The times., 1899-04-15
THE GRAND OPERA.


ter may be or whether there is any reason
IN 1t at all, La Trayiata'' has never prov
en- magnet Of sufficient strength to draw
a really large audience in Washington
Time and time again the work has been
done here by combinations OF varying mer-
it. but the result has always been the
same. This fact. together with the an
nouncement made that Nine. Sembrich
| who was to have sung the role OF yio-
| letta last night in the Grau Company's
production of Verdi's charming effort. had
the effect of rendering the second of the
| performances being given here far less
auspicio.s than had been the preceding
one, though only in point of attendance
! When the curtain rose at the Grand barely
| 600 persons were clustered in the audi
| torium, and the number of those who came
| late was not sufficient to fill the vacant
space. The orchestra of the house was
well tenanted and the circle fairly so. but
the two galleries were practically empty.
Because of this unhappy state OF affairs,
lovers of the Italian school of music and
the projectors OF the organization which
was offering an example of that school
| both met with a loss. Undeniably the
delinquent patrons suffered most for. while
! the managers of the Grau Company may
not have covered expenses yester-eyening,
those who remained away robbed them
selves of such a period of enjoyment as
money cannot invariably buy.
The rendering of La Traviata' under
consideration was truly a most marvellous
!. one-a rendering which. considering all
| things. compared favorably with that given
''Lohengrin" on Thursday. The story
which originated in the prolific brain of
| Alexandra Dumas and the music which
came from that of the Italian composer
were acted and sung in manner quite be-
yond criticism Cast and chorus, orchestra
and ballet-every solitary factor in per-
feet performance was present. No bet
ter work of the sort has ever been seen
or heard in this city.
Before the curtain was lifted on the
production those of the gathering who
had not already been apprised of the fact
were keenly disappointed at learning that
sudden indisposition-some thrca. trou-
BILE it was stated-had prevented the ap-
pearance OF Nine Sembrich. Not only
is the cantratrice great fayorite in
! Washington, but SO many years have
elapsed since last she visited here that
/ checked curiosity mingled with Eo-long r
| anticipated pleasure in rather provoking
| the assembly when it learned of her alb
sence. Nine Nordica, who assumed the
role on short notice. had hardly delivered
the first notes of her initial iine-"Flora.
amici. la notte che resta''-when the conf
dence of those present was restored Be-
fore the first act was over the singers
success had become triumph, and when
| the piece had been brought to close and
1t only remained for Nine. Nordica to bow
her response to the plaudits that had fol-
! lowed her final effort, she had trebled
her list of admirers even as the ovation
given her was treble that meted out to
anyone else in the company.
Nine. Nordica's work in the part CT the
heroically loving woman was wonderful
alike TO the spectator and to the au-
ditor. So powerful is her voice and SO
dramatic that she quite dominated the
| lyric singers who were heard with her
and assumed not only the central posi-
tion in the opera, but almost the single
one. In the numberless solos with which
La Trayiata" abounds in the duets with
Alfredo and with Germont, and in the
ensembles, her soprano came out with
bell-like clearness. notable purity, and
great tonal quality. II there is one thing
commendable in Nine. Nordica's vocal
work. it is her marvellous method, and at
no time has this been more apparent than
last night. The role of Violetta is really
a test one in this regard and the por-
trayer of yester-evening was more than
equal 10 the trial She provoked the
greatest enthusiasm with her execution of
the difficult passage which ends the first
| act-the thematic one beginning with the
line. 'Ah. fors lui che ranima''-and
always commanded admiration for her
phrasing and general technique.
As piece of acting Nine. Nordica's Vio-
letta was also notable. 1t is no light task
for a singer to undertake part in the dra-
matte version of which the greatest stars
of the world have been SEEN especially
when it is considered how much more diff
fcult it is to express emotion in melody
and to fit the gestures of such a portrayal
to the tempo being observed than merely
to speak and accompany the lines. Nine
Nordicas impersonation was eminentiy in
telligent and consistent, virile in the ex-
treme. and remarkable for its pantomimic
play. Nothing better could have been
asked.
Though somewhat overshadowed by the
power Of his opposite. NJ. Salignac present
ed a most artistic bit of work in his AL
fredo. His voice is excellent as that of a
lyric tenor. his tones sweet and true. and
his technique practically faultless His
singing of the air beginning with the
words ''Di queil amor" and of that which
commences with the line DE miei bolent
spiriti,' with his rendering of his duets
with Violetta, provoked great enthusiasm
NJ. Salignac's histrionic ability is also evil
dent. and his assumption of a somewhat
trying role was most satisfactory.
Sig. Campanari. who is always COM
mendable made an extremely praiseworthy
Germont. winning a storm OF applause and
chorus of ''brayas" with his solo in the
eighth scene of the second act There is
an inexhanstible well of sympathy in Sig
Campanari's voce-a note of infinite sad
ness and appeal. Some fault, though
trifiing, might have been found with his
acting, which lacked a degree of dignity
and loftiness. Mile. Bauermeister was
commendable as Armina, Sig Vanni good
as Gastone. NJ. Meux pleasing Barone,
and Mr.. Pringle a meritorious Grenoil.
MIR. Cernusco and Miss Roudez were ade-
quate. all forming a really perfect ensem-
BILE.
Though small in numbers. the chorus did
wonderfully with the untold opportunities
given it in La Traviata." singing with
spirit and in perfect harmony. while the
sharpness and force of its dynamic effects
fairly doubled the effectiveness OF the
finale of the second act. well trained
ballet proved enjoyable in this same set
ting. The orchestra. under the direction
of Sgnor MancinelD. rendered efficient
service, both in the overture and in the
accompaniment. Briefly, no fault could be
found with the performance. even the
scenery being adequate. if familiar to
patrons of the Grand Nothing finer in
the rendering of Italian opera could he de-
sired.
Faust will be sung this afternoon by
Nine Emma Eames. Mile. Bauermeister
Nine. Meisslinger, NJ. Saleza. Signor Cam
panari, NJ. MeuX, and NJ. PlarcOn. while in
tonight's great offering of Die Walkure'
the principal parts will be in the hands of
NJ Van Dyck. David Bispham, Herr An
ton Van RoOy Nine. Lilli Lehman. Mime