Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1893-12-09

SCENE FROM LIS RoIs."
| Calve, the Frenchwoman who a little more
than year ago, if rumor is to be believed,
was receiving paltry salary of so week
She now gets $50 night, and she is we'll
worth that amount or even more
The people went to see Calve on her first
! appearance purely rs matter of curiosity
| They will now 80 to the opera on the
nights when she is advertised to appear be-
| cause they realize what a consummate art
! list she is-and an artist she is indeed to the
! very tips of her fingers Her voice is a
| beautiful soprano of considerable volume
| and phenomenal range. Like its owner it
| is very dramatic | firmly believe that il
Emma Calve were to give up singing to be-
| come a tragedienne she would make as
much money in her new field rs in the
/ present one, and this is said, too, without
| any disparagement whatever of her vocal
| attachments. As SantuZZa in "Cavalleria
Rusticana' she is simply inimitable
Attempts have been made to present this
opera in New York city, but no one here
ever dreamed Of the possibilities of the CEN
trail role. As ruriddu. Signor NiGuas also
scored great triumph. He is not a Jean
de ResZke, but he is Il particularly fine ten
or nevertheless. He is also an excellent
actor, although inclined at times to be a
trife stacy. His voice is not overpower-
full but il il always sweet and rs true rs Il
die-iu short, lie is II very fine and very
light tenor rohusto
philemon and Baucis' served 10 intro
duce among others Sigrid Arnoldson u
beautiful womau, whose delicate voice is
always delightful to listen to- but never by
accident becomes impressive. The same
opera has been sung in this city by persons
who made nothing like the pretensions that
Mime. Arnoldson does, and it has been
done better, for while her voice is pleasant
aud uuder good control, it does not possess
scintilla of the dramatic quality so es-
sen ial to the woman who aSpires To fame
on the stage rs an exponent of grand opera.
NJ. PiarCon made the comparati vely I'M
important role Of Jupiter in Philemon
and Baucis'' stand out like II gem of tho
first water. He is a magnificent figure
this Plancon-tall and majestic and ALWAYS
at ease Excellent actor as he il. it is in his
voice that lies his greatest charm. He is a
deep, rich, snnorous basso Of tremendous
power and is possessed OF remarkable IA |
cility. In fact he sings with so little effort
that it is difficult for the uninitiated to re-
Hlize fully what a l,reat artist he really is.
He may never succeed in displacing Ed
GUARD de RcSzkc a. New York's favorite
hasso, but he j. certain TO make that gem
tlemsn look to his laurels before the pres
ent season shall have waned.
The star cast" consisting OF the De |
Rcszkes, Emma Eames, Scalchi, La Salls !
and Bauermeistcr, created a great furore on |
the first appearance, but question whether |
the seNtet combined would Draw more mon |
ey now to the Metropolitan Opera House |
than Emma Calve alone. She Is the rage |
and bids fair to so continue, unless per |
chance she shall be displaced after a few |
hearings by Nine. Melba, the famous Aus |
tralian prina donna.
Much speculation has been INDUCED in |
lately as to the future OF Abbey's beautiful |
new theater Mt Broadway and Thirty-ninth |
street. 1t is true that for some time to |
come the bookings are solid, as after Irv. |
ng's engagement, Coquelin and HadinG, |
the leaders of the histrionic art in France, |
will play n long engagement there. So far |
no announcement has been made rs TO what |
will succeed them There are those who |
are inclined TO believe that the rumors con- |
corning Abbey's intention to put stock |
company in his house were true, but can |
find no foundation for this report other than |
the general desire on the part OF New York
ers that competent and liberal minded a
manager as Mr. Abbey should have an or
ganizatioE OF his own in this city.
Speaking of Mr.. Abbey. am reminded
that his firm is backing Sara BernhSrdt in |
naissance theater, Paris, where Jules Lee
maitre's drama les Rois" is PLAYING to
enormous business and has created a sen
sation because the author has fixed the
time of action in 1900 after Great Britain
has been proclaimed a republic. Many
well known European characters, some
dead and some living, serve rs the models
of the personages in the play. In several
cases composite pictures have Deen made !
Lemaitre's play tells an interesting though, |
if the French critics may be relied upon,
not a particularly dramatic or coherent
story.
Bernharit has captivated Parisians by |
the magnidcence Of her stage setting and |
the abolition of the tip abuse, no less ,
than by her generosity and recognition of
the artistic proprieties in playing role |
which is not the principal ore of the play, |
although her Incompatible acting makes it |
appear to be.
1t is quietly whispered about town that |
Bernhardt may occupy Abbey's new thea.
ter here and give this same play. II this
should prove To be- true, a great treat is I'M
doubtedly in store for the lovers of high |
class drama in New York city.
A few years ago, when the custom Of Civ
ing souvenirs on the occasion of centennial
performances Of successful plays was inau-
gurated, persons marveled that the theat-
rical managers could afford to spend So
much money upon something which only
served at most to attract slightly larger
audience for one night. In those days the
souvenirs We're comparatively inexpensive,
but with each year they have become more
elaborate, as theater proprietors came to
recognize the fact that these mementoes are
permanent reminders of play, and often
find resting places upon the center table
or etagere of sitting rooms in different
of hart
by New York relatives To their less fortu-
nate people who are unable, except at long
intervals to attend such entertainments.
Some souvenirs given in the past have
possessed considerable intrinsic value and
have been potent factors in cruwding thea
tiers on the celebratory night. 1t has re
manned, however, for that short statured
fNhnrlnn