a company of singers playing its one hundred and twelfth consecutive performance, little need to do so is required in this instance.  However, Miss Cox, whose voice is of a most excellent quality and a range not ordinary, appeared to show traces of the strain of too numerous performances.  This particularly affected her intonation.  Miss Muenstermann, a contralto whose voice is most rare in its decidedly rich quality, and whose musicianship is quite in keeping, was given an ovation at each of her two appearances—in afternoon and evening.  Of David Dunbar the Gary Evening Post says: David Dunbar might be written in red headlines, but only on account of the inconvenience of the thing it isn't.  As a tenor he is superb, both as regards voice and the elegance and completeness of his art.  Nothing more satisfying than his interpretation of the lover, Florindo, is easily imagined.  His voice has power and pliability and the manner in which he uses it bespeaks a musical intelligence far from usual.  Mr. Dunbar is a superior artist.

Mr. Anderson, whose superb voice and excellent operatic style are known throughout the country particularly distinguished himself at this time and drew enthusiastic response from his audience.

Isaac Van Grove was given the highly difficult part of substituting for a life-sized orchestra, and did it with colors flying.  A technical equipment far and away beyond the ordinary, and the natural gift of accompanying approaching the ideal, were brought into use effectively by Mr. Van Grove.  With good solo work throughout and a fine ensemble, the entire production was one highly creditable.

The second part of the evening's program consisted of a number of solos and two quartet numbers.  Featuring here was the Sextet from Lucia, arranged for quartet and given with fine effect, the excellence of the ensemble being particularly commendable.  The Barcarolle from Contes d'Hofmann (Offenbach) was also given a clever reading.



Comments of The Daily Press
The Decatur, Ala., Advertiser says; The Redpath Grand Opera Company gave several numbers.  The harmony of the voices was perfect, every note ringing true.

The Birmingham, Ala., Age-Herald says: Each of the four have excellent voices, well trained and they rendered music that has not been excelled in Birmingham in a long time.

The Washington, Ind., Herald: Two elements combined in making the Redpath Grand Opera Company's presentation of A Lovers' Quarrel a brilliant success.  One was the true musicianship of the persons comprising the organization and the other the bond of sympathetic appreciation which existed between the musicians and their auditors.

The Augusta, Ga., Herald said: Each member of the quartet possesses a finished voice; any one of them could select the opera stage as his or her field of endeavor and 'make good.'  The perfect balance of the voices adds much to the pleasure of the music.

The Connersville, Ind., News: The Redpath Grand Opera Company Saturday afternoon and evening proved a delight.  Its members are artists of gifts.  No high and mighty affectations of genius—no fierce rolling of eyes nor alarming contortions of the frame attended their singing, neither did they forget while singing, to pronounce the words so the audience could understand.  Their opera rendition Saturday night was light, vivacious and full of charm, and their musical recital afterward was altogether good.




THE
Redpath Grand Opera Quartet
In the Presentation of
Parelli's Brilliant One Act Opera
A LOVERS' QUARREL
AND OTHER OPERAS

PERSONNEL
OF THE
REDPATH GRAND OPERA QUARTET


MABEL SHERWOOD COX
As Rosaura


DAVID DUNBAR
As Florindo


ESTHER MUENSTERMANN
As Donna Angelica


HUGH ANDERSON
As Don Fulgenzio


ISAAC VAN GROVE,
Piano Accompanist





The Redpath Grand Opera Quartet filled more than one hundred dates for the Redpath in 1913 and everywhere made a great hit.

David Dunbar received his musical training in Italy and Paris.  He made his first appearance in this country at the St. Louis exposition.  He has sung with the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra.

Hugh Anderson sings in Italian, French and German as well as English and has appeared in song recital, concert, oratorio and grand opera.

Of Miss Mabel Sherwood Cox, the Detroit Free Press says she made a charming Micaela in the rendition of Carmen, and the Chicago Musical Secretary says: Miss Cox has wonderful volume and range to her voice.

Concerning Miss Esther Muenstermann the Music News says: She has amply demonstrated on the various occasions on which she has been heard that here is a voice of rare charm and that the personality back of it is a charming one also.

Isaac Van Grove is a gifted young Polish pianist.

The accompanying photographs show this company in the presentation of A Lovers' Quarrel, Parelli's beautiful opera, which, aside from the Redpath Grand Opera Company, has been played exclusively thus far in this country by the Chicago-Philadelphia Grand Opera Company.