St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-01-20
-------------
AND WHY NOT?
Herr Conried Says Opera Can Be
Given as Well West as East.


Herr Heinrich Conried, who gives his
personal supervision to the production
of 1.-The Kings Fool'' at the Hennepin
Avenue theater, arrived last evening
in advance of the company that bears
his name. He is little dark, nervous
man with bushy black hair, and when
interested in conversation drops very
easily into the German idiOm and ac-
cent. Seen at his hotel by reporter,
Herr Conried said:
"Oh. The Kings Fool;' yes, its sue
cess in Chicago was most encouraging.
1t shows that opera can be as well. or
better. produced in the West as
in New York. Everything has
come to us heretofore with the
paint worn off, presented by a
second class company, and with only
the record of 100 nights in New York
or Boston to recommend it. Nor that is
Paul: why are they not as good, though
not as big, as New York? We have bet
ter show-going people in the West, our
theaterS are as good or better, the news
papers fully equal to those of New
York; why should not opera or drama
be as we'll produced here as there? 1t
can be, has been, shall be. AS regards
THE Kings Fool" it is musical
opera. 1t has in it nothing of the froth
and horse-play which together have
together diSgraced the name of light
opera on the American stage for several
seasons past. 1t is romantic III plot
subtle in its comedy, and
the music! All! The music
is devine. Itrequires singers, though.
to interpret the OPERA" said Herr Con-
:<l o,{sa L., rI,4
of his divinitieS, land have got them"
Four prima dOnneS; all young, all beau
tiful, all with magnificent voices. Who?
You wouldn't know them. Outside of
Chicago their professional regulations
in the main are yet to be made. | pick
my material raw, plastic, but the best.
Then | create my characters and mold
my human invcStiture of them to suit
the character. Novel idea? Yes? But
good one, isn't it?
Now for the names. There is Helen
Bertram. an ideal Prince Julius: tall,
Queenly, or rather princely in carriage;
darkly handsome, full of fire. energy
and spirit: of magnificent figure and
with a voice, Oh. like Patti-clear
sweet. true as violin in the hands of
maestro. She has had some excellent
schooling in grand opera-the only one,
ny llle way dclS Tic pau dS SIG
looks and sings it: Then there is
Ada Glasca. a spirituelle, beautiful
blonde, born for the part of Eel
lisa. She is Cincinnati girl of
wealth and position who adopts the
stage from pure love of art. She took
all the gold medals at the Cincinnati
conservatory as a soprano concert
singer and | engaged her for opera. She
made her professional debut in Chicago,
creating. the role of Felisa. and alternat-
ing the part with Miss Elasca is Bettina
Gerard or Bettina Padelford, the daugh-
ter of Gen. Ordway,. of the army, and
for several seasons one of the brightest
particular stars of Washington society.
She married Mr.. Padelford. a rich
society gentleman, and is now with me,
light opera prima donna"
''And MIR. PadelfordT'
'Ah," Betina Gerard only is known to
me. There was some talk of a cham
payne supper at White Sulphur springs.
when the gallants drank wine from the
fair lady's slippers-but my singers
private affairs are none of mine. She is
a beautiful brunette, rather pocket
edition of Langtry in style, chic, and
possesses meZZO-sOpran0 voice, rich
pure and sympathetic.
'Della Fox is the soubrette of the
company. She is usually called pretty
little Della Fox believe, by the crowd
OF high-collared young men in the
foyer. She is petite. pretty. sings like
a bird and dances like faun.
An q ideal GuOnne and one
of the cieverest little girl for she Is yet
in her teens, Oh the stage to-day. Della