The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-13
SPLENDID SEASON
OF GRAND OPERA
Engagement of the Lambardi
Italian Opera. Company
BEGINS MONDAY EVENING
Four Performances at the Auditorium
Opening With Carmen Tickets
Will be on Sale This Morn
ing at Adams Drug Co.

A season of grand opera! No such good
fortune has befallen Birmingham since the
old days of Emma Abbott. How thankful
one is for the blessings of that Juvenile en-
thus.asm which made those performances
of III Trovatore" Faust" Martha" and
the rest seem the acme of operate art,
with nothing left to be desired in the way
of acting costuming, etc. Inadequate as a
maturer judgment shows us these perform
ances were, you must recognize not only
the pleasure they gave, but their most last
ing benefit. They introduced most of us at
least to that great sphere of music, grand
opera, and gave us opportunity for knowing
and learning what would otherwise have
been out of our reach.
However, if reports from nearby cities
to be relied upon, the Lambardi Italian
Grand Opera company is the best organiza-
ton of the kind that has ever appeared
in the south The entire corps, from stage
manager to stars, are from Italy, natives
of the land that gave birth to the worlds
greatest composers. None of them speak
English.
The history of the company Is an interest
iEg one. For many years 1T played in La
Scala theater in Milan. -Four years ago it
journeyed to South America and opened at
the Teatro Principal in Lima, Peru, where
1t played continuous engagement of seven
months and a half. They then toured the
big South American cities, where indeed,
grand opera is almost as we'll known as 1t
is in Italy. Last winter they played sea-
son of five months under the subsidy of the
Mexican government in the City of Mexico.
They then came to the United States. They
have played in the principal cities between
the Pacific coast and the Mississippi river,
and everywhere both press and public have
been most enthusiastic in their praise of
this remarkable aggregation of italian sing
ers.
In Denver, where the company played an
engagement of five weeks at the Broad
way theater, the receipts on the closing
night were one thousand dollars more than
they were on the opening night, which goes
to show how the company grew in favor in
that city. The company is now on its way
to South America via Kingston, Jamaica,
and Puerto Rico.
There will be four operas rendered here
during this engagement, beginning with
Bisets ever tuneful operate masterpiece,
Carmen" with the peerless Signorina
SlSldHld liiSHHo-sOpAetiO IN
donna in the title role. Colamarini has de-
veloped her own Carmen" and being
fresh from the Latin-Amercan countries
where Carmens are not yet extinct, gives
a southern personifica ton that is both
fascinating and irresistible. Her voice is a
distinct mezzo-soprano of unusual range
and capacity Her Carmen" Is a creature
nurtured and ripened meath the suns of
equatorial skies, where love, coquetry,
Hon dom ont of a
eral diaberie predominates. Her charac-
terizaton of the part is entirely her own,
and her singing of the haunting, fascinat-
ing airs that prevail throughout the piece Is
a revelation to those who know good music
when they hear 1t.
The Evening Scimitar of Memphis, I'M
der date of December 6, says: "Those who
were so fortunate as to hear Signorlna
Stefania Collamarini sing Carmen" at the
Auditorium last night, were served must
cal treat which they can always look back
on with pleasure. The great singer from
her first entrance until her last-exit, swayed
those present at WILL and brought bursts OF
applause from hearers who are not often
moved by music. The lovers of music and
those who appreciate its worth and gran
deu- were enchanted. Collamarini In ad-
dition to being a great singer, Is splendid
actress, and she blended the artistic in act
ing and singing so wonderfully well that
her success was complete.
at was in the first act that the singer
did her best work. Every detail of beauty
was brought out. The music buboled and
rolled and murmured and swelled, and
every strain fell on the ear as softly as
the petal of the wild rose falls upon the
bosom of the brook which purls beneath
the bush.
"Signor Russo who sang the part OF Don
jose has reason to be proud OF the I'M
preston produced. and such voice as ms
could convey nothing but most favorable
impression. At all times his tones We're
easy and sweet. He was much applauded.'
Already numerous inquiries have been
made for seats for this season OF grand
opera, and those who propose to attend
will do well to engage their tickets as far
in advance as possible, thus assuring them
selves the most desirable locations.
Commencing ILLS morning, the advance
sale of seats will be conducted at the
Adams Drug company's store. corner of
Nineteenth street and Second avenue. Mail
orders will be given special attention.