The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-07
She Will Sing in the Opera Of
La Traviata."
SOCIAL AND DRAMATIC EVENT,
Fashionable Authorities Have Taken
One Another in Paying Alaewiancc
to the Great Sinxer-Saae Of Seats
I.arRe-Mme. MeIba Arrives I'm
the City I'm Her Special Car.

Seattle has often been fortunate IN dra-
matte and operatic events in that while
far removed from the beaten track of
travel for the great troupes and tar act
ors OF the world. the city has been found
attractive enough TO AFFORD a welcome 10
some or the greatest and best OF them.
Never, however has sit bsen more
fortunate than in the coming of Melba.
who appears tonight in La Travata" at
the Seattle theater.
Her appearance Will be an even, not
only In theatrical circles, but in the world
of society. The theater. on It's greatest
nights, has never presented a more bril-
liant audience than that which will greet
Media tonight. For days her coming has
been looked forward TO with almost fever
ish impatience. The authorities In the
social realm. from Queen Anne TO Beacon
hill. have taken the matter up. and Will
vie with one another in paving Difference
10 the great singer. Notwithstanding the
advanced prices for the evening, the sale
OF seats has been very large, and the
probability now Is that standing room
Will be at premium.
ia Travfatn."
La Traviata," an opera In three acts,
words by Piave, is founded upon Dumas
Dame aux Camelias.'' familiar to the
English stage as Camille" The origna.
play Is supposed to- represent phases OF
modern French life; but the Italian lbretto
changes the period 20 the year 100. In the
days of Louis XIV. and there are a.so
some material changes of characters-Mar-
guerite Gather of the original appearing
as Fioletta Valery. and Olympia at Flora
Belvoix, at whose house the ball scene
takes place. The opera WAS first produced
at Venice. March 6. 1853. with the following
cast OF the principal. parts:
violetta Nine; Donatesl!
AiIreuo NJ. GRAHAM
Germont ..-............s...........M NJ. Taresi
The opera at It's first production was a
complete failure. though this was due more
to the singers than to the music. Ii is
said that when the doctor announced I'm
the third act that Nine. Donatelli. who Inn
personated the consumptive heroine. and
who was one OF the stoutest ladies ever
seen on the stage had but few days to
live, the whole audience broke out into
roars Of laughter. Time has brought It's
consultations to the composer. however for
''Traviata" Is now one of the most popu-
lar operas in the modern repertory. When
II was first produced In Paris. October 81
1864, Christine Nilsson made her debut In
1t. II London the charming little singer
Nine. Piecolomin,. made her debut In the
same opera May q. 1856. Adelina Patti
since that time not only made yio.etta the
strongest character in her repertory, but
was without question most finished rep
resentative OF the fragile heroine
The story az told by the iibrettst simply
resolves Itself into three principal scenes
the supper at Fioletta's house where she
makes the acquaintance of Alfred and the
AttV.a bAtxx tHnvx
arrival of Alfred's father: the ball at the
house OK Flora: and the death scene a2:.
reconciliation. linked together by rectative
so that the dramatic unity of the original
is lost TO a certain extent. The first act
opens with gay party IN yiolettas house
Among the crowd about her IL Aired Ger
mont. a young man from Provence who Il
passionately In love with her. The sim
certify OF his. passion finally influences her
TO turn aside from her life OF voluptuaus
pleasure ard to cherish a similar sentiment
for him. In the next act we find her liv-
ing in seclusion with her lover I'm a country
house In the environs of Paris, to support
which she has sold her property in the
city. When Alfred discovers this he re-
fuses to be the recipient of her bounty, and
sets ouc for Paris 10 recover the property.
During his absence his father who has
discovered his retreat, visits Niolstta and
pleads with her 10 forsake Alfred not only
on his own account, but 10 save his family
from disgrace. Touched by the fathers
gift. she consents. and secretly returns TO
Paris, where she once more resumes her
old life. At a bali given by Flora Relvoix.
one OF Nioletta's associates Alfred meets
her again. ovcrwheims her with reproachex
and insults her By fi;nging her miniature
at her feet in presence of the whole com
pany. stung by her degradation. vioiestn
goes home 20 die. and too late Alfred
learns the real sacrifice that she has made
He hastens to comfort her, but she dies
forgiving and blessing him.
ytvacious Chorus.
After a short prelude the frN act opens
with vivacions chorus Of the guests NJ
yioietta's supper. leading 10 a drinking
song ('LIblamo. lfbiamo"D IN waltz time
sung first by Alfred and then by yio!eita
the chorus echoing each couplet with very
pretty effect. After .ong dialogue be-
tween the two, closing with chorus,
Fioletta has a grand scene. which is al
ways fsyorite show piece with concert
artists. II begins with an andan.e move
merit f'Ah, fors larry. expressive OF the
suddenly awakened love which She feels
for Alfred. with refrain o. hair a dozen
measures In the finale which might be
called the Fioletta motive and then sud-
denly develops into brisk and sparkling
allegro f"Senpre lToera"f, fui. OF the most
fiorid and brilliant orpAmentatson In which
she again resolves TO shut out every feel.
ing OF love and plunge into the sriiirf OF
dissipation. This number. unlike most OF
verdi's flnaies which are concerted CLOSES
the act.
The Second act opens in the country
house with an effective tenor aria sstreA,
miss bollenti'o. sung by Alfred. In the
next scene Gerufont enters and after a
brief dialogue with N!olesta sings q short
cantahile (''Pura nlecome uu ange-ofr
leading 10 a duet f"Di;enaIla gfoysD4.r,
with Eioietta, which is full OF tenderness
In che interview which Immediately soy-
lows between Germont and Alfred The
father appeals TO bis son ul;h memories
OF home IN An andante t~Df Proyenza !,
rar'f. which in form and simplicity and
simple r1athos Of expression might almost
be called a ballad II f. a.ways a favorsf4
and Is usually considered tire beat number
sn the opera, Notwithstanding stx slmn,s
melody. The next scene changes 20 ire
ballroom e Flora. ad In insrass,scea witF,