Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-03-19
MAPLESON'S GRAND OPERA.
"Carmcn'' with Minnie Hauk, NJ me.
DOtti, Del Puentc and an
Amatcur Tenor.

Carmen, notwithstanding the stormy
weather, drew out large and fashion
able audience last night. Salt Lake has
not yet adopted the formalities OF what
is in the East regarded as conven
tionally fashionable opera audience, but
whatever there is recherche in Salt Lake
society, save the dress alone, was visible
last night in the well-flled auditorium OF
the Theatre.
We have had so many operas here
which are infinitely superior to Gar
men" that 1t would have required the
most superb Interpretation to satisfy last
nights audience; and this was denied
them, first in the absence OF Ravelli,
and not less important, certainly,
in the lamentable failure of Madame
Hank to rise to the highest possibilities
of her role. Carmen, as a part, while it
does not afford the amplest opportunities
for the rich voice OF Hauk, still furnishes
some eXquisitely fine music, and much
of this was only essayed, particularly in
the first and second acts. OF course it is
in the vivacious coquetry and the charm
ing abandon OF Carmen that Madame
Hauk seeks to achieve her great success,
and certainly in this respect she left
nothing to be added to her charming i'm
personation; but from her initial bars in
the Irritation scene with the guards she
manifested, perhaps unintentionally, an
evident disposition to hold her voice i'm
reserve, and as result she failed to cap
tivate her audience or even to create any
particularly favorable impression, for the
character itself wins no sympathy or pop
ularity from sentiment alone.
With Madamoselle Dotti the very re-
verse was the case. Michela is at once
the idolized feature OF the plot, and this,
with Dotti's already established popular
ity here, her undiminished grace and
charms, her fascinating voice, every
facility OF which was brought into full
play from the start, perfectly won over
the audience.
Signor Del Puente, US the Toreador, is
always the centre OF attraction in "Car-
men," even when Ravelli sings, and last
night he was doubly SO. His magnificent
baritone voice, as well as his fine appear
ance and excellent acting, impressed the
audience with an appreciation OF great
ness, which was admirably sustained
throughout.
As we anticipated, Ravelli left his Don
Jose for De Falco to mutilate, and this
was ably accomplished by the cracked
voiced amateur. Madame Hauk is said
to have, on a number OF occasions, ex-
pressed desire to have De Falco sing
Don Jose in preference to Ravelli, and
the principal reason assigned for this
extraordinary discrimination is that his
acting is so superior. Ravelli is him.
! INT
as an actor, but this defect is almost
obscured by his admirable tenor
voice, which is generally regarded
as more pleasing than that OF any other
tenor at present on the stage De Falco
IS not only lacking in voice in lamenta-
BILE degree, but his amateurish acting is
desperately inferior to Ravelli's, and this
is damaging enough reflection, for
Ravelli is no actor ut all. In his duet
with Michaela in the first act he went
horribly out of tune and failed to reveal
even mediocre talents rs singer.
The less important parts were in good
hands, without an exception, especially
III Doncairo and Mercedes; and the
chorus itself was efficient and well
trained, although when unassisted by
principals it showed very sad weakness
in its sopranos.
Madame Cavalazzi excited more than
her share OF the applause in her finished
dancing, and was supported by an ex-
cellent corps de ballet.
1t cannot be truthfully said that the
opera was Il success in any but finan-
cial respect IIauk has been seen To- far
greater advantage in her part, and really
received no applause Whatever for her ef-
iorts last night. But for the able support
OF the orchestra, under the renowned Ar
dlttl, the performance would have been
positively flat, and this is making a char
table allowance, too, Tor the extrayagant
expectations OF the audience. Carmen"
has some interesting features which are
obscurcd in the Italian dialogue, but taken
altogether is not entitled to be ranked
with "Rigoletto," al Trovatore, "Lu-
cia, or several others which have been
given here
1t is understood that the company NAV
possibly hold the boards for several
nights on their return trip, and il so il
Will be necessary for Colonel Mapleson
10 place greater attraction than Gar
men before the people in order to fiji
tle house again ut 81 a seat.