The
contrast between the handsome white-and-gold theatre and the rows
of portly, dowdy matrons, each one with her ample bosom swathed in
a piece of antimacassar, was very comical. Every abonne had his
own peg for hanging his coat and hat on, and this, and the fact
that one's neighbours in the stalls were invariably the same, gave
quite a family atmosphere to the Brunswick theatre.
The conductor was Franz Abt the composer, and the musical standard
of the operatic performances was very high indeed. The mounting
was always excellent, but going to the theatre night after night,
some of the scenery became very familiar. There was a certain
Gothic hall which seemed to share the mobile facilities of
Aladdin's palace. This hall was ubiquitous, whether the action of
the piece lay in Germany, Italy, France, or England, Mary Queen of
Scots sobbed in this hall; Wallenstein in Schiller's tragedy
ranted in it; Rigoletto reproved his flighty daughter in it. It
seemed curious that personages so widely different should all have
selected the same firm of upholsterers to fit up their sanctums.
Pages:
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235