The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-10-03
AUDIENCE OF 1000
Saw Lambardi Grand Opera
Last Night.
CALLAMARINI TAI K S
She Is All the Go in October
Magazines.

italian grand opera is here, and for the
first time in at least fifteen years Wich-
tia people have the rare opportunity Of
enjoying a season of real genuine grand
opera. OF all the grades of musical pro-
auctions and performances opera is the
highest, and Italian grand opera is the
very pinnacle of musical productions. It
is the realest of all real things in the
theatrical and musical line. It is the
line that Patti fourished in and in which
Melba and Calve are now causing
furore in the east, where high music Is
better appreciated than in the west. Last
nights production of Carmen" a pro-
duction that ha4 never been equaled here,
was not as well attended as is the aver
age minstrel show that comes TO town.
The production that in New York City
never fails to draw a packed house drew
half house in Wichita But, then,
Richard Mansfield, who appeared in
Wichita two years ago, and was greeted
by the same sized crowd as last night,
packed the largest theater in New York
City, three weeks after, for a period of
three months. Wichita theater-goers
need something to educate them If they
ever want to see anything better than
farce comedy or minstrel shows.
Tonights audienca will have the oppor-
tunity of hearing and seeing "Rigoletta"
at the Crawford theater, with the stars
in the cast. Last night the people saw
all the stars in the cast. Tonight they
will see something just as fine, with even
possibly prettier music. The company
carries its own orchestra of ten men and
the music is grand beyond description.
The people Of Wichita will probably not
for a long time have another opportunity
of hearing real italian grand opera. To-
night Signorina Sostegnr will sing the
leading role. She possesses q wonderfully
sweet voice and last night elected most
favorable comment on her work in a
minor part.
Carmen as sung by the the Lambardi
Grand Opera company at the Crawford
Grand last night was a success.
Signorina Collamarini presented a Car
men which might rank with those given
by the acknowledged queens of song. Fer
Carmen isn't a lady, and she doesn't
one. She is an insolent baggage She has
a cool impudence that will serve her any
where. She has the cheek of govern
ment mule. She is handsome and she
wears good clothes and she sings like a
bird, and she can make a fool of any
man on earth, and she knows it; and
when she gets done with him she will
throw him aside like an old shoe And
consequently all the men in the play are
dead in love with her. Now this, though
expressed in the vernacular, is very high |
prarise for Mile. Carmen, and in fact !
Signorina Collamarini presents an inter |
esting Interpretation of the character. |
She is a tall woman and with the help |
of her high Spanish comb easily tops !
every man on the stage.
AS Carmen, Signorina Collamarini was
a distinct success. In personality she is
the conventional Carmen Of the Calve |
type-plump almost to rotundity. 1t is to |
be presumed that an operate Carmen of |
Nethersole's willowy grace would not be |
hence Collamarin appeals to |
those OF cut-and-dried ideals at her dash |
ing entrance in the first act. This favor
able impression is strengthened by Sig |
norma Collamarinas witchery of acting |
and the charm of her intelligently hand |
led voice. Last night she fairly carried |
a critical audience by storm in the open |
ing scenes with Don jose and her sing |
ing Of the gypsy song at once established !
her as a star worthy to rank with Illus |
trious ones who have stamped their indi-
viduality upon the character Of the wick
adIx, 6IrtotiO,, oi0a rata OWL Of Ca1illa
In the succeeding scenes Collamarina was
not less adequate to the serious demands
imposed by composer and librettist. and
the tragic finale was a superb bit Of act |
ing. Signorfna Collamarina has youth !
and beauty, as well as genius in her IA |
vor and her further work in future sea-
sons will be watched with interest.
Signor Badaracco. as Don Jose. was |
ideal He Is tall. handsome and has a |
magnificent, robust tenor voice and looks |
very much Americanized.
Signora Sostegni, as Michela, earned /
several encores by her singing of the role |
idealized by the grand voiced Gadski.
GaIazzi as the To-eador. made a decfd- |
ed success OF his part and received a /
deserved encore on his famous song.
Signorita Collamarina Is a charming /
personality, afable. vivacious. kind and /
refined. She received an Eagle reporter |
most graciously last night after the per-
Torrance. and through the kindness Of a |
friend as Interpreter. an interview with |
the famous singer was secured. Miss 1
Coliamarini is a most beautiful woman |
and looks even more beautiful OF the /
stage than on it. She IS very young, be-
ing q years OF age. She can not speak |
English, but gesticulatss and is 50 ex- |
pressive. in her manner that interpreting !
was hardly needed Signorita CollamaYini /
began by excusing herself on account OF |
a severe cold Frankly. no one who /
heard her would imagine she had cold /
or any other ailment. so well did she /
sing. and when the reporter Informed /
her that the audience was immensely 1
pleased she replied that the newspaper /
man was too gracious.
Siga0rita Collamarind was born IN the i
little town OF Ancons- which IS near Bo- |
logue. in Italy. When a child OF she /
attended a chil9ren's singing school Here |
a great Italian maestro discovered her 1
and taught her childish voice In year
after her parents died and she vas sent /
to a convent By relatives When she vas
II or L the same Italian maestro. Pal
iedorf by name. attended a song service
at the convent His attention was 81
tracted By a voice oF~extraor9izarT quail
s-e TIA rrs,ra sha ~5-s z-Ffb the rarr.a * n