The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-03-19

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1V1 company thoroughly equipped
for the operas in its repertory.
Up TO the time of writing Saturday
mcrning) we have had five per
formances. all of which but one have
been artistically complete in both in
tention and execution. The Faust
opening was not all that we expected.
owing principally to the smothering of
half the orchestra in a patent SHELF
that had been built under the apron of
the stage, but even with this disad-
vantage the spell of Melba's Marguerite
made itself felt; so the night was by
no means wasted. Since then the mu-
sicians have been in sight and sound
Of the audience, and we have come to
find out that the New York symphony
orchestra is the finest operate orches-
ira in the country, as fine. perhaps as
b. any in the world. The orchestral direc-
ton of Seppilli has been notably good
His authority over his bandsmen is alb
solute, and in the various operas he has
displayed a remarkable versatility, sat
urating himself, so TO speak, in the
musical atmosphere of each piece. The
man who can play with equal success
such vastly different scores as those of
Aida" 'Boheme" and Carmen" is
q leader of prodigious resource. Sep
pill is the true virtuosO. and when all
is over he will not be the least remem-
. bered artist of our first big Ellis season.
Since the opening night the perform
- anCes have sustained a steady standard
- Of excellence. The ensembles have been
as nearly perfect as one could expect
TO hear them, the seeming and robing
have been generous and artistic and
the stage management of William
Parry has been the best that San Fran
cisco has ever known. Melba, in Mar
guerite and in Mimi, has more than
lived up to her promise Of last season
in the lighter and more ornamental
operas She has been something more
than the greatest vocalist of the period.
She has given US delicate, beautiful i'm
presentations. And the season has by
no means been a N1elba season, despite
the fact that the big crowds have been
provincial enough to turn out only on
Melba nights We have had the operas,
with the singers that belonged in them.
Gadski, De Lussau and Chaha have
given distinguished performances of
parts to which their voices and tenn
peraments are specially adapted.
Among the mn Ceppi has contrib
uted a good robust Rhadames, Bou-
douresQue a 1.-THE, humor-Ht Mephis-
topheles: Pandolfni has done we'll in
every thing except Faust" and Ben
saude, by his versatility and staying
powers, unaided has held up the barry
tone end of the casts with honor. Bon
.. nard. although not at his best in the
. opening scenes of Carmen" gave a
splendid Don Jose before the perform
ance was over. and instantly took rank
as the best tenor of the company. With
the exception Of the one disaster al
ready mentioned the season, so far as
It has gone, has been vigorous sue
cess Quite naturally 1t has been
stirring event in San Francisco, and
the newspapers have devoted pictorial
and repOrtorial attention to it that
would be deemed excessive in the
greater cities of the East. But for a
long time real opera has been very
rare with US, and almost any amount
OF enthusiasm Journalistic and other
wise) may be pardOned on this occasion.
We can become more urban after
while. Mr.. Ellis has given San Fran
cisco q permanent place on his map
and Grau is watching US with a kindly
eye.
This, the second and last week of the
Ellis season, will open tomorrow night
with The Huguenots.' employing, as
far as the resources Of the company
admit, an "all-star'' cast. Melba will
be the Marguerite, Gadsk the Valen-
tine. De Lussan the Urbano. Ceppi the
Raoul Boudouresque the Marcel, Ben
saude the Nevers and Rains the st.
Bris With these singers and the great
orchestra and chorus the ensemble
should be tremendous
On Tuesday night 'BOheme" will be
repeated with practically the same cast
as before It's triumph Of last Wednes-
day night is now a matter of local his
tory.
Another success. aida" will be re-
peated Wednesday night, with Gadski
and Ceppi in the cast.
Thursday night will be a big one, for
then Melba viii sing for the first time
here a role in which her fame is largely
identifled-Juliet in Gounods setting of
Shakespeare's love tragedy. Bonnard
will be the Romeo.
De Lussan viii repeat her vivid
Carmen On Friday night. For the fare
we'll Saturday matinee double bill of
Lucia" and "PagIiacci' viii be given
Chalia will again be heard as Media in
the Leoncavallo piece, a part in which
she made vital hit last Tuesday night
Melba Will sing Lucia We heard her
last season in the mad scene" and can
safely anticipate some matchless feats
in coloratura singing.
The suggestion offered in an earlier
issue Of The Call, that Seppilli and the
orchestra give a Sunday night concert,
Will probably be acted on. If so Gadski
will sing from the Wagner operas that
va were cOmpeIIed 70 miss,
ASHTON STEVENS.
The Columbia.
We will have both kinds of opera in
town this week, for our old popular
friends, the Bostonians, open at the Co
lunabia tomorrow night. Their comic
opera is Rob Roy" written by De
Koven and Smith. an established favorite