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[Correspondence of the “Pennsylvania Telegraph.”]
Philadelphia City.
AMERICAN HOTEL, June 24, 1845.
T. FENN, ESQ. — Agreeably to your invitation, I shall lay before the readers of the “Telegraph,” in weekly epistles, whatever matters of general interest transpires, from time to time, in this far-famed “city of Brotherly Love.” In complying with your request, I find the most difficult part of my task to be the commencement. The usual manner of commencing epistoley articles is to say that “nothing is new;” but, this is already worn thread-bare, and would not answer my case at all. To be sure, there is “nothing new” here — but then it is “nothing new” for me to say so, and my saying so will among to nothing.
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The opera of “Leonora” has been “all the go” for two weeks past. The whole troupe, after having brought it out at the Theatre, in its original operatic character, have removed to the Assembly Buildings, where the opera is produced in the form of a concert. This is done with the view of accommodating those persons who do not visit the Theatre. I see by the papers that Mr. Poe has taken a critical notice of this production, and that he bears very hard upon it. He is called the butcher-critic, from the severity of his reviews. But although severe, he is, indeed, always just and independent — and a writer of extraordinary power and bearing. Public opinion cannot restrain his peace in speaking his peace in speaking his honest conviction. An individual combining the genres and power — natural and acquired — of Mr. Poe, should be regarded as the brightest ornament to our national literature. “Willing to praise: but not afraid to blame,” seems to be a rule of the Poes. Few critics, besides he, know how to praise; still fewer can blame. When he praises, it is praise, indeed — but when he censures, it amounts to death.
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Your readers, I trust, will bear with me a short time, until I get a proper understanding of affairs in this city. At the present writing, I am not yet fairly quartered, and have had little time to gather material to employ my pen.
”TIMON.”
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Notes:
The identity of “Timon,” obviously a pseudonym, is not known. The letter is addressed to the editor of the Pennsylvania Telegraph. “Leonora” was a grand opera in three acts by William Henry Fry (1813-1864). It premiered on June 10, 1845, at the Chestnut Street Theater in Philadelphia, with Ann Childe Seguin (1811-1888) in the title role. It was the first opera written by an American born composer. He wrote at least four operas, an oratorio, string quartets, choral music, and seven symphonies. Although his Santa Claus symphony is sometimes played as a novelty, and his Niagra Symphony has been recorded, none of his works have entered the standard repertoire, and it has been noted that much of his musical output remained unpublished and was lost after his death. A native of Philadelphia, he travelled widely, lecturing on music, and moved to New York in 1852, where he became the music critic for the New York Tribune.
A long and detailed review of the opera was published in the Broadway Journal for June 14, 1845, unsigned but most likely written by Henry C. Watson, the music editor of the magazine. It was largely unfavorable, nothing “the music is too high both for the soprano and tenor . . . Both Mrs. Sequin and Mr. Frazer are taxed beyond their power and compass, and the effect throughout is strained and painful.” Although admitting that “the getting up, scenery, dresses, &c., &c., was highly creditable to the liberality of the managers,” he criticized that “the performance of the orchestra was bad beyond belief; it would have been bad even for sight playing, but for a performance after having rehearsed the music, we cannot condemn it too severely.” A second, long review appeared in the next issue of June 21, 1845, also clearly by Watson. It quotes a portion of an article from the New York Express, which took exception to the tone of the review in the Broadway Journal.
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[S:0 - PT, 1845] - Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore - Bookshelf - Comment on review of Leonora (Timon, 1845)