The herald., 1897-10-13
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LOS ANGELES.-It is nearly two
years since opera of serious pretentions
was presented in this city, and it is
gratifying TO realize that the enterprise
which has brought here talented and
thoroughly equipped company has every
prospect of not being disappointed. The
audience that witnessed the opening
performance last night was representa-
tive of the best taste and, intelligence
of Los Angeles, and it is no great hazard
to prophecy that the engagement Of
Del Conte's organization will increase in
popularity
1t must be admitted that the manage
ment, whose American experience so
far. it is understood. has been confined
to Mexico, has several wrinkles to learn.
in order to make the performances
thoroughly popular in this country. In
the first place the libretto of operas lit
tie known here should be on sale in the
theater, and also there should be a well
digested synopsis or argument of the
piece on the program. Secondly,
the distracting hubbub that per-
petually arose behind the scenes
must be subdued. and. thirdly, an opera
lasting three hours and forty minutes
is somewhat too great a tax upon an
AUDIENCES patience, especially if some
of them are ON the anxious seat about
the last car. These objections do not
at all affect the excellent work that the
company showed last night, but are
hints that sagacious management will
do we'll not to overlook.
Ponchielli's La Gioconda" was the
bill last night. Despite the fact that K
is but little known in this country. it
has been for nearly twenty years the
most popular opera on the Italian lyric
stage. The strong development of
dramatic effects Is. perhaps, the most
striking characteristic of this work. The
libretto, which is by Arrigo Boito. who
has since become famous as the writer
and composer of "Mefist ofele," deals
with a tragic story of love, lust and
vengeance enacted in Venice in the
seventeenth century. 1t is, of course
easy enough to ridicule the motif and
action of many Italian operas; for IN
stance the state of mind Of the tenor
lover, who calls former flame
furious hyena" and twenty bars later
"angelic Maiden" is almost beyond
the comprehensio of the sane North
it must be recognized, are very volcanic
especially in grand opera.
La Gioconda" was strongly cast, al
though the principals of last nights
performance, it is said. do not represent
one-haM of the company's rich re-
sources. Senorita Nina Mazzi essayed
the title role, and although suffering
from an evident cold, valiantly con-
trived to do justice both to herself and
her part Her voice is of exceptional
power and clarity, although it must be
confessed, somewhat lacking in sympa-
thy Nevertheless, her singing never
lacked dramatic fire and she scored a
signal success, especially in the duo
with Laura in the second act, and in
the distinctly lugubrious finale, when
after several incidents of heroic self
sacrifice and after escaping at least a
couple of violent deaths al the. hands of
others, she plunges the stilletto into her
| own breast.
Adelina Fanton. the mezzo- soprano
as Laura, the inqusitors false and dis
honored wife, who eXemplifies the VIC
tory Of vice by ultimately winning and
walking off with the tenor, beloved of
La Giaconda has a rarely rich voice
Her vocalization is emnently easy. She
discards the use of the eternal tremulo,
too much favored by the rest of the
company, and besides boasts of fine
stage presence. Madame Fanton fairly
divided the honors of the evening with
the tenor. Agostini, who was cast as
EMO the prince of Genoa. Agostini's
voice is of that liquid and expressive
quality that is always enhancing. and
despite the eXacting music it never failed
in fulness or trueness. He at once made
most favorable impression, and in the
romance "Cielo Emar," In the second
act gained the first enthusiastic plaud-
its of the evening.
Senor CeSare Cioni, baritone, as Bar
naba, spy of the inquisition and gem
orally heavy villain, has great deal to
do and does it we'll His voice is quite
powerful enough without straining it
as he is somewhat disposed to do. La
Cieca, Gioconda's devout mother, who Is
unfortunate enough to be accused of
witchcraft and is strangled, in the second
act, was admirably impersonated by
Senorita Beatrix Franco, who is the
capable mistress of a singularly sweet
contralto. Senior Scolari, the principal
inquisitor, acted and sang with discre-
ton and success, and, the other parts
were capably filled.
A very distinct feature OF the perform
ance last night was the excellent work
of both the chorus and the orchestra,
which have evidently been reinforced
in the southern republic. Signor Pietro
Valini is the sllillful leader of the or
chestra. and has trained his forces to
accomplish excellent results. The or
chestra, with Louis E. Saloma as first
violin, is composed Of over a score of
pieces, and did much to contribute to
the success of the production. The COM
pany especially distinguished itself in
the magnificent scena and finale in the
third act, which is the musical climax
of the opera. Grander results Of con-
certed singing and orchestral work
have rarely, if ever, been heard in this
city
Tonight the bill will be Verdi's "Un
Ballo in Maschera" (The Masked BALD
in which the great tenor, Senor Fran
cesco Collenz, as Ricardo. will be heard
for the first time in the United States
The critics of the City of Mexico united
in paying the most handsome tributes
to this young artist Senorita Linda
Montanari will appear as Amelia.
BURBANK THEATER.-The sscoepS
performance of THE District Attorney"
last night showed the effect OF careful