Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-04-03

Ellis grand opera company In The Barber OF
Seville"
Orpheum-Al week. Adgie and her lions and
other vaudeville features.
Grand-An week, THE Gay Matinee Girl"
GiIIiss-FirSt part OF week. Lillian Levis in FOR
Liberty and Love"
The spirit of anticipation and eagerness
pervades to overlooking the musical atmos-
phere Of the city anent the coming Of Mel
ba and the Damrosch-Ellis grand opera
company. for the presentation. at the
Coates. April 9. Of Rossini's fluent master
piece, The Barber OF Seville" with chorus.
orchestra, special scenery and a superb
cast of principals.
Melba il at the very zenith Of her singing
greatness. Her voice is mellowed by chast-
ening art. Her artistic growth in this par
ticular during the past year is said to be
something to marvel at. She will be a rev.
elation to those who have before listened to
her, as well as to those to whom has never
been vouchsafed the delight of hearing the
superb woman who rules in the domain Of
song.
The occasion Of her appearance in this
city supported In one of her eminent tri-
umphs by the specially chosen company Of
principal artists selected by Damrosch and
EllisIwhose administrations Of the affairs
OF the grand opera seasons of the present
year in New York, Boston. Philadelphia
and Chicago ave commanded the highest
encomiums from the patrons OF that most
refined OF all pleasures. grand opera-will
be q most notable affair in the history Of
our musical annals.
Messrs. Damrosch and Ellis have not been
content to present their diva alone or sur
rounded with a support OF Indifferent quail
~. Completeness of representation has
been one of the chief contributors to their
success. Melba will make her appearance
before this public surrounded by a company
of eminent associating singers. a complete
orchestra-the very pick of the members
OF the New York symphony Society. who
have furnished the orchestral accompani-
Inent to the New York, Boston, Philadel-
phia and Chicago seasons of grand opera
In Italian, German and French-a complete
ing accessories used in the presentation Of
the opera at the Metropolitan opera house
go. There viii be no feature overlooked or
sighted. II Melba but partly fulflls the
~anticipations OF the projectors Of this am
f sl.io Miss I=ad9s5ak fiRsr aifl e esperisnc vest s SO. OF
ries Of musical representations which will
offer, in addition to the brilliant services
or the Queen OF Song" an ensemble Of
THE Barber of Seville" is probably one
OF the happiest expositions Of spontaneous
humor and ripping melody that has ever
come from the brain of an Italian COM
poser. 1t is difficult to reconcile ones
thoughts to the fact that the writer Of
William Tell"-wfth its intense dramatic
situations and the sweeping power Of its
ensembles the product Of the same
.enius that inspired the merry and rollick-
ing music which pervades the unfolding Of
Beaumarchais' humorous story.
score Of s'The Barber Of seville Each
cadenza a ripping brook Of melodic hu-
NOR. The Damrosch-Ellis organization is
as happily cast for this delightful exam
pie Of frolic and Of the pure Italian style
OF vocal music as 1t is possible to present
Melba's Rosina has been pronounced by
the most eminent critics in this country
in vocal art and a very revelation as to
ers have not yet had the opportunity to
add their testimony to the completeness
OF Melba's Rosina, for the very good rea-
son that she never essayed the character
in the Continental capitals, and will, for
the first time, give this new evidence of
her greatness in London during the COM
ing season at Covent Garden. which opens
in June. Immediately at the conclusion of
her transcontinental tour.
In Seville lives DR.. Bartolo-brutal, amor
Gus, jealous, "ruse, rase. blase''-who loves
ana wishes to marry his ward. Rosina-
The reckless and romantic Count Alma
Of her is now in Seville. S%erenading her,
he meets Figaro. the barber. Igo-between.
entrance into Bartolo's house in the guise
OF a soldier. with a billet Of quartering.
Rosina has heard the woolng of the couI:.
as barber. wigmaker, surgeon. apothecary,
major-domo, has the run of Bartolo's
house. He has told her of Lindors love,
and In return she gives him a note. which
she has written in secret. The sly old doc
tor has noticed her inky finger. and is sus-
picious: Furthermore. the singing. teacher.
1lnn R0Cfln nnnlnnNl nnl OrnnIt Ill
him that the count comes to carry away
Rosina- She repulses him for his treach-
cry; To her JOY she finds out that Lindor
notary, who has been sent for by Bartolo
TO arrange his own wedding with Rosina.
enters. Figaro and Easilio. who is again
brfbed. are witnesses to the marriage of
Almaviva and Rosina, who Is introduced
TO the notary as Figaro's niece Bartolo
arrives with officers and soldiers. but IL Is
too late. The trickery of Figaro and the
treachery of Basilio have Joined together
the lovers.
ample of Italian comedy. as IL comes from
the performance OF this gifted singer. Cam
panari's vocal art is above criticism. His
action as Figaro may be expected to give
an eloquent account of itself, and advance
Comment therefore is unnecessary. Enough
evidence Of the histrionic ability of Salig
nae has been given in his performances OF
Don Jose and other romantic roles. As AL.
maviva he enters thoroughly into the spirit
of fun which run through The Barber
rHu as U SdTDOHt-Nlln uue IcspcCt " III
associates in the cast-he is the most unc,
tuous Bartoio that has ever been identified
with the part of the blase old rogue. Wv
lam. the recollection of whose Leporello 1:
fresh in the minds of many. will be the Ba'
silio, while Mr. Van Hoose, a young Ameri'
can tenor Of exceptional promise, and Nine
Van Cauteren, n standard Interpreter OF
grand operate roles, will complete the cast
Thu renowned maestro, Oreste Bimboni
who has conducted exclusively the perform
Rnces In French and Italian given by thu
Damrosch-Ellis organization will direct the
opera.
Mr.. Charles A.. Ellis, who has personally
directed the affairs of Mime. Melba for the
past four years. will accompany the singer
over the entire tour. giving TO the organi.
cation the benefit of his personal super.
vision, which has. in so eminent a degree
enhanced the value of the operate repre-.
sentations given under his management,
and which has been responsible in an eouaI
measure for the success of the Boston
Symphony orchestra. The full cast OF the
opera is as follows:
Bertha Van Caterer
Figaro Campanar
Bartolo Carbon.
fIorello Van JJo,a,
The sale of seats will open Wednesday
morning. April 6. and the prices will rang.
from s. to 81. The gallery will he reserved
and seats there will be sold at 81 and 50.
To keep up the high standard OF attrac
tions already established by the orpheun
management would prove a Herculean. Il