The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-06
SANG OPERA IN ITALIAN,
al TroVatore" Produced at
StoCkWell's Theater by
Amateurs.
A Tenor From the Cooper Medical
Institute-The Colony
Present.

The Italian Philharmonic Society added
another laurel to its wreath last night by
its performance of "Il Trovatore" at Stock
wells Theater. All the performers were
amateurs, and it is impossible to help ad-
miring the energy of the musical director,
Professor A. Spadina, as we'll as that of the
stage manager, d. Valerga, when one con-
siders the immense difficulty of drilling
unsteady and histrionically a body of
people who are occupied all day in other
avocations.
Manrico was played by B. Laid, new recruit
in the society. He is young medical student
at the Cooper College and is said to be ignorant
alike of music and Italian, but nature has
blessed him with fine tenor voice, an ear ap-
parently for languages, as well as for music.
There were warm arguments In the foyer oyer
the new young tenor, many people contending
that he was native of Italy. Mr.. Laid showed
a complete absence OF training in his singing |;
in fact he sang "per aria" but his fresh, un-
spoiled voice was very pleasant to listen to. 1t
is to be hoped in the interest of that rara avis,
a good tenor singer, that the debutant will
study seriously and not use his voice much in
opera till he has done so.
The mart of the Count di Luna did not suit
c. Zapelli SO well as the role he recently took
in LA Borgia," and he gave rendering of the
wicked Count last night which was as com m
But Zapelli is always satisfactory barytone,
and his performance was one OF the best in the
opera c. Vetalini was also good as Fernando.
Vocally speaking, the ladies were not so we'll
equipped by nature as the men of the company.
Miss Marguerite Coleman acted con ANNA and
her singing was frequently applauded and her
voice as an organ is getting little worn
through being used continually in opera be-
fore ii has been thoroughly placed.
Her Leonora however, was on the whole
sympathetic creation.
Mrs Cuneo Mclean, who played the part of
Azucena is a triumph of artistic instinct over
lack of voice. In 'Stride Ia Vampa " and the
scene which follows it, as well as in the Prison
scene she showed an utter absence of the DOW
erfuI middle and low notes which of right be-
long TO Azucena, but Mrs. Mclean acted the
dram tic part with such intensity that she won
the warmest applause. Both the soprano and
the mezzo-soprano, however, should look a
little more to their phrasing and guard against
a tendency TO breathe in the middle of a word
The chorus was large one and produced a
fuii-round BODY of sound. The "Anyii chorus''
was particularly effective, the men shifting
their anvis as ii they were not afraid of hurt
ing them, and lifting up their arms to match
The all-round acting was good and the opera
was well costumed.
Among those present in the large audience
were:
Messrs. Brizzolara and party, G. Calegaris,
Brunf GrimaIdi, Italian Consul General, Mr.,
and Mrs. Almagia. Garboro ana party, Cuneo
and party. Moro of La Voce, Patrizi of LItalia,
Muzto and party, Devote and party, Professor
Mancusi. Mr. and Mrs. Spinetti, Miss Ida
Valerga. DR.. De vecchi, Dr. Rossini, DR.. Ollino.
DR.. Barsotti, DR.. Vaccari.