Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-03-18
GRAND OPERA TONIGHT.
Arrival of the mapleson Company
Argument of "Carmen."


NAMED on their special car, which is lux
uriously fitted up and furnished. The
very general apprehension that Ravelli
would not sing the role OF Don Jose led
our reporter to call on Mr.. Mapleson, a
son OF the well-known Colonel, and a
chip of the old block. Mr..
Mapleson said he had not received any
that Ravelli would not sing
tonight, and was polite enough to send
up note to the popular artistic while the
reporter waited. Ravelli sent word
that he was suffering with sore lungs
and u bad cold, but would
appear tonight in Carmen" If he felt
better after dinner. He had sung in
and had no other reason for
not singing than the one above cited.
Mr.. Mapleson explained that DeFalco
had sung Don Jose in Chicago, and had
received some very fattering compli.
ments from leading critics, but he said ii
Ravella is at all able he will appear to-
night.
During the afternoon Manager McKen-
zie sent note to the DEMOCRAT Office,
stating that Colonel Mapleson had
advised him that Ravelli would
positively sing Don Jose. The DEM
ocRAT, however, has some doubts
about it. The troupe, with the excep-
ton noted above, are said to be in ex-
cellent trim, and Madame Hauk herself
will not disappoint the audience.
We reprint the argument Of Carmen"
for the benefit of those who are not very
familiar with the opera.
The scene is in Spain, about the year
1920 Don Jose, brigadier of dragons
10, n
Michaela, a peasant girl, with letter
and purse from his mother in the coun-
try. Michaela appears before the guard
house while Don Jose is absent, and
refuses the proffered courtesy to enter
and await his arrival. She has scarcely
disappeared when Don Jose, at the head
OF his dragons, appears to relieve the
guard. Morales, the retiring brigadier,
tells Jose OF Michaela's visit, and while
waiting anxiously for her return, Jose's
attention is attracted by the presence Of
a crowd OF work girls who are on their
way to the cigar factory across the
street. Carmen, n pretty coquette, who
is very popular, throws Jose her
boquet in flirtatious way, and with it
several coquettish glances which, for a
moment, caused Jose to forget his Mich
aela. The girls have barely entered the
factory when Michaela arrives with the
letter and purse from Jose's mother, and
also brings kiss, which she delivers
with the message. The atfectonate son
| dispatches his devoted Michaela back
with fond kiss for his mother, and
accepted the request conveyed in the
letter to give his heart to none but Mich
aela. A disturbance in the cigar factory
brings most of the girls out into the street,
and the guards are asked to interfere.
Jose and two OF his dragons are sent in
to quell the trouble, and it is ascertained
that Carmen has been fighting with an
other OF the shop-girls over some dispute
They are brought out before the officer
and Jose is appointed to place Carmen
who is adjudged the guilty one, in prison
till she will give satisfactory explana
ton. On the way to the prison Carmen,
who has already discovered her power
over Jose, insists coquettishly that he
should contrive to let her escape. Jose
manages to free Carmen, but is himself
imprisoned two months as punishment
Carmen returns to her former gypsy life
and meets Escamillo the toreador, who
falls desperately in love with her, ant
meets with favor in return. Jose, aitel
his two month Imprisonment is ended
finds Carmen at the tavern Of Lillas Pas
tia, with some of her gypsy friends, where
Escamillo, his rival, has just met ant
partially captivated her. She appeals t.
Jose to desert and take to the hills will
her and the gypsy smugglers. Jost
hesitates as he contemplates the
disgrace to himself and the sorrow to hi
beloved mother. Carmen takes his hest
tation rs evidence that he does not love
her, and she bids him return at once t,
the barracks, and never come to he
again. When Jose is about to leave her
an officer and brigadicr enter, and seem,
Garments intimacy with Jose, the latte
is commanded to 90 about his business
sword to defend himself. The gypsie
come to the rescue and hold the office
till Josie, who now consents to ACCOMPANY
Carmen to the hills, issafely out of reach
Jose is next seen in the gypsies' camp il
smuggers. He cannot throw off his re
morse resulting from his desertion, an,
is bowed down with grief as he thinks O
his sorrowing mother in the distant val
ley. Carmen, noticing his attachment
for his old home, jealousy advises him t.
go, but his infatuation for her keeps hin
chained by her side. The gypsies ar
starting off for fresh plumber, and Jos,
is examining his gun, when, without an,
announcement, Michaela appears on tn,
scene, brought thither by a guide. Sh,
is Just about to approach Jose when Es
camille arrives and inquiries for Carmen
whom he has grown to adore. The jealou
Jose announces his claims on Carmen, an,
warns the toreador not to intrude. Es
camille taunts Jose with the reioinde
that Carmen is tickle, and has ceased {,
love her brigadier OF dragons. The tw,
rivals draw their knives, and as Jose i
IN the act OF stabbing his opponent, Car
men and the gypsies enter and stay hi
arm. While Jose is appealing to Car
men, Michaela enters and tells her faith
less lover that his mother is diving
broken hearted, in the valley below. Sh,
urges him to renounce his lawlessnes
and repair to her bedside before il is to
late: Carmen, whose affections were al
ready placed upon the toreador, /
equally persistent in her entraaties 70
Jose to so. Jose reluctantly depart
with Michaela, but tells Carmen he vii
meet her again.
The next scene is in the arena sauar
in Seville, where the toreador is about L
entertain the people with one of his re-
nowned bull fights. The band announce
the approach OF Escamillo, and he enter
. with Carmen on his arm. The gypsie
warn Carmen that Jose is in the GROVE
and while the toreador is in, the midst
his wonderful feat, which causes tn
arena to ring with praises for his bravadc
Jose approaches her and makes lni
declaration oil his love. Garments after
; ton IS diverted to the loud shouts OF tn
people as Escamillo fells I'll
. maddened bull, and Jose, noticing he