The San Francisco call., 1897-08-29
TTe HeAsT OF nARYIA06I
- AT THE BALDWIN : :

Better late than never. 1t has taken
Ponchielli's LA Gioconda' twenty one
years to travel to San Francisco from
La Scala, Milan, where it was first pro-
duced in the carnival season of 1875,
but the San Francisco public will not
bear the big work any i'll will on ac-
count OF the time it has tarried on
the way. Courage is needed to mount
anything so unwieldy as LA Gioconda. p"
The work is Ponchielli's best and he is
considered great master south OF the
Alps. In this country PonchieIli is only
known in a secondhand sort of a way
and one that has put neither money into
the pockets OF his heirs nor laurels on his
crumbling brow.
The way is this. Fifteen years ago or
so Ponchielli was professor of compositi on
in the Milan Conservatory and among his
pupils were most of the youths who are
known to-day as the composers of
young" Italy-Mascagni and Leonca-
vallo among the rest. The young men
cherished profound admiration for their
m aster and they have shown Il since by
taking whole chunks out of his operas
and incorporating them into their own
works. Perhaps imitation is the sIucerest
Iorm OF fattery, but Ponchielll's pupils
have done more than imitate-they have
reproduced almost photographically. II
the old master could rise from his grave
he might. for instance, be surprised to
find the "Intermezzo" from La Caval-
lerIa Rusticana" credited TO Mascagni,
when it is to be found, almost note for
note, in one OF his own scores.
The action of La Gioconda" is sup
posed to pass in Venice during the sway
OF the terrible Council of Ten, when i'm
pTisonment, torture and death were
meted out to those who offended the
absolute rulers. The opening scene takes
place in the Square OF st. Marx, where
gay crowd is keeping carnival. La Clio
Conda, strolling mountebank and singer,
enters, leading her mother, who is popu-
larly known as the blind woman (La
Cieca). Barnaba, a base spy of the Coun-
Gil of Ten-needless to say a part played
by the barry ytone-thrusts MS attentions on
La Giocorda, and when she repulses him,
causes one of his creatures to denounce
her mother as a witch. In the midst OF
the excitement caused by La Cieca's ar
rest, the beautiful Laura comes down the
Steps VI inc AHOaA PaAoSO hAAA AICl II Us
band, Alviso, one of the Council of Ten.
Laura intercedes for The pretended witch,
who is at once pardoned. La Cieca shows
her gratitude by giving her deliverer a
rosary, over which she sings grand aria,
saying, "Ti portera fortuna" Ut will
bring you good fortune).
The rosary plays an important part in
the plot, since it is the motive of the
mountepank's gratitude to Laura. La
GIoconda loves EMO, Genoese sailor
nobleman, and Laura loves him too.
Enzo's fancy turns to Laura, who was his
betrothed before her friends compelled
her to marry one of the Council of Ten.
EMO and Laura are on The eve of eloPing
OH Enzo's vessel. which lies in the Fusina
Lagoon. Barnaba, the spy, discovers
their plans and sends for three war gal
leys 10 intercept them. La Gloconda ap-
pears, vowing vengeance against herrIVal,
but hen Laura shows her the rosary she
promises TO befriend the woman who
saved her mother from dungeon. This
she does by changing masks with Laura
and sending the high-born lady away in
safety before her hus bands spies can ar
rest her. EMO, disgusted at seeing the
Venetian galleys bear down on his ship,
sets fire to it and sings the tenor's grand
aria while the flames advance.
Alviso's suspicious have been aroused
and he commands his wife to take poison
during the progress of a grand fete at his
palace. La Gtoconda arrives in time 10
give Laura a sleeping potion that pro-
duces an appearance OF death. and al.
viso imagines he is widower, whereas
in reality the mountebank takes care
of Laura till she awakes at her
own dwelling. The sailor-lover, not
knowing of the sleeping potion, accuses
Alyiso of murder and is at once arrested
and thrown into dungeon. The faithful
Gioconda secures his release by promising
TO accept the love of Barnaba, the spy, and
sends EMO and Laura on their way to
Genoa rejoicing When Barnaba comes to
claim La G.oconda she stabs herself to
the heart, exclaimiDg: 81 have sworn to
be thine. Take me, I am thine"
Most of the music of 'La Gioconda" is
little known IN this country. The rosary |