The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-02-01
A MUSICAL TREAT.
A Magnificent Audience Greets the De
Contc Opera Company.

A magnificent audience filled Ma
CURES opera house last night and en-
joyed the grandest musical treat ever
presented in this city. 1t was the pro
duction of Puccinis La Boheme' by
the Del Conte Grand Itaian Opera COM
pany, an organization of the greatest
musical talent that ever made tour OF
this country. The audience was most
appreciative and ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
commonly SO, even for Butte audience.
La Boheme' Is one of the sweetest anu
most charming contributions to the ope-
ratio stage in many years. 1t is not a
heavy work. its action being swift. vi
Nacious and sustained. The melodies
are simple and catchy and the story is
full of tender sentiment and fascination.
The opera is written from Henry Mum
gers Bohemian Life.
The story is that of the love of Ru-
dolfo young poet, full of ideals in life.
for Mimi, a beautiful flower girl.
Rudolfo. like most poets. is poor;
Mimi has fallen in love with him.
and their life is full of sunshine. But
Rudolfos jealousy is the cause OF fire.
quent quarrels which come to mar their
happiness. Mimi complains OF Rudoltos
unfounded jealousy to their friend Mar
cello. and he advises Mimi to leave Ru-
dolfo. She imaglnes that il might be
for the better. Mimi bids Rudolfo fare
well. Alcidero, an old, wealthy noble
man tempts Mimi and his gold works
like a magnet, drawing her toward him.
but as her beauty soon fades away the
nobleman tires of her. Forsaken by AL
/ cidero she retraces her steps to Ru-
dolfo's home TO reconcile him. His heart
burns again in love for his hayward
flower girl. but Mimi is only a shadow
! of what she was. Is in the last stages of
consumption and dies few minutes
after her arrival in the garnet which
Rudolfo calls home.
The other characters are typical Bo-
I hemians and original. Marcello. a
| painter: coeine. a philosopher, and
! Schaunard. musician. are the INSOFAR
/ able friends of Rudolfo. They are all
\ self-saerilieing for the common welfare.
! The sorrows of one are felt by all and
the joys of another are shared among
them.
The scenes shift from attic to boule-
ward. The happy go-lucky jollity pro-
/ duced by little money following the
| initial scene where Rudolfos rejected
! manuscript warns the chilled fingers of
+ his companions, ushers in the play.
All go to the banquet bur Rudoifo. who
/ remains ia his attic 10 finish his arti-
Gle. He Is prevented by ;he tImid
knock OF Mimi. who asks for a light.
Here begins the love of Mimi and Ru-
daifo He grows To have a fierce. eN-
acting affection for the fraii creature.
Puccini has delineated in this love ana
this scene With great hnesse and much
sentiment
The second scene opens Ia the Latin
quarter on Christmas eve at which the
coquette Musette is introduced and
sings waltz song, which. aside from
the opera. is itself 4 graceful little gem
In tho third act wonders of The orcheS-
trial music delight the ear as ii illus
trates the feelings and sentiment of the
characters on the stage. The musical
gems of this act are manv. The duo
between Mimi and Mareello. and later
between Mimi and Eudolfo are superb
/ The last act Is Of two opposite parts
opening with gayety and followed with
the sad scene ~ the death Of ami. IN,
contra 81 being we'll worked un. The
. work el the principals throughout il