The morning call., 1895-01-16
VERDI'S IA TRAVIATA'
Crowds the Baldwin in the Face of a
Severe Storm.
Interesting Facts About This Opera.
Condemned at First, but Now a
Wide FaVOrite.

Despite the weather, for it was very in
clement, the Baldwin auditorium was full
of admirers of opera last evening to hear
Verdi's charming LA Traviata," sad in its
story but charming in its musical setting.
ola Traviata" (the lost one) has history.
1t was brought out in Venice in 1858 and
condemned generally in Italy, but was re-
vived in November, 1855, at Turin, and
during the carnival of 1856 at Vienna by
Marietta Piccolomini. On May "a of the
same year she sang it before an English au-
dience at Her Majesty's, London. In De-
cember following the prima donna sang
Violetta for the first time in Paris. Verdi,
the composer, did not like his opera to be
represented at the Italiens in the French
metropolis, because he was not paid for
such a privilege and tried his best to pre-
vent the performance. He demanded, it
is said, 10000 francs from the director of
the theater, NJ. Calzado, for permission to
perform "La Traviata" and "Rigoletto"
considered by Verdi his chef d'euvre),
but the director refused. When NJ. Cal
zado announced LA Traviata" in Paris.
NJ. Boyer, director of the Vaudeville The
alter, applied to the president of the Civil
Tribunal for an injunction on the impre-
sario of the Italiens not to perform ola
Traviata" on the ground that the Hbretto
was taken from the "Dame aux Camelias"
by Alexandra Dumas, fills, the property of
the Vaudeville Theater. But, on hearing
NJ. Calzado, the president declined to in
terfere in the matter. PiccOlomini per-
formed ''La Traviata" in Paris nineteen
times in the course of three months.
The distribution by the Tayary company
last evening was as follows:
Flora Bervoi1 friend of Violetta. Sofia Romani
Annina. conidante of Violetta Dora Escott
Alfred Germont, lover OF Vtoletta Payne Clark
Giorgio 6 ermont, his father. ..... William Mertens
Gastone, Viscount de Letories.... Harry Ready
Baron Doupho, rival of Alfred. William Schuster
Marquis dOblgny...: .........-..-...S. ID. dudley
Dr. GrenvIl a physician. .............J Joseph Witt
Joseph. servant OF Violetta.. Kari Clause
Servant OF Flora. ANNA Frazer
Commissioner ...,....,.....,.,.....J JACK CheVfot
The two conspicuous numbers in this
opera-those respectively relied upon by
the tenor and the barytone for reputation
are the "Libiamo," the brindisi in the
first act,Which Alfredo sings at the supper
table, and, in the second, the 'Di Provfnza
il Mar from Provence, sea and land),
sung by the elder Germont, pleading with
his son to forsake his association with
Violetta, and return to home and family.
Mertens received a well-deserved encore
for his rendering of this number.
The duet, 'Say to this child of
thine" by Nine. Tavary and himself,
was also sung with great taste and
much feeling. The great aria for Violetta
is "Ah Fors lui' toward the close of the
first act, and in its execution Nine. Tavary
made a decided impression, following it
with the brilliant allegro, LET me bask in
every pleasure" The music of this opera
is, in fact, full of sharp contrasts, like the
phases of life 1t is written to depict.
Payne Clark, the tenor, was in capital
voice. Being an Engishman, we suppose
the humidity of the atmosphere affects his
vocal organs favorably; he is used to this
sort of weather in his own country. Be
sides the "Libiamo" brindisi he sang the
tSoftly and sweet" air, and the "Come,
then, from Paris" duet with Nine Tavary
in a manner that aroused the most salts
factory recognition on the part of the audi
ence.
The scena of matadores and gipsies in
the salon act was exceedingly picturesque
and the chorus, unapproachably sung-as in
all the ensemble music by this organiza-
tion-received two curtain calls. For their
leading numbers the principals were also
recalled, time and again.
Tonight, Georges Bizet's opera of Span
ish life, Carmen" will be in order with
Mile. Thea Dorre in the title role-gipsy
cigarito girl, smugglers' agent, and general
worker Of mischief.