St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-02-25
ssM
The Italian Grand Opera Season
Draws tO Il EeIicitOus End.

The Italian Grand Opera Season
Draws tO Il FeIicitous End.
The audience which gathered at the
Grand last night was lighter, numerically,
than on the preceding night This is per-
haps accounted for by the fact that Gar
men" has more ardent admirers than has
Mariana" which was produced last
night. But be it remarked, although
lighter i'll numbers, it was scarcely
less in enthusiasm. That is, it
was pleased audience, an
apprecative audience, and an au-
dience generous in its bestowal of applause.
Mariana is pretty opera. To say that
it is as grand as Carmen" would be an eX-
travagance which would scarcely be par
doned, but to say that it is in many par
ticulars as pleasing, is certainly a truism
incontrovertible.
Never before has William Vincent Wal
lace's mariana" been presented in Italian
10 Minneapolis audience. The Boston
Ideals. Emma Abbott and other English
opera companies have sung it until all
opera-going people of this city are familiar
with the theme, the libretto and the score.
It's merits and its shortcomings are too well
known to warrant a minute criticism.
The cast which Col. MapleSOn furnished
last night was from a critical standpoint,
superior to that furnished by any previous
company which has produced Mauritania"
here. Especially is this true as a whole.
The Italian translation, although possibly
defective in curt effectiveness of the En-
glish text, NAV be rated as admirably
adapted to the music. SIgnor Tito Mattel
has the credit of being the architect Of the
recitatives, and it rebounds to his
fame. The plot of mariana" has
been placed on the plane with,
Rug Bias" the tragedy drama presented
in the old Academy of Music here some five
years ago by Frank Mayo, lie Educando
iii LowentO" and other works OF the later
Italians being; like them, properly a col
lection of Pezzi da Camera, connected by
an interesting chain of clever conventional
recitatiOnS and occasionally enforced by an
ensemble Or finale of more or broader scope
and consequence. The score contains not
a little of pretty music. but it cannot prop
erly nor conscientiOusly be placed in
this respect on par with many Of the
other popular operas. Its evennesS is one
of its primarily mertorious virtues. Yet it
has several quite pretty airs. AS an en-
tirety, however, as implied above, it lacks
diversity in its harmony. That it will be
successful so long as our people are honest
enough to accord their testimony and I'M
stinted praise, as last night, cannot be gain
sayed.
With ''Moritana" was introduced to Min
neapolis Mile. Alma Fahstrom, a modern
Swedish nightingale. Petite, ar
tistic and polished in every note
every act or gesture. she was the deligh;
of the evening in the title role. Her voice
is flexible and charmingly sweet. Espe-
cially in the upper register is she brilliant.
Perhaps she may be criticised for dispO-
sitiOn to be over jealous in such passages
rs are furnished in ''Scenes that are Bright
est" but it is pardOnable. Her acting was
never overdone. AS an evidence of the
appreciation with which her efforts were
received q most beautiful basket OF
flowers was presented her at
the close of the first act.
Signor de Annals Don Jose" is deserving
of more than passing notice. His strong,
full, clear and wealthy baritone was one of
the pre-eminent pleasures of the opera.
Signor Ravelli, who sustained the role OF
Don Caesar de BOZan. was fully up to the
standard, he set on Carmen" and that is
sufficient praise. He was rendered hand
some recall, and as a second encore sang
LET Me Like Satelier Fall" in English.
1t was then that he reached the popular eli
max, and the applause appropriated an
ovation, clearly demonstrating that the
public taste still inclineS towards English
opera.
The cOntralto of the company, Nine. De
Vigne. sang ''Lazarllo" acceptablv. In.
deed, the cast was above serious reproach.
The orchestration at times was too volumi-
nous to permit the full enjoyment of some
Of the solos. and the leading violin was
open to criticism.