Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-10-10

II you are interested in grand opera-and II ySu
you ought TO be. for Kansas City is put upon
her mettle with current and one coming eng &C.
by distinguished companies-yo;: :.eed have
n.isgivngs about the Lamba-di Organization which
opened the Coates season last night. You viii wait
long time before, in the natural order OF ;:lings.
will such satisfactory staff Of principals in
the old operas and regular thcater prices. You
will probably have another opportunity to
and hear such Carmen as that Of Sisuorina Cola
marin without paying handsomely for choice seats.
Coamarini belongs to the class OF artists tOr whose
occasional in this city the genuine lovers
of music and those who follow in their wake have
paid high tribute in money and applause and it is
said she would have been Maurice Grlu's roster
early three years ago but :0r existing con-
tract between the singer and Signor LsEba-di who.
naturally, declines TO release her. But it Is gTati-
tying that while Collsmarini is waiting for Grsu.
operOgoers co need wait for Col!smarini. She
is here. AMI she is great. This Carmen who IS new
Cave Is in America. FOR while she has been wonder
fi. successful In other roles she is insepa-aby
sociated with the heroine Of Bizets melOdiOus and
realistic opera.
Collamarni's voice is dis,inc, mezzo-soprano of
unusual runGe and great elasticity. There is nothing
ousiy near her limits range. and there Hss
nothing IN her sweet and ne!lifuOus singing of the
t"quettish music OF the first act to prepare for
the great power she displayed in the later scenes.
She has the inestiriaoe advantage of having a big
voice which she can adapt with facility grace to
little things. Her enuucatiOn is liquid and fluent,
and she has remarkable talent fo- giving dramatic
expression to her music Indeed. IT is difficult TO
recall singer who nearly approaches the sa tfns
oE spoken language does this woman in her ngnx
mOtulat0ns. There are scores in which III eg,orT
20 utilize this talent 10 large extent might mar
the symmetry OF musical expression. but good deal
OF II may be iesitimatsly done in Carmen 1t
Ieads to one danger however. in this Opera-the dan
ger OF forcing the voice in dramatic passages This
s !otcihs told upon the singer before the opera was
hshed; her voice slightly husky after the sec
a cold. ~
So much for the music of the new Carmen From
the standpoint of characterization this Carmen is
Touptuous. attractive and exceedingly wirtsI GA,
quote The character is played broad lines s-almo.t
as broad as might be expected in purely dramatic
version OF the story. For o2eratc purposes IL nr-ds
fehneinent-not necessarily a refinement of chIr,r-
ter. for that would be iusrtistic but rather "a
hnement of method. and this reruer,e,, Of ,,N,soa
would also bring To the singer a higher degree o.
in the earlier scenes H'A'eu
bHt II was not all Collamarini-not by any means
oEiy Ie" OF the principals OF the Lambardi COM
good the Representation on this occasion tba -
slsht 10 be highly enjoysble one The tenor who
ms Pase was hiisd by sgnor Russo. who Is too
small 10 make an ideal brigadier bur who sinrs
-na acts tine part with great 1eryor.
sisnorina Sostegni. Young soprano who is said
not TO be out OF her teens, was the NicbasIa Sbs
Is tall fresh looking girl but POSSESSES fervid tenn
peaneh; that revealed itself through The rather
passive character Of Mchaela and the music aIIor.d
10 this role Unfortunately sostegni's vocal pSNers
were Eot Iui!y displayed on this occasion rar sba
rad cold and feared to let her voice b,ya ,,"II
sweep but she left most favorable impression and
revealed enough 10 make everyone desire TO hear her
again. ~ '
Signo- Bugameili. the baritone is not we'll sui,as
10 the IoreadoF his voice being rather light for the
music OF this part. and his appearance being any
ming but formidable. But his voice Is good one
and his method is admirable, his phrasnS being
perfect. N''7
The bssso. Sisnor Bergami. possesses big full
voice and II Will be interesting to note his work in
some part OF greater opportunity than afforded In
the role Of Zuniga
The chorus is not large but the ensemble is good.
eliminated Grand opera choruses are never beauty
shows somehow cOmeiiness has never PLAYED a part
In the grand opera chorus Yet II would be difficult
for anyone to prepare himself for this remarkable
aggregation Of minor singers brought here by the
Italian impresario
Last nights audience was exceedingly enthusiastic
over the new singers. and the engagement promises
10 grow in interest. Tonight the bill will be
Rigoletto. with the following
Duke OF MaBtova SignOr Dominica Russo
Rigoletto his court Jester. Sgnor Perto BugameIH
Glda. Rigoiettos daughter Signorina AmeM Sost.gni
Magdllena Sparafucile's
.Sgnorina Ernestaa rberto
SpaTafuci!e. Luigi Bercaml
Msrulio gentleman of the gnor Maiocchi
BorsO gentleman CT the Slsnor Ratagsi
Count Cepraao. gentleman Of the court--...........
Countess CepTsno.-.... .Signoriua Gida Ma-chetti
AUSTIN LATCHAw.
The sale Of single tickets for the Grau opera
season Convention hall opened with a rush yester-