Los Angeles herald., 1891-11-20

him. The injured husband refuses, and
Turiddu spills the wine in rage. Alto
challenges him to fight, and they agree
to meet in the garden. Turiddu calls his
mother, inpokes her blessing, and asks
her in case he is killed to love and pro-
tect his deserted sweetheart. The finale
is the announcement that Turiddu has
been killed, q blighting effect upon San
tuzza, and scene of confusion, upon
which the curtain descends.
Cavalleria Rusticana is warm, Ancere
and intensely dramatic. The music con-
tains no arias, and depends entirely
upon recitative. The center of gravity
OF the opera rests with the orchestra,
and consequently the audience did not
and could not expect to hear rendi-
ton approaching one possible in
national musical center. The score is
very difficult to comprehend, on account
OF its strictly original conceptions. The
orchestration is Italian, some of its
features being the oboe parts, resem-
bling Italian bagpipes, and the use of
the harp. The latter was conspicuous
by its absence last night, but that was
unavoidable, owing to an accident. The
harmony is odd, and makes use of dis
sonances which even Wagner would
have feared to employ. The music
grows upon one, but it must be heard
repeatedly and studied in order to be
fully enjoyed.
Considering the great difficulties which
are apparent from the description given,
the performance last evening was very
acceptable, as a whole. The choruses
sang their most important and difficult
parts with great correctness, bat con-
sisting of comparatively few voices,
have got into horrible habit OF
screaming, which is the more noticeable
when the music is held as high as it is
generally in this opera.
Nine. Garso-Dely's dramatic talent
was again displayed in the part of
Sautuzza. She sang with considerable
force, but the part is entirely too high
for contralto; and her usually sweet
voice occasionlly grew to too harsh.
Nine. Essler, as Lola, made her
first appearance here, yet was greeted
with some applause when she entered
after her solo behind the scenes. She has
well-rounded, sweet and sympathetic
voice of considerable strength, which
showed splendid culture. Tonight as
Marguerite in Faust she will have bet
ter opportunity to show her powers.
Miss Grace Vernon sang the migrate
full part of Mother Lucia. Old Lucia
seems to have nothing to do generally
but to stand about and have others sing
at her in various keys. What
Miss Vernon did sing, she rendered
in a sweet little alto voice, which
was very satisfactory. Her acting
showed great equanimity of mind.
Mr.. Foran's quality OF voice showed
to great advantage in the serenade to
Lola, sung behind the curtain in the
prelude. If his ideas of motion on the
stage were to correspond with the grace
ful use he sometimes makes of his vocal
organ, he would be great success in
such parts as Turiddu. Sig. Rubo was
acceptable enough in the minor part of
Alto. Tonight the opera company will
appear in Gounod's Faust.
On Thursday, November 2Sth, Thanks
giving night, the following Friday and
Saturday matinee, Mr.. Mckee Rankin
will appear at the Los Angeles theater
in The Canuck, assisted by his talented
daughter, Miss Phyllis Rankin. On Sat-
urday and Sunday nights he will pre-
sent The Runaway Wife.
x*x
George Kennan gives but one lecture
ip Southern California, and the Grand
opera house will be crowded by people
already keenly interested in him-and in
Russia, through his widely known maga-
zine article. Those wishing to hear the |
lecture should not defer the purchase of |
tickets, as the committee in charge hope
to have all the seats in the entire house
sold before the 9th. when the sale OF I
20